Compare the2023 Toyota Rav4 PrimeVS 2023 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 Prime have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Rav4 Prime 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 Plug-In 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.

Both the Rav4 Prime and the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, 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 and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 Prime the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

The Rav4 Prime’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 Prime 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 Plug-In Hybrid.

There are over 59 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Prime’s warranty.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

The Rav4 Prime’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 41 more horsepower (302 vs. 261) than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running on electricity gets better mileage than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity (105 city/84 hwy vs. 83 city/75 hwy MPGe).

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Prime running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine (40 city/36 hwy vs. 35 city/33 hwy).

The Rav4 Prime can travel with zero emissions on electricity, only, on a full charge for 42 miles. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 32 miles.

The Rav4 Prime has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (14.5 vs. 12.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Rav4 Prime 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 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Prime SE’s turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.9 feet). The Rav4 Prime XSE’s turning circle is .5 feet tighter than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s (37.4 feet vs. 37.9 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Prime SE has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Rav4 Prime to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Prime XSE’s minimum ground clearance is 1.3 inches higher than on the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (8.2 vs. 6.9 inches).

The Toyota Rav4 Prime may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

The Rav4 Prime is 8.5 inches shorter than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, making the Rav4 Prime easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Rav4 Prime 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 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Rav4 Prime has a much larger cargo volume than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat up (33.5 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Rav4 Prime easier. The Rav4 Prime’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

The Rav4 Prime’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s (2500 vs. 2000 pounds).

The Rav4 Prime XSE offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed 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 Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the Rav4 Prime 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 Plug-In Hybrid can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Rav4 Prime XSE offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Rav4 Prime and the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Kia Sorento by almost five to one during 2022.