2024 Kia Sorento vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander presented itself as a true crossover, built on the TNGA-K platform. This vehicle maintained the underpinnings of its sibling models, such as the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing it from the body-on-frame Sequoia. The Grand Highlander's expansive exterior measured 201.4 inches in length and sat on a 116.1-inch wheelbase, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride in size. It offered an imposing road presence with its conservative yet rugged styling, reminiscent of both the Ford Explorer and the genuine off-road aesthetic of the 4Runner.

Toyota provided the Grand Highlander in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum. Even the base XLE trim boasted a sense of luxury with its light gray or black Softex synthetic leather seats, which were upgraded to real leather in the Limited and Platinum trims. The interior was functional and roomy, featuring a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat and heated front seats across all trims. It catered to family trips with its substantive storage space and user-friendly entry features to the third row.

In contrast, the 2024 Kia Sorento received a major visual update, aligning it more closely with the robust designs of its siblings, the Telluride and EV9. A bold new front end, adorned with a substantial grille and stacked LED headlights, gave the Sorento a larger and more intimidating look. The rear updates were more subtle but included high-end LED taillights on higher trims and stylish new bumpers and wheels giving modern appeal.

Inside, the Sorento's cabin conveyed a sense of upscale sophistication with its redesigned dashboard, unified gauge cluster, and infotainment displays. Premium materials were evident throughout, particularly in higher trims, which featured luxurious elements like faux open-pore wood grain and refined stitching. The overall build quality and clean design were steps up from previous models, making the Sorento's interior a pleasant environment despite its compact third row.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options: a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid with 245 combined horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque, and the top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain with 362 combined horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid variants were available in front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), while the Hybrid Max exclusively came with AWD. The typical Grand Highlander with the turbo gas engine, which Toyota anticipated would account for 85% of sales, provided satisfactory acceleration and braking, though it could feel cumbersome due to its size and somewhat numb steering.

For the 2024 Kia Sorento, the base engine remained a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder, generating 191 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque. While this engine struggled with the vehicle's weight, leading to a nearly 10-second 0-60 mph time, the EX and higher trims featured a more potent turbocharged 2.5-liter engine delivering 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque. This engine was paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission, offering better off-the-line performance and responsiveness. The Sorento offered FWD by default and AWD as a pricier option, which included the rugged X-Line package with more ground clearance and capability for light off-road conditions.

Both vehicles provided multiple drive modes, but the Sorento's AWD models, particularly the X-Pro, demonstrated a higher aptitude for off-road conditions.

The Grand Highlander's dimensions translated to an exceptional interior space. Measuring 201.4 inches in length and spanning a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it offered more room than most of its rivals. The cargo capacity was impressive, totaling 97.5 cubic feet with seats down, 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats in place. These numbers surpassed those of competitors like the Kia Telluride and even approached minivan territory, making it an excellent choice for families needing substantial passenger and cargo space.

In the Sorento, the updated cabin maintained comfort in the first two rows, with generous legroom of 41.4 inches in the front and 41.7 inches in the second row. However, the third row was tighter with 29.6 inches of rear legroom, more suitable for children or short trips. Cargo capacity in the Sorento was more limited than in the Grand Highlander, offering 12.6 cubic feet with all seats up, expanding to 38.5 to 45 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 72.1 cubic feet with all seats folded.

Toyota equipped the 2024 Grand Highlander with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, and an optional JBL 11-speaker stereo system for the Limited and Platinum trims. Additional features like the intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation required a subscription, but they enhanced the system's functionality significantly.

For the 2024 Sorento, Kia introduced an intuitive, newly designed infotainment system called the Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (CCnC). All trims now featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, with higher trims also getting a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. This setup promoted a clean and elegant dashboard appearance. The new software prioritized ease of use and essential features, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard on all models. The SX-Prestige trim offered a premium Bose 12-speaker sound system and the innovative Digital Key 2.0 for added convenience.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), including features such as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. While specific crash test ratings were not yet available, Toyota's robust safety suite provided a strong foundation for occupant protection.

The 2024 Kia Sorento featured the comprehensive Drivewise suite of safety features, which included adaptive cruise control with stop and go, forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, intersection assistance, lane-following and lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with emergency braking, and safe exit warnings among others. Advanced features like Highway Driving Assist 2 and surround-view cameras were available on higher trims. Although IIHS and NHTSA ratings were pending, the suite's extensive capabilities confirmed the Sorento's commitment to safety.