2026 Kia Sorento · Midsize Three-Row Face-Off
Kia Sorento vs Toyota Highlander
Warranty coverage nearly twice as long. A plug-in hybrid option Toyota doesn’t build. A friendlier price to drive one home.
Few three-row matchups get cross-shopped around the Pine Belt more than these two. Against the Toyota Highlander, the 2026 Kia Sorento brings almost double the powertrain warranty length, a Sorento PHEV plug-in option nowhere in the Highlander lineup, and a sticker roughly $13,000 friendlier to start — Toyota’s counter is AWD built into every single trim. Below is how the two compare at Dean McCrary Kia Hattiesburg, where I-59, US-49, US-98, and US-11 all converge — better known locally as the Hub City.
10yr/100kKia powertrain warranty
281 hp2.5T Turbo — plus Hybrid & PHEV
$32,390Starting MSRP*
7Seats standard
4,500 lbMax towing, properly equipped
TSP+2025 IIHS Top Safety Pick+
Bottom Line First
The Sorento’s Four Biggest Advantages
Put the 2026 Sorento side-by-side with the Highlander, and it pulls ahead exactly where Hattiesburg families tend to look first — coverage, electrified options, and everyday value. Here’s the short version before the full breakdown below.
Warranty Leader
2×the coverage
10yr/100k vs Highlander’s 5yr/60k
Toyota’s powertrain protection runs about half as long as what Kia puts behind the Sorento — ten years or 100,000 miles here against Toyota’s five years or 60,000.
Plug-In Power
PHEVoption
Highlander offers no plug-in hybrid
Order a Sorento PHEV and you get plug-in capability no Highlander trim can match. Toyota’s 2026 lineup tops out with a standard hybrid — there’s simply no plug to be found anywhere in it.
Value Leader
~$13klower start
$32,390 vs ~$45,270 Highlander XLE
Sticker-for-sticker, the Sorento undercuts the Highlander by a wide margin. Some of that gap exists because Toyota folds AWD into every 2026 trim automatically — but even accounting for that, a three-row Sorento still costs less to drive home.
Safety Leader
TSP+IIHS 2025
Highlander fell short of 2026 TSP
IIHS handed the Sorento its Top Safety Pick+ distinction. The Highlander tested solidly across most 2026 categories but came up just short of Top Safety Pick after a marginal moderate-overlap frontal score.
Browse the Lineup
Every Sorento Trim, Plus Current Offers
Ready to see more? Pick any Sorento trim below to view what it brings over the Highlander, along with this month’s real offers pulled straight from our lot.
Cost & Trim Lineup
What You Pay, Trim by Trim
Entry pricing clearly favors the Sorento, and its range stretches into a Hybrid and PHEV that Highlander shoppers won’t find anywhere in that lineup. Toyota’s answer is standardizing AWD across every single trim.
Configuration
Kia Sorento2026
Toyota Highlander2026
Starting MSRP*
$32,390Lower Start
~$45,270 (AWD standard)
Trim Range
LX → X-Pro SX Prestige (8 trims)Wider Range
XLE → Platinum (gas + Hybrid)
Powertrains
Gas, Hybrid & PHEVPlug-In Option
Gas + conventional Hybrid, no plug-in
Standard Touchscreen
8″
8″ base; 12.3″ on Limited/Platinum
Off-Road Trim
X-Pro SX PrestigeOnly Off-Road Trim
No dedicated off-road trim
Drivetrain
FWD standard, AWD available
AWD standard, every trim
Power & Efficiency
Four Ways To Go vs Two. One of Ours Plugs In.
Sorento buyers choose from a full spread — a standard four-cylinder, a turbocharged four, a Hybrid, or a PHEV. Highlander shoppers get just two paths, a turbo four and a conventional Hybrid, each capable but neither one plugging in, with a lower gas towing ceiling to boot.
Kia Sorento
4 Powertrain Options
- 2.5L GDI — 191 hp / 181 lb-ft
- 2.5T Turbo — 281 hp / 311 lb-ft
- 8-speed automatic
- Standard FWD, available AWD (standard on X-Line / X-Pro)
- Sorento Hybrid & Sorento PHEV also available
Toyota Highlander
2 Powertrain Options
- 2.4L Turbo I4 — 265 hp / 310 lb-ft
- Highlander Hybrid — 243 net hp combined
- Standard AWD, every trim
- No plug-in hybrid available
Powertrain Spec
Kia Sorento
Toyota Highlander
Entry Gas Horsepower
191 hp (2.5L)
265 hp (2.4L turbo — only gas engine)
Top Gas Horsepower
281 hpMore Peak Power
265 hp
Top Gas Torque
311 lb-ft
310 lb-ft — virtually tied
Conventional Hybrid Available
Yes — Sorento Hybrid
Yes — Highlander Hybrid
Plug-In Hybrid Available
Yes — Sorento PHEVExclusive
Not offered
Max Towing (gas)
4,500 lb (2.5T, tow pkg)
5,000 lbHighlander leads
Everyday Livability
What Actually Matters Once You Own One
Seating tops out at seven or eight in either SUV, depending on how it’s configured. Where the Sorento pulls ahead is in the day-to-day stuff — how long the warranty lasts, whether you can plug in, and what you pay to drive off the lot.
Peace of Mind
100kmile warranty
vs Highlander’s 60k-mile powertrain
Ten years, or 100,000 miles, of factory powertrain protection from Kia — double the term Toyota puts on the Highlander’s powertrain, and a lot of runway before you’d ever need to worry.
Plug-In Option
PHEVavailable
Highlander tops out at a regular hybrid
Plug in the Sorento PHEV overnight and rack up electric-only miles around Hattiesburg. The Highlander Hybrid holds its own as a conventional hybrid, but there’s no outlet involved — it neither takes nor needs one.
Starting Price
~$13klower entry
$32,390 vs ~$45,270 Highlander XLE
Toyota standardizing AWD on every 2026 trim explains part of that pricing gap — even so, the Sorento remains the cheaper way to land a three-row SUV, whichever badge you’re after.
Tech & Safety Scorecard
Safety Ratings Favor One. Screens Favor the Other.
This year’s IIHS scoring favors the Sorento, while the Highlander answers with a bigger available display and AWD on every trim. Neither one, though, offers genuine hands-free highway driving.
Kia Sorento
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come built into the standard 8″ display
Driver-assist features ship standard starting with the base LX
Every AWD-equipped trim includes Terrain Mode for snow, mud, and sand
BOSE audio and a panoramic roof pair up in the optional Premium Package
A full-display digital rearview mirror can be added
Powertrain coverage runs 10 years / 100,000 miles
Earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2025
Toyota Highlander
Base trims get an 8″ screen, stepping up to 12.3″ on Limited/Platinum — a single display throughout
Every trim comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ built in
All-wheel drive ships standard across the entire 2026 lineup
Plug-in capability isn’t offered — it’s gas or conventional hybrid, nothing else
A hands-free highway-driving feature isn’t available on the Highlander
Powertrain coverage runs 5 years / 60,000 miles (hybrid battery gets 10yr/150k)
Fell short of 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick due to a marginal frontal-overlap score
What the Reviewers Say
Recognition That Speaks for Itself
Both SUVs have been benchmarked by independent reviewers for years running, and it’s the Sorento that keeps collecting the honors value-conscious three-row shoppers pay attention to.
U.S. News & World Report
Best 3-Row Midsize SUV for the Money
The Sorento claimed this title for 2026, while the Sorento Hybrid earned its own separate nod as Best Midsize Hybrid SUV for the Money.
Kelley Blue Book
Best Midsize SUVs List
For 2026, KBB’s editorial team places the Sorento among the top-rated midsize SUVs currently on sale.
Kia Factory Warranty
5-Year/60,000-Mile Limited
Every new Sorento comes with Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance — solid factory peace of mind.
IIHS · 2026 Results
Top Safety Pick+ — Sorento’s Edge
IIHS awarded the Sorento Top Safety Pick+ for 2025. The 2026 Highlander held up well in nearly every test but missed Top Safety Pick this time around because of a marginal moderate-overlap frontal rating.
Still Weighing the Highlander? Test-Drive a Sorento First.
Walk the lot and see every Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, and Sorento PHEV we’ve got in stock, get a straight number on your trade, and judge the difference for yourself — one visit, right here in Hattiesburg.
Questions Buyers Ask Us Most
Is the Kia Sorento better than the Toyota Highlander?⌄
If value tops your list, generally yes. Warranty coverage favors Kia (10yr/100k powertrain versus Toyota’s 5yr/60k), the Sorento PHEV hands you a plug-in option the Highlander lineup simply doesn’t have, and pricing opens about $13,000 beneath a 2026 Highlander XLE. Toyota’s rebuttal is standard AWD on every trim and a roomier optional screen — worth a look if universal AWD outweighs entry price for you. Browse live Sorento inventory.
Which has more power, the Sorento or the Highlander?⌄
It comes down to which trims you’re weighing. Toyota’s only gas engine, a 2.4L turbo, makes 265 hp and 310 lb-ft — more than the Sorento’s entry-level 191-hp 2.5L four-cylinder. Step up to the Sorento’s 2.5T Turbo, however, and output climbs past the Highlander to 281 hp and 311 lb-ft. Towing tells a different story: the Highlander’s 5,000-lb gas rating beats the Sorento’s 4,500-lb max — a genuine Toyota edge.
Does the Toyota Highlander offer a plug-in hybrid?⌄
It doesn’t. Toyota sells the 2026 Highlander as either a gas 2.4L turbo or a standard Highlander Hybrid making 243 net hp — no plug on either one, and no plug-in variant exists in the U.S. lineup at all. The Sorento, meanwhile, offers the Sorento PHEV — a plug-in hybrid choice the Highlander simply has no answer for.
Is the Kia Sorento cheaper than the Toyota Highlander?⌄
Yes, and noticeably so at the base trim: the Sorento LX carries a $32,390 MSRP against roughly $45,270 for a 2026 Highlander XLE (destination excluded from both) — a difference of about $13,000. Some of that stems from Toyota bundling AWD standard on every 2026 Highlander trim, whereas Kia holds it back for the Sorento’s upper trims. Factor that in and the Sorento is still the more budget-friendly way into a three-row, Kia or Toyota.
What is the warranty difference between Kia and Toyota?⌄
On the core powertrain, Kia’s term runs considerably longer: 10 years / 100,000 miles versus Toyota’s 5 years / 60,000 miles (Toyota’s hybrid battery warranty does stretch to 10 years/150,000 miles, but its standard powertrain term still falls short of Kia’s). That factory coverage comes standard on every new Sorento at Dean McCrary Kia.
What does the Toyota Highlander do better?⌄
Give Toyota its due: every 2026 Highlander trim comes with standard all-wheel drive (there’s no FWD-only base model), the gas engine tows up to 5,000 lb (versus 4,500 lb for the Sorento), and buyers can option a larger 12.3-inch screen without juggling dual displays. Resale value also tends to favor Toyota. Anyone prioritizing standard AWD and extra towing muscle should cross-shop the Highlander seriously. But on starting price, warranty length, and plug-in hybrid availability, the Sorento still comes out ahead.
Where can I compare the Sorento and Highlander near Hattiesburg, MS?⌄
You’ll find the complete Sorento lineup — gas, Hybrid, and PHEV — at Dean McCrary Kia, 7124 US Hwy 98 in Hattiesburg, an easy trip from Petal, Oak Grove, Purvis, Columbia, and the surrounding Pine Belt. Stop by and experience the difference firsthand.
Pine Belt Sorento Shoppers
Looking for a Three-Row SUV Near Hattiesburg?
Families throughout Forrest, Lamar, Covington, and Perry counties turn to Dean McCrary Kia for the Pine Belt’s largest Sorento selection. Cross-shopping the Highlander? Here’s the case for starting your search where the highways already converge.
- Live inventory of every Sorento trim — LX through X-Pro SX Prestige, plus Hybrid & PHEV
- A fair number on your trade — value your current SUV in minutes
- Upfront pricing and Kia’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty on every new Sorento
- Kia-certified service, factory maintenance, and genuine parts
Dean McCrary Kia
Address7124 US Hwy 98, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
Sales(601) 544-4007
Sales HoursMon–Sat 8:30 AM–6:00 PM
Sources & Verification
This comparison sets the 2026 Kia Sorento against the 2026 Toyota Highlander, with specs and pricing drawn from manufacturer sources (kia.com, toyota.com, Toyota USA Newsroom) along with Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds as of the publication date. Listed MSRP is base pricing only, before destination, taxes, title, and dealer fees, and cost climbs with higher trims or hybrid powertrains. Horsepower, torque, towing, and payload figures are each measured independently and may not all apply at once. IIHS ratings and EPA fuel-economy estimates are provided for comparison purposes and may change as new model-year data is published.
Toyota Motor Corporation holds the trademarks for Toyota, Highlander, Toyota Safety Sense, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+; mentions here are strictly descriptive. References to Kia and Sorento likewise serve comparison purposes only. This page represents the dealership’s own perspective and is meant for general information, not a guarantee. Offers and pricing can change without notice — reach out to Dean McCrary Kia to confirm current figures.
Kia Sorento vs Toyota Highlander — Compared at Dean McCrary Kia in Hattiesburg, MS
Set against the Toyota Highlander, the 2026 Kia Sorento holds the edge on warranty length (10 years/100,000 miles on the powertrain versus Toyota’s 5 years/60,000), plug-in hybrid availability (the Sorento PHEV has no Highlander counterpart), and entry price (roughly $32,390 versus $45,270). Toyota answers with standard AWD across every 2026 trim, a 5,000-lb tow rating, and an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen. Seating in both reaches seven or eight passengers. The full Sorento, Sorento Hybrid, and Sorento PHEV lineup is in stock at Dean McCrary Kia in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, serving Petal, Oak Grove, Purvis, Columbia, Laurel, and the broader Pine Belt.