2021 Kia Sorento vs Toyota Highlander

Regular commuters near Avon, Indianapolis, and Plainfield, IN, know how important it is to have a reliable SUV. Whether you’re commuting to work in the city or making your way along the Indiana countryside, you want to know your ride has what it takes. Well, the 2021 Kia Sorento¹ and Toyota Highlander are certainly up for the challenge. However, you can only drive one, so which will you choose?

At Andy Mohr Kia, we want to help you make the right decision for your specific needs. That’s why we’ve put together this Kia Sorento vs. Toyota Highlander comparison. The following information is designed to let you really dig into the benefits of each, so you can be sure you’re choosing the right model for you.

Check out our comparison and then contact us to schedule a test drive!

Powertrain Specs of the 2021 Sorento and Highlander

When you’re choosing the next SUV you’re going to drive around town, you want to know it has the powertrain to help you take on all four seasons. You’ll get that with both the 2021 Kia Sorento and Toyota Highlander.

Let’s start with engine power, which you can observe in the table below:

	2021 Kia Sorento	2021 Toyota Highlander
Standard engine	2.5L I-4	3.5L V6
Horsepower	191 horsepower	295 horsepower
Available engine	2.5L Turbocharged I-4	2.5L Hybrid
Horsepower	281 horsepower	243 combined net horsepower

As you can see, both SUVs have standard engines that can generate impressive horsepower right out of the gate. They also both pair this engine with a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission.

The 2021 Kia SUV has an available turbocharged engine that produces a thrilling 281 horsepower. The turbocharged engine comes with an 8-speeed Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT). A DCT gives you the best of both worlds by combining two manual transmissions with an automatic mechanism to provide maximum control and precision.

Otherwise, both SUVs have an available all-wheel drive (AWD) system that’s smart enough to adapt to changing roadway conditions and improve your traction control. To enhance your handling capabilities even more, they both also have a drive mode system that lets you customize your powertrain for the exact conditions you face—including snow.

Smart Safety Tech: Kia vs Highlander

2021 sounds like a futuristic year, so it’s no surprise that both the 2021 Kia Sorento and Toyota Highlander come with futuristic driver-assistive technologies designed to keep you safer when out on the road.

This includes standard and available systems you’ll get with both SUVs, like:

• Forward collision mitigation
• Smart Cruise Control

They also both have a blind spot monitoring system that provides a visual cue when another ride enters your side blind spot. The Sorento goes the extra mile, however, by also including Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist-Rear.

In addition to alerting you to roadsters in your blind spots, Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist-Rear provides automatic braking and steering assist if you start to merge when the coast isn’t clear. The Highlander, on the other hand, doesn’t offer a comparable collision-mitigation feature.

If you’re doing some driving in the city and you need to parallel park, exiting your ride into incoming traffic can be dangerous. So, the 2021 Sorento comes with Safe Exit Assist. Safe Exit Assist locks the doors if it detects models approaching your parked SUV from behind. If the doors are already open, it’ll provide an audible alert.

Without a similar feature, Highlander drivers may find themselves less aware of oncoming roadsters while exiting their SUV.

Kia Sorento vs Toyota Highlander: Interior

When we slide behind the wheel of either the Kia Sorento or Toyota Highlander, we find an inviting cabin with ample seating for three rows of passengers. That’s ideal for carpooling to dance or baseball practice or for vacationing with the extended family.

When you hit the road, you can stay entertained and informed through the standard touchscreen in the center stack of both models. This is your command center for all your entertainment and connectivity features, like standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.

Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ essentially integrate your phone with your ride, so you can safely access some of your favorite smartphone apps through your SUV’s display. Apps you can use on the go include:

• Navigation
• Internet radio streaming
• Audiobooks
• Podcasts
• Phone contacts and texts

One big difference we noticed between the two SUVs, however, is that the 2021 Sorento comes with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ that connect over Bluetooth® instead of through cumbersome wires. With the Highlander, unfortunately, you’ll need your charging cable to connect your smartphone to your model via these features.

Still, if you forget your charging cable, the Highlander also has an available integrated navigation system that you can use to receive turn-by-turn directions to your destination. This is an available feature with the Sorento as well.

1. Model not yet released. All specs mentioned herein have been cited from the manufacturer’s website and are subject to change by the manufacturer.?