Compare the2025 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2025 Kia Sorento Hybrid

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Grand Highlander 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Grand 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 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 Grand Highlander and the Sorento Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Grand Highlander’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 Grand 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 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 Grand Highlander’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 Grand Highlander’s reliability 15 points higher than the Sorento 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 Grand Highlander Hybrid’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 18 more horsepower (245 vs. 227) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Grand Highlander’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 38 more horsepower (265 vs. 227) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 135 more horsepower (362 vs. 227) and 142 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 258) than the Sorento Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Grand Highlander Hybrid 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Kia Sorento Hybrid:

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Toyota Grand Highlander, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Sorento Hybrid.

The Grand Highlander offers an available 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.

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

The Grand Highlander stops shorter than the Sorento Hybrid:

For better traction, the Grand Highlander has larger tires than the Sorento Hybrid (255/65R18 vs. 235/55R19).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum has standard 20-inch wheels. The Sorento Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Highlander’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Sorento Hybrid (116.1 inches vs. 110.8 inches).

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

The Grand Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Sorento Hybrid can only carry 6.

The Grand Highlander has 48 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Sorento Hybrid (153.3 vs. 105.3).

The Grand Highlander has 1.2 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room, .7 inches more rear shoulder room, .4 inches more third row headroom, 3.9 inches more third row legroom, 3.2 inches more third row hip room and 4.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Sorento Hybrid.

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

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

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

The Grand Highlander Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer 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 Grand 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 Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

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

The Grand Highlander’s standard Smart Key System allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key standard on the Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Grand Highlander 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.

The Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Highlander Platinum also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Sorento Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

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

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Sorento Hybrid has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.