2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Kia Sorento

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, and this was evident in its design cues such as hexagonal grilles, wheel arches, and strong fender creases. The exterior colour significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model featuring more chrome and presented in Celestial Silver, giving it a somewhat dated look. Inside, the Sequoia closely resembled the Tundra with a blocky, geometric dashboard layout, physical dials, and buttons for climate control. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered SofTex leatherette or standard leather. The Sequoia provided power-adjustable front seats across all trims and included a power-tilt and -slide moonroof, enhancing its interior appeal.

The 2024 Kia Sorento underwent a major visual update, aligning more closely with its siblings like the Telluride and EV9. It featured a robust new front end with vertically stacked LED headlights and wing-like daytime running lights, giving it a larger and more intimidating presence. The rear received subtle updates, including LED taillights on higher trims. Inside, the Sorento boasted a new dashboard with a clean, horizontal design, and combined gauge cluster and infotainment displays under a single pane of glass. The cabin materials were upgraded, with faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching on higher trims, enhancing its upscale feel. The Sorento offered a brown interior colour option, adding character to its already solidly assembled and upscale cabin.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively available in a hybrid format, utilizing Toyota’s iForce MAX hybrid powertrain. This combined a twin-turbo V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 427 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque, a significant increase over its predecessor. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved to 11.7 L/100 km combined with 4WD. It came standard with 4WD and a 10-speed automatic transmission, offering adequate on-road handling. The SR5 TRD Off-Road model provided adventure-readiness with unique tires, off-road suspension, and driver-assist features like Crawl Control. The Sequoia's maximum towing capacity was 4,137 kilograms, with towing-related upgrades available.

The 2024 Kia Sorento retained most of its mechanical components, with the base engine being a 2.5-litre four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower. However, the EX and higher models featured a turbocharged 2.5-litre engine with 281 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. The Sorento offered AWD as standard in Canada, with varying ground clearance depending on the trim. It provided confident cornering and well-weighted steering, with the X-Pro trim offering enhanced off-road capabilities. The Sorento's towing capacity varied by trim, with the X-Pro rated at 2,040 kilograms. Fuel economy for the gas-powered versions was average, with the non-turbo powertrain rated at 9.4 L/100 km combined.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia featured automatic power-deploying running boards, aiding entry for shorter individuals. It offered a maximum of 2,460 litres of cargo space with both second- and third-row seats folded. The second-row seats were easy to move for access to the back row, and the third-row seats could be folded down at the push of a button, though they did not create a flat load floor. The Sequoia's interior dimensions included 995 mm of headroom in the front, 952 to 975 mm in the middle, and 904 mm in the back. Legroom ranged from 713 to 855 mm in the third row, 995 mm in the second row, and 1,041 mm in the first row. Second-row captain’s chairs were available on higher trims, providing wide but flat seating.

The 2024 Kia Sorento offered a comfortable cabin with ample legroom in the first two rows, measuring 1,052 mm in the front and 1,060 mm in the second row. The third row, with 752 mm of legroom, was tighter but still competitive compared to larger vehicles like the Toyota Highlander. The Sorento's optional captain’s chairs in the second row allowed for easy access to the back. The new dashboard design was ergonomic, with plenty of small-item storage space. Cargo space was compromised with the third row in use, offering 357 litres, but expanded to 1,090 to 1,274 litres with it folded down. With all seats down, the Sorento provided up to 2,139 litres of cargo space.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessible through an 8-inch touchscreen on the SR5 trim and a 14-inch screen on higher trims. The Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness. The Sequoia featured a full-colour 12.3-inch driver information display and a Panoramic View monitor on Platinum and Capstone trims. A 10-inch colour head-up display was standard on Capstone, and a 14-speaker JBL Premium Audio system was available on higher trims.

The 2024 Kia Sorento adopted a single-pane, twin-screen setup for its gauge and infotainment displays. All models featured a 12.3-inch central infotainment screen with the new "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" software, prioritizing popular features on the home screen. Navigation was standard from the X-Line trim up, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity were now standard across all trims. The Sorento offered USB-C outlets in all three rows and a Bose 12-speaker surround sound system on top trims. X-Line Limited and X-Pro models included Digital Key 2.0, allowing smartphone access to the vehicle.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia included the Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) 2.5 suite as standard, featuring a pre-collision system, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and road-sign recognition. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The only optional driver aid was a trailer backup guide with Straight-Path Assist on higher trims. The Sequoia had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA, but the similar Tundra earned a Top Safety Pick+ designation.

The 2024 Kia Sorento offered an extensive suite of standard and optional safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-following assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included navigation-based adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist 2 with automated lane changes. The Sorento's adaptive cruise control systems were enhanced with better sensors and machine-learning capabilities. The IIHS had not fully evaluated the 2024 Sorento, but it received "Good" ratings in several tests. The NHTSA had not yet evaluated the 2024 model.