Shopping for a 3-row vehicle doesn’t have to mean settling for an inefficient one. Some of the most family-friendly 3-row SUVs on the market come as fuel-sipping hybrids. The word “hybrid” might have you picturing yourself struggling to merge onto the expressway. But with today’s cars, that picture isn’t accurate. Current hybrids are often more powerful than the pure gas-powered cars they’re based on.
Two of the best choices for families are the Kia Sorento Hybrid and the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. Both are powerful and fuel-efficient versions of outstanding family vehicles.
Let’s see how they compare.
2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid
The 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid is one of the most affordable 3-row hybrids on the road and comes with a 10-year powertrain warranty so that it protects your finances over the long haul, too. It’s smaller than many 3-row SUVs, making it a great choice for those nervous about parking such a big vehicle. Prices start at $36,690.
2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid Highlights
Saves you up front: The Sorento starts at almost $4,000 less than the Highlander Hybrid. But it doesn’t skimp on equipment to justify its lower price. Even the base model includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, long-lasting faux leather seating surfaces, climate control vents in all three rows, and other creature comforts.
The longest warranty available: Kia’s 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty protect you from surprise mechanical repair bills for a full decade. Toyota offers about half that sense of security.
More Fuel Efficient: Our expert reviewer calls the Sorento hybrid “the most fuel-efficient 3-row SUV on the market that doesn’t plug into a wall.” The difference between these two is minimal in city driving but shows up on the highway.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Sorento Hybrid models for sale near you.
2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
The Toyota Highlander Hybrid is the most efficient version of the best-selling 3-row midsize SUV in America. Americans buy Toyotas for their reputation for bulletproof reliability and long features list. The Highlander Hybrid is no exception and beats most rivals on cargo space, too. The Highlander Hybrid starts at $40,620.
Toyota Highlander Hybrid Highlights
Drive mode select: Many SUVs offer selectable drive modes, but the changes can be hard to detect, even from the driver’s seat. Not so with the Highlander. Sport mode is genuinely more fun. Eco mode really does drive more efficiently. And all-wheel-drive (AWD) models get a Trail mode that really will get you up a slick, muddy surface.
Five-Star Safety Rating: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Highlander Hybrid five stars in crash testing. The Sorento hasn’t been tested for 2024 but has seen no major mechanical changes this year, so it should earn the same four starts it got in 2023.
Available Bronze Edition: If you want your next vehicle to stand out, there’s nothing else quite like the Highlander Hybrid Bronze edition. It has the bronzed wheels and badges the name might make you expect. But it’s the interior that is truly one-of-a-kind. Three-tone leather-and-cloth seats with mosaic patterns and bronze detailing aren’t for everyone. But some buyers fall in love with them, and Kia has nothing like them.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Highlander Hybrid models for sale near you
Similarities
Three rows of seating; front- or all-wheel drive; similar combined mpg
Conclusion
Buying either the Kia Sorento Hybrid or the Toyota Highlander Hybrid would bring a fuel-efficient 3-row SUV with an up-to-date cabin to your daily drive. The Highlander Hybrid would give you more cargo space, more flexible drive modes, and the option of a costly-but-cool Bronze Edition look. While still giving you the latest cabin technology, the Sorento Hybrid costs less to buy and may cost less over time thanks to its excellent warranty.
Only your own priorities can determine which is right for you.
Specifications
| 2024 Kia Sorento Hybrid | 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid | |
| Starting Price | $36,690 | $40,620 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 1.6-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder with electric motor | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with electric motor |
| Horsepower | 227 hp | 243 hp |
| Torque | 258 lb-ft | 175 lb-ft |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic | Continuously variable automatic transmission |
| Fuel Economy | 35 city/39 highway/37 combined mpg | 36 city/35 highway/36 combined mpg |
| Also Available | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 2.5-liter turbo 4-cylinder; AWD; plug-in hybrid | AWD; hybrid |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 4 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 7 | 8 |
| Wheelbase | 110.8 inches | 112.2 inches |
| Overall Length | 189.0 inches | 194.9 inches |
| Width | 74.8 inches | 76.0 inches |
| Height | 66.7 inches | 68.1 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.9 feet | 37.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.3 inches | 41.2 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 39.1 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 36.8 inches | 36.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.4 inches | 42.0 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 41.7 inches | 38.7 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 29.6 inches | 28.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 59.1 inches | 59.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 58.1 inches | 58.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 53.0 inches | 55.0 inches |
| EPA Cargo Volume | 12.6/38.5/75.5 cubic feet | 16.0/48.4/84.3 cubic feet |
