Compare the2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In HybridVS 2025 Toyota Sienna

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2024Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. XPYNN-M34HG 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2024/11/21

Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and Sienna have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Sienna’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

With its standard Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Toyota Sienna, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	Sienna
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-21 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	-34 MPH	-27 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	-33 MPH	-24 MPH

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

Both the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and the Sienna have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Toyota Sienna:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	Sienna
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	3 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	21%	61%
Neck Stress	168 lbs.	389 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	132 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	212/405 lbs.	323/323 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	200 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	81/191 lbs.	448/220 lbs.

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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Toyota Sienna:

	Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	Sienna
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	280	371

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

Warranty

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Sienna’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Sienna. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Sienna ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

Engine

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 16 more horsepower (261 vs. 245) than the Sienna’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid can travel with zero emissions for 30 miles. The Sienna can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Toyota Sienna (6). This means the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Sienna every 15,000 miles.

Tires and Wheels

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Sienna LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sienna LE/XLE.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is .4 feet tighter than the Sienna’s (37.9 feet vs. 38.3 feet). The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Sienna XSE/Platinum FWD’s (37.9 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Sienna (6.9 vs. 6.4 inches), allowing the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is 1 foot, 2.1 inches shorter than the Sienna, making the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is 1 foot, 2.5 inches shorter than the Sienna XSE.

Passenger Space

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid has .2 inches more front headroom, 1.1 inches more front legroom and .4 inches more rear legroom than the Sienna.

Cargo Capacity

The Sienna’s spare tire is stored in the cargo area, where it diminishes the useable cargo capacity and interferes with loading and unloading. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s spare is out of the way underneath.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Sienna doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Ergonomics

The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s standard Smart Key allows you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Pushbutton Start standard on the Sienna only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the van. Pushbutton Start is not available on the Sienna XLE/XSE/Woodland/Limited/Platinum.

The Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid 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. Toyota charges extra for Homelink® on the Sienna.

Recommendations

The Kia Sorento outsold the Toyota Sienna by 33% during 2023.