Weekend Athlete: 2009 Kia Borrego
Let’s be clear: I’m not blaming the Borrego for my inability to ride a bike that weekend. However, I found myself wincing and bracing myself every time I saw a crack in the road because I knew as soon as I drove over it, “BLAM!” I was going to feel a jolt up my already sore spine and shoulder. That got really old really fast. Chicago’s roads suck, but I have to wonder in what land of milk, honey and smooth roads they tested the Borrego.
And, yes, I noticed the ride on the way out to the race, so it’s not just because I was sore from falling. Further, I am aware this is a body-on-frame SUV, and those kinds of vehicles ride roughly compared to cars or car-based crossovers, but I’ve driven body-on-frame SUVs from GM and they weren’t as stiff as this.
Now, where was I? Oh, yes, the Borrego and my toys. It carried them well, as you could also expect a competing three-row crossover to do. The load floor was low enough that shorter athletes won’t have a problem – bravo for that, Kia – but I wonder if the hatch opened so high it would be hard for a shorter person to close.
The seats worked quickly and intuitively, but as is often the case I had to move the front seats forward (or the seatbacks forward) to get the second row to fold flat. It’s got a big cargo area with the third-row seats folded flat, and I’d say it’s a good vehicle to take four or five people camping in.
Visibility was challenged by the Borrego’s height. Backing out of my parking space, I was very glad to see that my parking-lot neighbors were holding their toddlers while I was moving – I doubt I would have seen them otherwise.
That last bit might seem like a small issue – especially if you don’t have kids – but for me it’s a deal-breaker, and it’s why the Borrego gets a 2 in the “locker-room cred” category. After you’ve finished a race or played with your outside toys, you should feel elated and happy, not anxious at the thought of driving through a parking lot.
Between the visibility issues and the rough ride, I was more anxious than elated.
Weekend Athlete Scores (Out of 10)
Ease of loading gear – 8: Shorter athletes should be OK, which is rare for a big SUV.
Ease of seat operation – 6: They go over easily, but you’ll likely have to move the front seats if you’re tall.
Bike hauling – 7: Good, but it’s big, so you’d expect that.
Locker-room cred – 2: OK – if you tow boats or trailers, or have a family, it’ll probably rank higher.
All-around – 5: The parts are greater than the sum.
