Two Great SUVs For 2009
This year is starting off great for lovers of SUV autos. There are two vehicles that you should definitely check out if you are in the market for one this year: the Kia Borrego and the Toyota Land Cruiser.
The Borrego is one of the first significant forays in the SUV market for Kia. It is powered by either a 3.8-liter V-6 (276 horsepower) or a 4.6-liter V-8 (337 horsepower) engine, both of them powerhouses in their own right. The former starts at around $27,000, and if you want it to be four-wheel drive add another $2000. The 8-cylinder starts at $31,745. There are three rows of SUV seats: the first two providing ample room for adult passengers. The third row, however, is for the kids since the seats are so low to the floor. On good roads it’s smooth riding, but once you hit some rippling pavement prepare for some interior turbulence due to the lackluster suspension. The fuel mileage is as expected for an SUV vehicle 17 miles per gallon in the city and 21 on the highway for the V6. Drop a mile or two for the V8. One plus is the warranty 10 years or 100,000 miles for the powertrain and the bumper-to-bumper warranty is 5 years or 60,000. Not bad.
The new Toyota Land Cruiser, by comparison, is simply a monster, and a hungry one at that. It’s been completely redesigned for 2009 and by the looks of the photos I’ve seen it’s absolutely gorgeous. But you’re going to pay for excellence around $65,500 to start out at the base price. So what value are you getting for that figure? Let’s start with the engine a 5.7 liter V-8 with 401 pound-feet of torque and 381 horsepower. The transmission is a 6-speed automatic. And with the standard all-wheel drive, it’ll tow 8,500 pounds without flinching with allow wheels 18 inches high. How’s that for value? The Land Cruiser is not a wimp by any means when it comes to flexing its muscles. What about comfort? Well, Jerry Garrett of the New York Times writes that:
Standard comforts include 12 cup holders, 28 air vents and a premium audio system with 14 speakers. There’s a power moonroof, leather seats (heated in front), a tilt-telescoping steering column, four-zone air-conditioning and three rows of seats for up to eight adventure-seekers.
The only reaction that comes to mind is “Wow.” There’s also something known as a Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System in place to keep everyone rolling along happily on bumpy terrain. On the highway expect world-class cruising. Also note that you have 81.7 cubic feet of super SUV cargo room when the rear seats are removed.
In terms of SUV safety features, all three of them are up to par with the current safety standards. Both have anti-lock brakes for starters. In the Borrego there are special air bags inserted in the front seats that inflate to protect the upper body in case of a side collision. There are also “air curtains” under the roof to protect everyone’s head on board should an accident occur. The Land Cruiser naturally has its own share of multiple air bags. An added option to definitely consider on the Land Cruiser is a rearview camera that will let you see where you’re backing up on the navigation system’s screen.
When it comes down to it, you’re looking at two opposing factors with these SUV vehicles–economy versus sheer, unrivaled power. Both choices will undoubtedly make both you and the kids happy I would imagine. But if you can afford it, you can’t go wrong with the Land Cruiser. Toyota has been building them since 1954 when they were a pint-sized version of this current incarnation. And you can drive it for years and years without worrying about when it’s going to give out. But you can buy two Kia Borregos for the price of one Land Cruiser, although they are not as gigantic. A sobering thought perhaps, but then again, we’re talking about a Land Cruiser here.
Happy driving!
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