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Toyota Highlander vs Kia Sorento

Toyota Highlander vs. Kia Sorento

Compare repair costs, reliability, and owner reviews

Toyota Highlander

$489

Average Annual

Repair Cost

Kia Sorento

$533

Average Annual

Repair Cost

Overall Reliability Rating

Above Average

The Toyota Highlander Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 7th out of 26 for midsize SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $489 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. The frequency and severity of repairs are both fairly average when compared with all other vehicles.

Excellent

The Kia Sorento Reliability Rating is 4.0 out of 5.0, which ranks it 12th out of 26 for compact SUVs. The average annual repair cost is $533 which means it has lower than average ownership costs. Repairs are less severe and less frequent than the average car, so the Sorento is one of the more reliable vehicles on the road.

Cost

Average annual repairs total

$489

inexpensive

expensive

$533

inexpensive

expensive

Frequency

Average annual repair shop visits

0.33

not often

very often

0.29

not often

very often

Severity

Percentage of annual repairs that are urgent

13%

not urgent

urgent

11%

not urgent

urgent

Overall Car Ratings & Details

(34 Reviews)

(104 Reviews)

5		(13)
4		(17)
3		(3)
2		(1)
1		(0)

Read reviews

“About the Highlander V6 3.3 Liter, 4WD. Pros: powerful engine, good brakes. Cons: not really 7 passengers Toyota SUV”

“About the Highlander V6 3.3 Liter, 4WD. Pros: powerful engine, good brakes. Cons: not really 7...”

480 known problems

88 known recalls

5		(2)
4		(37)
3		(31)
2		(23)
1		(11)

Read reviews

The Kia Sorento ranks highest in interior and ranks lowest in safety.

“Great car. Bought it for the Mrs. She loves it. Never breaks down. Minor issues, but not enough to change my ratings.”

“Great car. Bought it for the Mrs. She loves it. Never breaks down. Minor issues, but not...”

1770 known problems

35 known recalls

Vehicle Comparison Rundown

The Kia Sorento and the Toyota Highlander are both midsize three-row SUVs. Both of them come with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.

The engines in these two vehicles are closely matched. Both the Sorento and the Highlander offer a standard engine with 185 horsepower. Upgrading to their optional engines, the Sorento provides 290 horsepower, while the Highlander has 295 horsepower. The Highlander also offers a hybrid version, for those who want a lighter carbon footprint.

The Highlander is a bit roomier. The Kia Sorento has 73 cubic feet of cargo space when the second and third rows are folded down. The Toyota Highlander comes out way ahead, with 83.2 cubic feet of space behind the front seats. That’s a significant difference.

Each of these SUVs offers something that could make the difference for you. The Sorento has Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a great advantage if you plan to keep your vehicle a long time.

The Highlander has the Toyota Safety Sense precollision system as standard equipment. It includes pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, and dynamic radar cruise control.

The Sorento’s got the warranty, and the Highlander has the latest advanced safety equipment, plus more space. Which is more important to you?

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