Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4 Plug-In HybridVS 2024 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In 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 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 Plug-In Hybrid 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is safer than the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid:

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is 2.6% less likely to roll over than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’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 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid.

There are over 56 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s warranty.

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 Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s reliability 34 points higher than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 second in reliability, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 8th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 10th.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid is faster than the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid:

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door and a locking charge port and which locks and unlocks with the power locks, respectively. The Sorento Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and a locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

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

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE handles at .83 G’s, while the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Prestige pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid XSE executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid Prestige (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid SE has a 1.1 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid (8 vs. 6.9 inches), allowing the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid.

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

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

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In Hybrid easier. The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.8 inches, while the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid’s liftover is 31.7 inches.

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

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid 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 Plug-In 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 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 Plug-In Hybrid 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid will cost $1795 less than the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid over a five-year period.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid will retain 59.06% to 59.32% of its original price after five years, while the Sorento Plug-In Hybrid only retains 54.39%.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Kia Sorento by almost five to one during 2023.