2021 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Kia Sorento: There is nothing like experience

There are a lot of midsize SUVs on the market and their popularity is only growing. Their success isn’t surprising, given that midsize models offer everything that buyers are looking for including comfort, performance and various capacities.

This also explains the popularity of the two vehicles presented here, the 2021 Toyota Highlander and the 2021 Kia Sorento, completely redesigned for this year. The Sorento is a worthy competitor to the Highlander, but it can’t match its versatility, efficiency, and overall quality and resale value.

Let's see what makes the Toyota rep so irresistible in the market. What follows is not so much a review of the 2021 Kia Sorento, but rather a series of arguments that place the 2021 Toyota Highlander in the must-see category.

The hybrid version

Kia promises hybrid variants of its new Sorento, but as of this writing, those haven't arrived yet. In addition, we do not have precise figures on what they will offer.

If you're in the market for a hybrid SUV, you can get your hands on an electrified Toyota Highlander right now. Offered in four versions, it guarantees incredible performance at the pump with a combined average of 6.7 liters per 100 kilometers which is exceptional for a three-row SUV. The Highlander Hybrid also offers incredible resale value.

The quality

Kia has made remarkable progress in recent years, but when it comes to build quality, Toyota still sets the benchmark. This is visible when you walk around the cockpit where everything seems a just a bit more refined and the craftsmanship seems a bit more prevalent inside the Japanese model.

Reliability

The same goes for reliability. While Kia has made progress, it has had its ups and downs recently with its turbo engines. Toyota remains the benchmark for reliability and durability in the segments where it competes.

Towing capacity

Finally, there is another area where the Toyota Highlander puts the Kia Sorento in its back pocket and that is with towing capabilities. In fact, the Sorento was capable of towing 5,000 pounds before, but the arrival of a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine to replace the older V6 has melted capacity to 3,500 pounds.

However, Toyota still offers a V6-powered Highlander, so it is still possible to tow 5,000 pounds. After all, that's kind of what you'd expect from a vehicle of this size.

And our list could go on for a long time to come. The Toyota Highlander is a monument in its segment and remains one of the most impressive mid-size three-row SUVs you can buy.