Another issue that Kia has dealt with incredibly well is the suspension and chassis combination. Chassis rigidity is as good, as Kia has put eight cross members along the chassis to provide enough stiffness to do two things. The chassis is now stiff enough to hang a well-calibrated suspension off of it without having deflection problems and chassis stiffness is such that you can do some pretty serious off roadwork if you have to. It may not be able to do class eight off-road trails in the Rockies, but it will certainly do more than go out to check fields.
Serious off-road vehicles have long travel suspensions and street vehicles have soft, fairly short travel suspensions. It took Kia a bit of engineering time to get the double-wishbone front and the rear multi-link suspensions to the point where the Borrego was as comfortable taking people to the Symphony as it was chasing down dirt trails to that fantastic picnic spot in the Cypress Hills. Shocks are gas-filled, coil springs are increasing rate and the Borrego has anti-sway bars front and rear. As for what the rates are on these components, Kia engineers smile and change the subject.
Kia with the V6 provides a part-time 4X4 system that is second to none in keeping you on your chosen path. Step up to the V8 and the part-time system becomes a full-time system that uses a "torque on demand" setup to make sure you stay on the straight and narrow year-round.
All this doesn't amount to a pinch of dried-up prairie clay if the interior isn't comfortable and inviting. Kia has done its homework here too! I used the power seat to get into a comfortable driving position in about 20 seconds. The steering column is adjustable as well, but it was already in the right place. Second-row seating is easily accessible for young and old. The third row is actually comfortable once you are in it. Getting into it is a bit of a stretch--literally and while I can do it, I would pull rank on younger members of our traveling circus and relegate them to the third row.
Cargo space with the third row up is a bit restricted, but with the third row folded flat, cargo space will never be an issue and if you really need to haul that sheet of plywood, you can fold the second row down as well.
For a first try at a new market segment, Kia has shown that they can learn from others and provide their own innovations. Add to that, Kia's two J.D. Power "Initial Quality Survey" awards, an industry-leading warranty and you have a company that has made a huge leap forward in a short time.
photo:Charles Renny, Kia
Serious off-road vehicles have long travel suspensions and street vehicles have soft, fairly short travel suspensions. It took Kia a bit of engineering time to get the double-wishbone front and the rear multi-link suspensions to the point where the Borrego was as comfortable taking people to the Symphony as it was chasing down dirt trails to that fantastic picnic spot in the Cypress Hills. Shocks are gas-filled, coil springs are increasing rate and the Borrego has anti-sway bars front and rear. As for what the rates are on these components, Kia engineers smile and change the subject.
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| The interior is comfortable and inviting. |
Kia with the V6 provides a part-time 4X4 system that is second to none in keeping you on your chosen path. Step up to the V8 and the part-time system becomes a full-time system that uses a "torque on demand" setup to make sure you stay on the straight and narrow year-round.
All this doesn't amount to a pinch of dried-up prairie clay if the interior isn't comfortable and inviting. Kia has done its homework here too! I used the power seat to get into a comfortable driving position in about 20 seconds. The steering column is adjustable as well, but it was already in the right place. Second-row seating is easily accessible for young and old. The third row is actually comfortable once you are in it. Getting into it is a bit of a stretch--literally and while I can do it, I would pull rank on younger members of our traveling circus and relegate them to the third row.
Cargo space with the third row up is a bit restricted, but with the third row folded flat, cargo space will never be an issue and if you really need to haul that sheet of plywood, you can fold the second row down as well.
For a first try at a new market segment, Kia has shown that they can learn from others and provide their own innovations. Add to that, Kia's two J.D. Power "Initial Quality Survey" awards, an industry-leading warranty and you have a company that has made a huge leap forward in a short time.
photo:Charles Renny, Kia
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