2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

$47,990 · Crossover

$44,710 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

Trying to decide between a versatile PHEV SUV like the 2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and the massive 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid? This comparison highlights a clear tradeoff between electric flexibility and sheer passenger/cargo volume. The Sorento starts at $47,990 and offers a 30-mile electric range, making short daily commutes purely electric for many drivers, though its 12.6 cu ft cargo space is notably tight. Conversely, the larger Grand Highlander, priced lower at $44,710, compensates for its lack of plug-in capability with a substantial 20.6 cu ft of cargo space and slightly better overall efficiency at 34 combined MPG. While the Kia boasts 261 hp, the Toyota’s greater overall size—it's over 11 inches longer—is its main strength against the Kia's smaller footprint.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

The Kia Sorento PHEV wins for commuters due to its dedicated 30-mile electric range, potentially eliminating daily gas usage.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offers significantly more usable space with 20.6 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Kia's 12.6 cu ft.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid

The Kia Sorento PHEV takes the edge with slightly higher output, generating 261 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offers a better entry price point at $44,710 while delivering superior combined fuel economy at 34 MPG.

Choose the Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid if...

You prioritize plugging in, as the 2025 Kia Sorento offers a dedicated 30-mile electric range.
You prefer a slightly smaller footprint for easier city parking, evidenced by its 189.6-inch length.
You want the extra power, as the Kia delivers 261 horsepower versus the Toyota's 245 hp.

Choose the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid if...

Maximum utility is key, given the Grand Highlander’s substantial 20.6 cu ft of cargo space.
You want to save upfront costs, as the Toyota has an MSRP that is $3,280 lower than the Kia.
Your daily driving heavily favors highway travel, where the Toyota achieves 32 MPG on the highway.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid	Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid
Length	189.6"	201.4"
Width	74.8"	78.3"
Height	66.9"	72.1"
Wheelbase	110.8"	116.1"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	—
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	✓
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	—
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	—
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	✓	✓
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	2	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Base Engine Displacement	1.6 L	2.5 L
Number of Cylinders	inline 4	inline 4
Base Engine Type	plug-in hybrid	hybrid
Horsepower	261 hp	245 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque	258 lb-ft	—
Number of Valves	16	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓

Drive Train

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Transmission Type	6-speed shiftable automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	all wheel drive	all wheel drive
Center Differential Type	Limited Slip	—
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓

Fuel

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	33/34 MPG	36/32 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	33 MPG	34 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	409.2/421.6 mi.	619.2/550.4 mi.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	77/71 MPGe	—
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	74 MPGe	—
EPA Electric Driving Range	30 mi.	—
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	45	—
Charging Time (240V)	3.4 hr.	—
Fuel Tank Capacity	12.4 gal.	17.2 gal.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	SAE J1772	—

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Front Parking Sensors	✓	—
Rear Parking Sensors	✓	—
Wireless Charging Pad	✓	—
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	—
Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	✓
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	—
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	✓	—
Dual Vanity Mirrors	✓	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	✓	—
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	—	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control	—	✓
Interior Air Filtration	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Infotainment Display	12.3 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Speaker System	6	6
Android Auto (Wireless)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Satellite Radio	✓	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	3 months	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Kia	Toyota
One-Touch Power Windows	1	4
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Front Head Room	40.3 in.	41.5 in.
Front Leg Room	41.4 in.	41.7 in.
Front Shoulder Room	59.1 in.	60.2 in.
Front Hip Room	55.6 in.	56.5 in.
Seat Material: Leatherette	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	—
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	✓	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	—
Seat Material: Cloth	—	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Rear Head Room	39.1 in.	40.2 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.7 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	58.1 in.	58.8 in.
Rear Hip Room	55.1 in.	57.0 in.
Folding Rear Seatback	✓	—
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	—	✓
Folding Center Armrest	—	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	—
Wheel Size	19 x 7.5 in	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	235/55R19	255/65R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Inside Mounted	Inside Mounted
Wheel Material	—	Alloy

Suspension

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Kia	Toyota
Basic Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
EV Battery Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	—
Hybrid Component Warranty	10 yr./ 100000 mi.	8 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ 100000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	2 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	—	2 yr./ 25000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid and 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid.

How does the electric range of the Kia Sorento PHEV compare to the Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid?

The 2025 Kia Sorento Plug-In Hybrid is the only one of the two that offers electric-only driving, boasting a 30-mile range. The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is a traditional hybrid and does not offer any pure EV range.

Which vehicle is significantly larger for carrying cargo and passengers?

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is substantially larger, measuring 201.4 inches in length compared to the Kia's 189.6 inches. This translates directly to 20.6 cu ft of cargo space versus the Kia's much smaller 12.6 cu ft.

If I drive long distances, which vehicle is more fuel-efficient?

The Toyota offers a slight overall efficiency edge with a 34 combined MPG rating compared to the Kia's 33 combined MPG when running on gas. However, the Kia's electric miles skew the true cost comparison if you charge regularly.

What is the initial price difference between these two AWD crossovers?

The 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV has a higher starting MSRP of $47,990. The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid is more budget-friendly upfront, starting at $44,710, which is a $3,280 saving.

Do these vehicles use different types of automatic transmissions?

Yes, they employ different transmission technologies; the Kia utilizes a 6-speed shiftable automatic, while the Toyota uses a continuously variable-speed automatic (CVT).

Is the higher horsepower in the Kia noticeable during everyday driving?

The Kia Sorento’s 261 hp versus the Toyota’s 245 hp might offer slightly quicker acceleration, though the Toyota’s powertrain is designed more for smooth, efficient cruising.