Manufacturer Kia Motors Production 2008–present Body style 5-Door SUV | Also called Kia Borrego Class Mid-size SUV | |
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Assembly Hwasung Plant, Hwasung, South Korea
Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor)
Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
Kulim, Malaysia | ||
The Kia Mohave, marketed in North America as the Kia Borrego, is a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) manufactured by the South Korean-based Kia Motors. The vehicle debuted in 2008 in the Korean and US markets. The Kia Borrego is named after the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California; Borrego means "bighorned sheep" which can be found in the state park.
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Kia Borrego in the U.S.
The Kia Borrego was introduced as the largest SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle) in Kia's lineup of vehicles in the U.S. in 2009. The lineup of the Borrego in the U.S. was as follows:
The LX was the base Kia Borrego, though was very well-equipped for its $26,245.00 MSRP base price. It included such features as: cloth upholstery, keyless entry, A/M-F/M stereo with single-disc CD/MP3 player and USB/iPod and auxiliary audio input jacks and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, six speakers, air conditioning, alloy wheels, and a 3.8L V6 engine with automatic transmission. Features such as a 4.6L V8 engine were optional.
The EX was the uplevel version of the Kia Borrego, had a $27,995.00 MSRP base price, and added features such as: an A/M-F/M stereo with six-disc in-dash CD/MP3 changer and USB/iPod and auxiliary audio input jacks and SIRIUS Satellite Radio, an Infinity premium sound system with external amplifier and rear-mounted subwoofer, a power sunroof, and dual-zone air conditioning. Features such as heated dual front bucket seats and a 4.6L V8 engine were optional.
The Limited was the top-of-the-line version of the Kia Borrego, had a $37,995.00 MSRP base price, and added features such as: a standard 4.6L V8 engine, leather seating surfaces, power dual front bucket seats, upgraded alloy wheels, heated dual front bucket seats, optional touch-screen GPS navigation with voice recognition, and a Homelink transmitter.
Bluetooth hands-free telephone and wireless stereo audio streaming were optional for all models.
After unsuccessful sales in the U.S. for 2009, the Kia Borrego was discontinued, and its replacement, the all-new, second-generation 2011 Kia Sorento, began production in West Point, Georgia in 2010, although it did not offer a V8 engine, instead offering all-new Inline Four-Cylinder (I4) and V6 engines, yet offering all the features that its predecessor, the Kia Borrego, offered, including a new third-row seating option for all models, except the Base model.
Production history
The production model, designed by automotive designer Peter Schreyer, former chief designer for Audi, was introduced at the 2008 North American International Auto Show. The vehicle was originally shown as a concept car under the Kia Mesa name at the 2005 North American International Auto Show and went on sale in Korea as the Mohave prior to its release in the United States. In the US, the Borrego went on hiatus for the 2010 model year, with no word on its return or cancellation, after lower than expected sales in 2009.
As of December 2, 2010, the Kia website no longer listed the Borrego as a production model, and the previous address for it advertised the new Kia Sorento as a replacement vehicle. Kia, however, still continued selling the Borrego in Canada, meaning the Borrego was a Canada-only nameplate from 2010-11.
As of October 28, 2011, the car was discontinued with the Sorento as a successor, except the Middle East, Central Asia, Brazil, Chile and Russia.
Technical details
The Borrego uses body-on-frame construction, with available adjustable air-suspension, hill-descent control and a high- and low-range automatic transmission. The Borrego has three standard rows of seats in the US. The Borrego will be fitted with either the 3.0 L VGT diesel V6 (in 2010), second-generation Lambda II 3.8 L V6 producing 276 horsepower (206 kW) or the recently developed 4.6 L V8 Hyundai Tau engine. The Tau V8 will be tuned to give less power but more torque than in the Hyundai Genesis sedan, and creates 361 horsepower (269 kW). The V8 has a towing capacity of 7,500 lb (3,400 kg), and the V6 is able to tow 5,000 lb (2,300 kg). It has a navigation system available as an option.
Kia Borrego Fuel cell version
The Kia Borrego FCEV is a concept car produced by Hyundai-Kia and first shown at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. The green SUV concept is based on a model Borrego and has a fuel cell developed by the 4th generation Hyundai-Kia (154 hp, 115 kW) and a new battery Lithium-Ion Polymer. The driver then enjoys an autonomy of 820 kilometres (510 mi) and can start in temperatures of −30 °C (−22 °F). As part of its testing program, Kia will put on the roads in 2010 a fleet of Kia Borrego FCEVs.