Compare the2026 Toyota HighlanderVS 2025 Kia Sorento

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Highlander has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Sorento doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Highlander. But it costs extra on the Sorento.

The Toyota Highlander’s rear backup camera has a standard washer for maintaining a clear view under various conditions. In contrast, the Kia Sorento does not offer a rear camera washer, meaning its effectiveness relies on manual cleaning by the user when necessary.

Both the Highlander and the Sorento have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Highlander	Sorento
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	292	446
Neck Compression	55 lbs.	58 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	321/243 lbs.	276/445 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	328	340
Neck Injury Risk	28.4%	43%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Kia Sorento:

	Highlander	Sorento
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.7 inches
Abdominal Force	79 lbs.	117 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	152 lbs.	196 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Highlander’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sorento runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sorento.

There are over 55 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Highlander’s reliability 21 points higher than the Sorento.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 11th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

Engine

The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 74 more horsepower (265 vs. 191) and 129 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 181) than the Sorento LX/S’ standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better fuel mileage than the Sorento 2.5T AWD (21 city/28 hwy vs. 20 city/27 hwy).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Highlander’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Sorento:

	Highlander	Sorento
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	12.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.3 inches	12 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Highlander XLE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento LX.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Highlander’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the Sorento (112.2 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento (8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 36.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento (141.8 vs. 105.3).

The Highlander has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room, .3 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.1 inches more third row hip room and 2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander’s middle and third row seats recline. The Sorento’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the Sorento.

	Highlander	Sorento
Behind Third Seat	16 cubic feet	12.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	48.4 cubic feet	38.5 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.3 cubic feet	75.5 cubic feet

Towing

The Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento’s (5000 vs. 2000 pounds).

Ergonomics

The Highlander Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Sorento doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Highlander’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sorento’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Highlander the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Sorento can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Sorento’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Highlander’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Sorento’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Highlander Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sorento doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Highlander has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Sorento S/EX/SX.

The Toyota Highlander has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Kia charges extra for Homelink® on the Sorento.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Highlander has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Sorento S/EX/SX offers wireless charging.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Toyota Highlander retains 58.21% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 47.74% resale value of the 2025 Kia Sorento after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Highlander and the Kia Sorento, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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