Compare the2022 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2022 Kia Sorento Hybrid

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

Safety

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The Highlander Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum has standard Automated Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Highlander Hybrid (except LE/XLE/Bronze) offers an optional Bird’s Eye View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Sorento Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and the Sorento Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, 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 all wheel drive.

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

	Highlander Hybrid	Sorento Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	292	334
Leg Forces (l/r)	321/243 lbs.	212/405 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	328	390
Neck Injury Risk	28.4%	53%

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento Hybrid is only a standard “Top Pick” for 2021.

Warranty

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

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander Hybrid for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Sorento Hybrid.

There are over 62 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander Hybrid third among upper midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Sorento Hybrid isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Kia is ranked 15th.

Engine

The Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 16 more horsepower (243 vs. 227) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid LE AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Sorento Hybrid 4x4 (35 city/35 hwy vs. 36 city/33 hwy).

Transmission

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

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

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Highlander Hybrid LE/XLE/Bronze has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sorento Hybrid S. The Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum’s 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Sorento Hybrid EX.

Suspension and Handling

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

For greater off-road capability the Highlander Hybrid has a 1.15 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Hybrid (8 vs. 6.85 inches), allowing the Highlander Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Highlander Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Highlander Hybrid has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry 6.

The Highlander Hybrid has 36 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (141.3 vs. 105.3).

The Highlander Hybrid has .9 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .3 inches more rear legroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room, .6 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.1 inches more third row hip room and 2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento Hybrid.

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

Cargo Capacity

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

	Highlander Hybrid	Sorento Hybrid
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

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area is larger than the Sorento Hybrid’s in almost every dimension:

	Highlander Hybrid	Sorento Hybrid
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	17.8”/48”/80.7”	15.5”/42.5”/76.5”
Max Width	50”	54”
Min Width	45.8”	42.4”
Height	31”	33”

Towing

The Highlander Hybrid’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Hybrid’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each keyless remote activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a memory system.

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

The Highlander Hybrid’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 Hybrid’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Highlander Hybrid 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 Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Highlander Hybrid Bronze/Platinum’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Sorento Hybrid’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Highlander Hybrid to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Highlander Hybrid Bronze/Limited/Platinum is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Sorento Hybrid’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and the Sorento Hybrid offer available heated front seats. The Highlander Hybrid Platinum also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Sorento Hybrid.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Highlander Hybrid Bronze/Limited/Platinum has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Kia Sorento by almost four to one during the 2021 model year.