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“Forgotten vehicles” is kind of a broad category, right? We could be talking about SUVs that didn’t sell very well, cars that were well-liked but canceled before their time, or pickups that came along at the wrong time and found themselves lost in a crowded marketplace. When we call the Kia Borrego a forgotten SUV, what we mean is that we’re pretty sure you’ve never heard of it. The vehicle only ran for a single model year here in the United States, selling a modest 10,530 units in 2009, and 9,835 leftovers in 2010. And if you have heard of the Borrego, well, feel free to tell us we’re wrong in the comment section. That’s what it’s for, after all.

The Borrego qualifies as a cult favorite here in the US. The SUV had a much longer and more successful run in the rest of the world, under the name of the Kia Mohave, while in this country, it’s one of those models with a small, but very dedicated, following. Here’s why.

A Reliable, Full-Size All-Arounder

The Kia Borrego is a versatile SUV in its size class. It’s a body-on-frame full-size model available in rear or four-wheel drive with an available V8. The rig is trail-ready and can easily function as a rugged, medium-duty off-roader. It’s also remarkably roomy and comfy, and loaded with standard conveniences like an MP3 player with a USB port and keyless entry. Ask a Borrego owner, and they are likely to tell you they love how the SUV performs on dirt and mud. However, the vehicle can also get you your money’s worth as a family car, even if you never take it off the pavement.

A rear-wheel V6 averages 19 miles per gallon combined fuel economy, while a four-wheel-drive V8 gets 18 mpg combined. Despite the SUV’s age, these figures are comparable to newer full-size SUVs, roughly matching the latest Ford Expedition and Chevy Suburban.

The Borrego’s platform was developed specifically for this model, with most drivers agreeing that the handling was “truck-like,” without feeling cumbersome or unwieldy. It’s comparable to something along the lines of a Ridgeline, a Ranger, or a Ram 1500, by being a generous mid-size or a surprisingly agile full-size offering. In terms of existing Kias, the Borrego is somewhat similar to the Sorento, but this SUV is really its own thing.

Three Rows, Seven Seats, And A Whole Lot Of Cargo Space (If The Seats Are Folded Down)

The Kia Borrego offers up to 108 cubic feet of space behind the front row, if you fold the back seats down. With all the seats up, you’ve got 12.4 cubic feet of luggage volume. These figures make the very back of the Borrego much smaller than that of, for instance, a 2008 Suburban, promising 45 cubic feet of storage space with the seats up.

But if you ask us, Kia made a smart compromise when it came to divvying up the interior space. You’re not always going to need a lot of cargo space, so you might as well give the back rows a little extra legroom, rather than scrunching the seats forward for a bunch of imaginary suitcases.

If you need to pack a little more cargo than the cabin allows, the Borrego can also tow 5,000 pounds with the V6 engine or 7,500 pounds with the V8, putting the vehicle in league with the full-size trucks of its day. This hauling ability means you should have no trouble pulling a small trailer or a boat.

How Reliable Is A Kia Borrego?

One reason you still hear Borrego owners singing the SUV’s praises is that they’re still driving them after seventeen years on the road. The Borrego is a low-maintenance SUV, with plenty of owners claiming 200,000 miles and up on the original engine and transmission. It’s only a matter of time before someone crosses the million-mile mark in one. Let’s see if the person refuses to let Kia buy it off of them, because nobody wants to part with such a trooper.

RepairPal estimates an annual maintenance cost of around $467, with some of the more expensive common fixes including the following:

• Yaw sensor replacement $1,787 – $2,311
• Fuel pump replacement $1,269 – $1,366
• AC evaporator replacement $765 – $890
• AC evaporator temperature sensor replacement $188 – $262
• Suspension ball joint replacement $161 – $239

CarComplaints has just 11 reports on file in total, with the most worrying being transmission lockup after 108,000 miles, an issue which cost the owner $3,500 to fix. These faults are incredibly rare, though, and should be easy enough to prevent with regular oil changes and preventive maintenance.

A driver on the Subreddit r/whatcarshouldibuy reports that most of their maintenance has had to do with replacing shocks and brakes, which are wear items on every vehicle. There’s a chance you might overhaul the entire suspension system before even needing to think about making your first major powertrain repair.

What Will A Kia Borrego Cost You In 2025?

Checking in with Kelley Blue Book, here’s what the fair market looks like at the moment, assuming an average mileage of around 15,000 miles a year, depending on factors like location:

While these prices assume higher mileage than you might feel comfortable buying, a quick search on AutoTempest shows that it’s not hard to find a Borrego in good condition with under 100,000 miles on the odometer, selling for well below $10,000. There are plenty of models in the 250,000-mile range selling for $4,000-$5,000, as well, but there are just as many at around 90,000 miles selling for $7,000-$9,000.

The Borrego is one of those SUVs that punches well above its weight. To put the Borrego’s original MSRP into perspective, Kelley Blue Book lists the LX model starting at just under $30,000, but, before taxes, these SUVs could be had for as low as $26,245. A 2008 Chevy Suburban started at $38,085, over $10,000 more for a pretty similar SUV.

The pricing difference has held true to this day, with a used Suburban starting at around $2,000 more than a used Borrego. Bottom line: you might be able to find a better full-size SUV than the Kia, but not at this price. That was true when the Borrego was brand-new, and it’s true now.

Sources: Kia, Kelley Blue Book, CarComplaints, RepairPal, AutoTempest, r/WhatcarshouldIbuy.