2021 Toyota Sequoia vs 2021 Kia Sportage

The 2021 Kia Sportage was characterized by its distinctive design, featuring a tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights that some likened to a frog-like appearance. Kia described its styling as "Euro-focused," and the two-row crossover SUV's short wheelbase and overhangs made it well-suited for urban environments. The headlights were carried over from the previous year, and the Sportage offered wheel options ranging from 17 to 19 inches. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen served as the focal point, complemented by air vents and physical controls for tuning and volume. The interior, while not the most advanced in terms of technology and fashion, provided a comfortable and pleasant experience for occupants.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Sequoia, a second-generation model introduced in 2007, showed its age despite a facelift in 2018. The subtle updates, including lines connecting the grille to the headlights, were overshadowed by the vehicle's imposing silhouette. Inside, the Sequoia's massive, multi-tiered center dash design felt dated, with a standard 7-inch touchscreen appearing small against the expansive dash space. The front seats, though bulky, left tall drivers feeling cramped, especially with the optional sunroof. However, the second-row seats offered ample headroom and legroom, and all seats were comfortable and supportive. The Sequoia's trims ranged from the entry-level SR5 to the range-topping Platinum, each offering various features and packages to suit different preferences.

The 2021 Kia Sportage offered a choice of three trims: LX, EX, and SX Turbo, with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All models were equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD Sportage with the 2.4-liter engine was rated at 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while AWD models saw slightly lower figures. The Sportage's suspension provided a smooth ride, though the steering and tire grip left room for improvement. The SX Turbo trim, in particular, offered a sporty driving experience.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a robust 5.7-liter V8 engine, generating 381 horsepower and 401 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through a six-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard and four-wheel drive (4WD) available. Despite its weight of up to 6,000 pounds, the Sequoia delivered strong acceleration. The six-speed transmission, while somewhat outdated, contributed to a sense of power but impacted fuel economy. The Sequoia's driving dynamics resembled those of a truck, with a soft suspension and strong brakes. It exhibited some body roll in corners but maintained stability. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 7,400 pounds, falling short of competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, though on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, offered good interior space for passengers. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat and an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, along with heated and ventilated seats. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited, with 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was less competitive compared to other compact crossovers.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia's standout feature was its spacious cabin, offering nearly 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and over 66 cubic feet with the third row folded. With all rear seats folded, the Sequoia provided an impressive 120 cubic feet of cargo space. The power-retractable rear window was a convenient feature for accessing items without fully opening the hatch. While the front-row space could have been better utilized, the Sequoia offered deep in-door pockets, a massive center console, and multiple cupholders. Despite its age, the Sequoia provided ample storage options, though newer SUVs excelled in maximizing space.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface for its infotainment system, offering Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard. Most trims also included Kia's UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The technology was user-friendly, with logical menus, physical buttons, and knobs, though not groundbreaking.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot. Our test model had a larger 9-inch screen, which still felt small on the large dash. While the infotainment system was from a previous generation, it offered modern smartphone connectivity and was easy to use, with simple menus and large hard buttons. The digital trip computer was small but functional, and the Sequoia's simplicity was refreshing despite its dated technology.

The 2021 Kia Sportage excelled in safety, offering a comprehensive list of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control, which operated smoothly. The Sportage earned Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and performed well in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) crash tests.

The 2021 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. While lacking more advanced tech like lane-keeping assist, the Sequoia offered a generous list of safety features. However, it scored only four out of five stars in the NHTSA's rollover test and had not been rated in further crash tests.