2024 Kia Sorento vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a significant addition to Toyota's lineup, positioned between the Highlander and the Sequoia. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with models like the RAV4 and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. The Grand Highlander was notably large, measuring 5,115 millimetres in length with a 2,950 mm wheelbase, offering a spacious interior that rivaled larger SUVs like the Kia Telluride. Its design was more conservative and blocky, reminiscent of rugged vehicles, with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights that echoed the 4Runner's styling. Inside, the Grand Highlander offered three trims—XLE, Limited, and Platinum—with features like black Softex synthetic leather, real leather in higher trims, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat. The interior was well-built, with ample storage and comfort features, making it a reliable choice for road trips.

The 2024 Kia Sorento received a major visual update, aligning it more closely with its siblings like the Telluride and EV9. The new design featured a bold front end with vertically stacked LED headlights and wing-like daytime running lights, giving it a more imposing presence. The rear updates were subtle, with new bumpers and LED taillights on higher trims. The Sorento's trims included LX, EX, X-Line, X-Line Limited, and the new X-Pro, each offering distinct features and styling. Inside, the Sorento boasted a redesigned dashboard with a single-pane, twin-screen setup, and improved materials, giving it a more upscale feel. The cabin was spacious in the first two rows, though the third row remained tight. Despite this, the Sorento offered advantages over smaller SUVs and was nearly as roomy as larger alternatives. The interior was well-appointed, with features like noise-insulating glass and optional ventilated seats, making it a comfortable choice for families.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-litre hybrid option provided 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, while the top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models in Canada came with all-wheel drive, and the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was large, making it less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart, the Highlander, but it offered solid brakes and adequate acceleration. It featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional off-road modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2024 Kia Sorento retained its mechanical components, with the base engine being a 2.5-litre four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. Higher trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sorento's turbocharged models offered lively performance, with zero-to-100 times in the mid-seven-second range. All Sorentos in Canada came with all-wheel drive, and the X-Line and X-Pro trims offered increased ground clearance. The Sorento handled confidently, with well-weighted steering and effective brakes. The X-Pro trim, with its all-terrain tires, excelled in off-road conditions, offering improved towing capacity and engine cooling.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was notably larger than its rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase. This translated to significant cargo space, with a total capacity of 2,761 litres, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride. Even with all seats in use, it offered 583 litres of cargo space. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in all rows, making it suitable for adults even in the third row.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's cabin was modern and comfortable in the first two rows, though the third row remained tight with 752 mm of legroom. Despite this, it offered advantages over smaller SUVs and was nearly as roomy as larger alternatives. The Sorento provided 1,052 mm of legroom in the front and 1,060 mm in the second row, with comfortable seats and noise-insulating glass on higher trims. The third row offered limited cargo space with 357 litres, but folding it down increased capacity to 1,090 to 1,274 litres, depending on the configuration. With all seats down, it offered up to 2,139 litres of cargo space.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous models. It offered dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 11-speaker JBL stereo on higher trims. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available via a subscription, enhancing the system's functionality.

The 2024 Kia Sorento adopted a single-pane, twin-screen setup with a 12.3-inch screen on all models. The new infotainment system, called "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" (CCnC), prioritized popular features and offered a user-friendly interface. Navigation was standard on higher trims, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were now standard across all models. The Sorento also featured over-the-air updates, USB-C outlets in all rows, and a Bose 12-speaker audio system on top trims. Digital Key 2.0 was available on higher trims, allowing keyless access and sharing.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested, but it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, including features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Platinum grade offered additional features like traffic jam assist and a head-up display.

The 2024 Kia Sorento offered an extensive suite of standard and optional safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. Higher trims featured Highway Driving Assist 2 with automated lane changes. The Sorento had not been fully evaluated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but previous models received good ratings in several tests.