2024 Kia Sorento vs 2024 Toyota Sienna

The 2024 Toyota Sienna was a standout with its various trim levels that spanned from the base LE to the luxurious Platinum. The minivan retained a distinctive look, evident in its angular front and rear fascias, with options for cool exterior colors like deep blue, red, and green. Even though Toyota ceased its “swagger wagon” marketing, the vibe persisted, especially in the sporty XSE trim, which boasted a black metallic mesh grille, heated black side mirrors, and 20-inch dark wheels. The Sienna was further enhanced with standard LED lighting throughout, and higher trims benefited from Bi-LED projector headlamps.

The unique Woodland Edition was designed for a touch of off-roading, coming in exclusive Cement or Midnight Black Metallic colors. It featured roof rails with crossbars, a tow hitch, and an additional half-inch of ground clearance, totaling 6.9 inches, which could make a significant difference on rugged paths to a summer lake house. Inside, the base Sienna started with cloth seats and three-zone climate control, accommodating up to eight passengers. The XSE trim with an optional Premium package offered leather-trimmed, heated and cooled front seats, and eliminated the second-row bench for captain's chairs.

Design-wise, the interior was horizontal, contributing to a spacious feeling, with satin-accented fixed center consoles and well-placed cup holders and shifters. While not overtly luxurious, the interior was functional and comfortable enough for families, with available features like a built-in vacuum cleaner in upper trims.

The 2024 Kia Sorento also received significant updates, marking its first major visual overhaul since 2021. This SUV now aligned more closely with Kia’s other models like the Telluride and EV9, featuring a bold new front end with a large grille, vertically-stacked LED projector-beam headlights, and wing-like amber LED daytime running lights. Although the rear updates were subtler, they still included pretty LED taillights and new bumpers, with most trims showcasing fresh wheel designs.

Sorento’s trim levels remained consistent with LX, S, EX, SX, and SX-Prestige, but the rugged X-Line package was now exclusive to EX and higher trims. Additionally, the new X-Pro trim presented a tougher appearance similar to the X-Line but with smaller wheels and all-terrain tires. Both the X-Line and X-Pro were visibly aggressive yet clean, resembling Subaru’s Outback Wilderness styling but with a distinct Kia flair.

The interior of the Sorento saw a complete redesign with a new dashboard mimicking the EV9’s horizontal expanse, resulting in a cleaner, more modern look. The gauge cluster and infotainment displays were housed under a single glass pane, delivering a high-technology feel with twin 12.3-inch displays reserved for upper trims. The materials used throughout the cabin had improved, showcasing faux open-pore wood grain and quality stitching on leather-wrapped surfaces. Optional green and brown interior colors added character and a touch of luxury, making the 2024 Sorento feel more premium than its competitors.

Performance-wise, the 2024 Toyota Sienna relied on a hybrid powertrain across all its trims. This setup combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors for front-wheel drive models and an additional motor for all-wheel drive versions, generating a total of 245 horsepower. Despite having a sport-tuned suspension and a Sport mode, the Sienna's performance was underwhelming, particularly off the line. It felt sluggish during acceleration, and the continuously variable transmission (CVT) didn’t enhance the driving dynamics, often causing a noisy drive.

The minivan performed adequately in city driving under Normal or Eco modes, with an EV mode available for slow-speed areas like parking lots. Braking was somewhat jerky, yet steering was light and accurate with great visibility. However, for those seeking a more engaging drive, alternatives like the Honda Odyssey, Kia Carnival, or Chrysler Pacifica offered stronger V6 engines and livelier performance.

In the case of the 2024 Kia Sorento, the base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder delivering 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain struggled with the Sorento’s weight, especially evident in the base-model LX, which took nearly 10 seconds to reach 60 mph. This engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission was standard in the LX and S trims but offered unsatisfactory performance.

However, the EX and higher trims featured a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine that significantly improved the driving experience with 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic transmission. These turbocharged models managed zero-to-60 times in the mid-seven-second range and provided ample passing power.

Front-wheel drive was standard on all trims, with all-wheel drive as an option costing between $2,000 and $3,700, depending on the trim. AWD-equipped models included the X-Line package which raised ground clearance by 1.2 inches to 8.2 inches, enhancing usability without compromising on-road comfort. The Sorento handled confidently, with well-weighted steering and effective brakes. The X-Line and new X-Pro trims added proficiency in light off-road handling, with the X-Pro particularly impressing in snowy and rugged conditions.

The 2024 Toyota Sienna excelled in form and function, particularly with its interior storage solutions. The lower storage pass-through between the front seats could accommodate bulkier items, and there were four cupholders and additional holders in the front doors. A shelf above the glovebox provided a convenient wireless charging pad location.

The second-row seats offered impressive legroom, sliding fore and aft by 25 inches, although their removal for maximum cargo space wasn’t possible, a drawback compared to other minivans. The second row also featured cup holders and net pockets, and for rear passengers, window shades offered protection from the sun. Access to the third row was easy for adults, with 39 inches of legroom when the second row was pushed forward. The third-row seats could tilt comfortably, and the Sienna’s tri-zone climate control added a fourth zone for the front passenger.

When it came to cargo capacity, the Sienna offered 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 75 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and up to 101 cubic feet with the second row folded down.

The 2024 Kia Sorento's cabin was upscale and comfortable in the first two rows but tighter in the third row. With 41.4 inches of legroom in the front seats and 41.7 inches in the second row, the Sorento provided more room than two-row competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Honda Passport. Third-row legroom was 29.6 inches, superior to the Toyota Highlander and significantly better than the Mitsubishi Outlander and Volkswagen Tiguan.

The Sorento was suitable for families needing occasional third-row use, with storage and control layouts being ergonomically logical. Cargo space was a mixed bag; with the third row in use, cargo volume was just 12.6 cubic feet, expanding to 38.5 to 45 cubic feet with the third row folded, depending on trim. With all seats down, there were up to 72.1 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to class competitors.

Unfortunately, the 2024 Toyota Sienna used an older infotainment setup with a nine-inch touchscreen offering wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included physical buttons for easy access to common menus but had a grainy backup camera with inadequate visual quality for a modern vehicle. Gauges were analog, with a seven-inch digital display in the cluster, showing information such as speed and fuel economy.

On the brighter side, the Sienna included a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM satellite radio, and an optional 12-speaker JBL stereo system. The rear-camera mirror and 11.6-inch rear-seat entertainment system were also available, albeit not present in the tester model. Multiple USB ports and a 1500-watt inverter added to connectivity options, though activating these outlets required a separate button press near the driver seat.

Conversely, the 2024 Kia Sorento introduced a cutting-edge infotainment system with a 12.3-inch screen on all trims, integrated into a sleek, single-pane setup. SX and SX-Prestige models also featured a second 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The new “Connected Car Navigation Cockpit” software was more user-friendly and future-proof, providing prioritized home screen icons for frequently used features.

The software was simple to operate, though voice commands were a weak point. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were now standard across all trims, with over-the-air updates maintaining software freshness. USB-C outlets were available in all three rows, complemented by an auxiliary jack for older devices.

Most trims had a decent six-speaker sound system, while the SX-Prestige models received a superior Bose 12-speaker surround-sound system. A noteworthy addition was Kia’s Digital Key 2.0 feature, allowing keyless vehicle access and control via compatible smartphones and NFC smart cards.

The Toyota Sienna came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, featuring lane departure alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, road sign recognition, full-speed adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard.

Adaptive cruise control performed well, easing the stress of stop-and-go traffic. However, the lane-keeping assist exhibited some side-to-side movement. In terms of protection, the Sienna included side curtain airbags for all three rows and rear passenger seatbelt reminders. A useful reminder to check the rear seats was activated upon vehicle shutdown.

The 2024 Sienna had strong safety ratings, with the NHTSA awarding it four out of five stars for frontal crash and rollover protection and five stars for side crash protection. The IIHS gave it top “Good” scores in crashworthiness and seat belt systems, but an “Average” rating in front crash prevention.

The 2024 Kia Sorento was equipped with the comprehensive Drivewise suite, boasting standard features like adaptive cruise control with stop and go, forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, and much more. Lane-following assist, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, and safe exit warnings were also standard. Optional equipment included navigation-based adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Highway Driving Assist 2 with automated lane changes.

Kia claimed its adaptive cruise control systems had improved sensors and machine-learning capabilities, delivering more precise following distances. However, performance was hindered in adverse weather conditions. Options like surround-view cameras and a rear-view camera mirror added convenience and safety, especially for off-road driving.

The 2024 Sorento hadn’t been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA yet, though it had received “Good” ratings for past models in several categories. Its LATCH system received an “Acceptable” rating due to deep-set lower anchors.