Compare the2026 Kia SorentoVS 2026 Toyota Highlander

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Sorento and Highlander have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Sorento has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Highlander’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Kia Sorento achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Toyota Highlander has not been tested.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Sorento has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Highlander Limited/Platinum offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Sorento and the Highlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Kia Sorento is safer than the Toyota Highlander:

	Sorento	Highlander
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	23%	38.2%
Neck Stress	208 lbs.	347 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	139 lbs.	179 lbs.
Neck Compression	52 lbs.	90 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	118/119 lbs.	545/323 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Sorento is much safer than the Highlander:

	Sorento	Highlander
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	MARGINAL

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Kia Sorento is safer than the Toyota Highlander:

	Sorento	Highlander
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	25	55
Hip Force	196 lbs.	300 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	114
Spine Acceleration	29 G’s	37 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	15 inches	15 inches
HIC	228	366
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	552 lbs.	664 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Kia Sorento has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Highlander is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Sorento comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Highlander’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sorento 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Highlander. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Highlander ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia above average in initial quality. With 19 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

Engine

The Sorento EX/SX’s standard 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 16 more horsepower (281 vs. 265) and 1 lbs.-ft. more torque (311 vs. 310) than the Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Sorento EX/SX 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Toyota Highlander:

	Sorento	Highlander
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.5 sec	7.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.9 sec	4.4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.9 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sorento gets better mileage than the Highlander:

			MPG
Sorento
	FWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/31 hwy
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	23 city/28 hwy
Highlander
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

Transmission

The Sorento offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Highlander doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Sorento EX/SX’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander (255/45R20 vs. 235/65R18).

The Sorento EX/SX’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Sorento has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For greater off-road capability the Sorento has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Sorento to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Kia Sorento may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 550 pounds less than the Toyota Highlander.

The Sorento LX/S/EX/SX is 5.3 inches shorter than the Highlander, making the Sorento easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Sorento has .7 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more third row headroom and 1.6 inches more third row legroom than the Highlander.

Cargo Capacity

The Sorento has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Highlander doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Sorento’s second row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Highlander doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Ergonomics

The Sorento Prestige’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

Model Availability

The Sorento is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Highlander doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

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

The Kia Sorento outsold the Toyota Highlander by 389 units during 2024.

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