Kia Sportage vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Kia Sportage emerged with a bold redesign, shedding its previous iterations' varied styles for a look that was both exciting and exotic. Its design, reminiscent of French automakers, featured standout elements like boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar, which added a touch of sophistication. The Sportage's interior offered a mix of synthetic leather and cloth, with a focus on durability and animal-friendliness, though some materials felt less premium. The driver’s view was enhanced by a large windshield and low beltline, while the dashboard boasted over two feet of display in higher trims, though some interior elements were more typical of its class.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander, built on the TNGA-K platform, was a true crossover with a spacious and rugged design. Its styling was more conservative and blocky, drawing inspiration from off-road vehicles like the 4Runner. The Grand Highlander was larger than its competitors, offering a roomy interior with ample headroom and legroom across all three rows. Its design included a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, contributing to its robust appearance. Inside, the Grand Highlander featured Softex synthetic leather in the XLE trim, with real leather available in higher trims, ensuring comfort and luxury.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While it provided more power than the previous model, it lacked the punch of the discontinued turbocharged engine. Fuel economy was slightly improved, with figures of 9.3 L/100 km city and 7.4 highway for FWD, and 10.4 city and 8.5 highway for AWD. The Sportage's X-Line trim added rugged visual cues but no off-road enhancements, though it handled off-pavement challenges well with 21 cm of ground clearance.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, including a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder with 265 horsepower and a 2.5-litre hybrid with 245 horsepower. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models featured AWD, with the Hybrid Max offering impressive acceleration. The Grand Highlander’s size made it less maneuverable, but its brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. It featured three drive modes, with additional off-road modes for gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, now larger than its predecessor, offered impressive interior space with 1,050 mm of rear-seat legroom and 1,121 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats. The front featured practical storage solutions, though the touch-sensitive HVAC controls were frustrating. The Sportage’s increased size positioned it more competitively in its segment.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander excelled in space, with a length of over 5 metres and a 2,950 mm wheelbase. It offered 2,761 litres of total cargo capacity, surpassing many rivals. The interior was comfortable, with ample room in all rows, making it suitable for adults even in the third row. Its spaciousness and comfort made it an attractive option for families.

The 2023 Kia Sportage featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system in higher trims, paired with a digital instrument cluster. While visually impressive, the system’s wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were a drawback. The Sportage included standard Bluetooth, keyless entry, and a wireless charger in higher trims, with a Harman Kardon audio system in the top trim.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering features like dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available via subscription. The JBL stereo system was standard in higher trims, providing quality sound. Toyota’s tech had improved, but subscription options required careful consideration.

The 2023 Kia Sportage included standard safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The X-Line Limited trim offered advanced features like a blind-view monitor and highway driving assist, though crash-test ratings were unavailable.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with standard features like automatic emergency braking and lane-departure alert. The Platinum grade included traffic jam assist and a head-up display. Adaptive cruise control was standard, with four following-distance settings. Crash-test ratings were not yet available.