2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2024 Kia Sorento

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia presented a bold and commanding presence, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. Its redesigned exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, distinguishing it from the Tundra's "manta ray on wheels" look. Inside, the Sequoia shared an industrial theme with the Tundra, highlighted by leather, wood, and metallic finishes in the upscale Capstone trim. The interior boasted a massive 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, but some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins. The Sequoia lineup included various trims, with prices starting at $59,895 for the base SR5 and reaching $79,895 for the Capstone with 4WD. Off-road enthusiasts could opt for the TRD Pro trim or add a TRD Off-Road Package to the SR5 and Limited trims for enhanced capability.

The 2024 Kia Sorento underwent a significant visual update, aligning it more closely with its siblings, the Telluride and EV9. The Sorento's exterior featured a bold new front end with vertically-stacked LED headlights and wing-like amber LED daytime running lights, giving it a larger and more intimidating appearance. The rear received subtle updates, including LED taillights and new bumpers. Inside, the Sorento showcased a modern and upscale cockpit with a new dashboard design. The gauge cluster and infotainment displays were combined under a single pane of glass, with higher trims offering twin 12.3-inch displays. The cabin materials were upgraded, with faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching on the optional leather-wrapped steering wheel and seats. The Sorento's trims remained the same, but the rugged X-Line package was now available only on EX and higher models, with the new X-Pro trim offering enhanced off-road capability.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a hybrid powertrain featuring a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity increased to 9,520 pounds, and its payload capacity improved to 1,730 pounds. Fuel efficiency also saw a boost, with EPA ratings of 20 mpg with 4WD and 22 mpg with RWD. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, with a Custom mode for personalized settings. However, the suspension could be busy and jittery in Normal mode, and the steering was slow, requiring effort in tight spaces. The regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times, especially in urban driving.

The 2024 Kia Sorento retained its mechanical components, with the base engine being a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine struggled with the Sorento's weight, resulting in a 0-60 mph time of nearly 10 seconds. Higher trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. Turbocharged Sorentos achieved 0-60 mph times in the mid-seven-second range and offered lively performance. The Sorento was primarily front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. The X-Line and X-Pro trims provided enhanced off-road capability, with increased ground clearance and all-terrain tires. The Sorento's ride was smooth and quiet, but the X-Line's large wheels could transmit vibrations on rough surfaces. The X-Pro trim excelled in off-road conditions, offering improved engine cooling and a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium sound system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The front seats were particularly comfortable, and the wide, flat, padded upper door panel shelf provided a convenient resting place for the driver's arm. Power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller individuals might find them cumbersome. The Sequoia's second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting third-row legroom. The third-row seat was mounted above the battery pack, resulting in a high floor and low roof, making it less comfortable than competitors. Cargo space was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with only 11.5 cubic feet available behind the third row. Folding the third-row seats expanded cargo capacity to 49 cubic feet, but the Sequoia's overall utility was reduced compared to its predecessor.

The 2024 Kia Sorento offered a comfortable and modern cabin, with ample legroom in the first two rows. The front seats provided 41.4 inches of legroom, while the second row offered 41.7 inches. The third row, with 29.6 inches of legroom, was tighter but still competitive within its class. The Sorento's cabin featured noise-insulating acoustic glass on higher trims, and the front seats could be heated and ventilated. The third row was suitable for children, making the Sorento a practical choice for families. The Sorento's new dashboard design was ergonomic, with controls within easy reach. Cargo space was limited with the third row in use, offering only 12.6 cubic feet. Folding the third row expanded cargo capacity to 38.5 to 45 cubic feet, depending on trim, and with all seats down, the Sorento provided up to 72.1 cubic feet of cargo space.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen on the base SR5 trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services allowed for user accounts and an Intelligent Assistant for voice commands. However, the system had some quirks, such as difficulty making calls via Apple CarPlay. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, but it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia also featured a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2024 Kia Sorento adopted a single-pane, twin-screen setup for its gauge and infotainment displays. All models featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, with higher trims offering a second 12.3-inch digital display. The new infotainment system, called "Connected Car Navigation Cockpit" (CCnC), prioritized popular features and offered a user-friendly interface. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the system supported over-the-air updates. The Sorento included USB-C outlets in all three rows and an auxiliary jack. Higher trims featured a Bose 12-speaker surround sound system, and Digital Key 2.0 allowed for keyless access and sharing.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5), which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. The Sequoia's adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems were effective, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping could be irritating. The Sequoia had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but the Tundra, on which it is based, received high ratings from IIHS.

The 2024 Kia Sorento featured Kia's Drivewise suite of active safety features, including adaptive cruise control with stop and go, forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, intersection assistance, lane-following and lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert with emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and safe exit warnings. Optional features included navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Highway Driving Assist 2 with automated lane changes. The Sorento's adaptive cruise control systems were designed to learn from driver behavior, though sensors could be blocked by dirt and snow. The Sorento had not been fully evaluated by IIHS or NHTSA, but previous models received favorable ratings.