Kia Sorento vs Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Kia Sorento presented a somewhat perplexing lineup with its gas-only models, featuring core trims like LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige. The latter three trims upgraded from a basic 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine to a turbocharged version of the same engine. The EX and SX trims could be enhanced with an X-Line appearance package, which was standard on the SX Prestige. The X-Line package added blacked-out exterior trim and detailing, while the top-tier X-Pro SX Prestige came fully loaded with exclusive features. The 2025 model introduced Panthera Gray, replacing Gravity Gray, and the X-Line and X-Pro versions sported black badges. The test vehicle, a 2024 model, lacked these new badges but otherwise mirrored the 2025 offerings, including the Road Rider Brown paint color, which cleverly concealed dirt. The interior, featuring an Olive Brown color scheme, was a mix of luxury and practicality, with leather seats, an artificial suede headliner, and a 24-inch panoramic display. The X-Pro SX Prestige trim boasted unique bumper covers, utility roof rails, matte-black 17-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, and a towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. Despite its rugged appearance, the X-Pro did not significantly enhance off-road capabilities compared to the X-Line models.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, in its second model year, offered two trim levels: the base 1958 model and the more upscale Land Cruiser. The 1958 model, named after the year the Land Cruiser was first sold in the US, featured a retro look with round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment. It was available in three paint colors and offered a cost-saving option for those willing to forgo some modern amenities. The Land Cruiser model, priced higher, boasted a modern and upscale appearance, with more color options, a refined interior, and essential off-roading hardware and software. The Premium Package added leather upholstery, advanced technology, and a Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint option. The Land Cruiser's design maximized off-road clearances, visibility, and cargo space, with a traditional two-box SUV design and dark gray cladding. The interior was utilitarian, with traditional switchgear and a Java-colored leather option. The dual 12.3-inch digital screens added a touch of modernity, and the steering-wheel controls were intuitive. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like a front stabilizer bar disconnect, Crawl Control, and Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, making it a capable vehicle for adventurous journeys.

The 2025 Kia Sorento offered two engine options. The base LX and S trims came with a 191-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering up to 26 mpg in combined driving. For those seeking more power, the turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, standard in higher trims, produced 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided a more satisfying driving experience, with an EPA rating of 23 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige achieved 23.4 mpg. The turbo engine was paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT), which could feel different to those unfamiliar with DCTs. The Sorento X-Pro, equipped with 17-inch wheels and BF Goodrich Trail Terrain tires, offered excellent ride quality and reduced noise. The all-wheel-drive system with torque vectoring and a locking center differential contributed to its nimble feel on pavement and traction off-road. The Sorento excelled in daily driving, with its size, driving dynamics, and visibility making it a pleasure to drive in various settings.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota's i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. This setup produced 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,000 pounds. The Land Cruiser's full-time four-wheel-drive system included electronic locking rear and center differentials, along with standard features like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The more expensive Land Cruiser model added Multi-Terrain Select off-roading modes, Multi-Terrain Monitor camera views, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect feature. While the official EPA rating was 23 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, with its suspension soaking up rough terrain and providing a comfortable ride. However, it struggled on twisty mountain roads due to its tires and suspension tuning. The Land Cruiser's off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Monitor enhancing its performance. In daily driving, the Land Cruiser felt powerful and responsive, though its acceleration and handling were not its strong suits.

The 2025 Kia Sorento appealed to families of four with occasional use for a back seat. The first two rows of seats were spacious, and the third-row seat could accommodate adults for shorter trips if the second-row passengers slid forward. The Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige featured heated and ventilated front seats with 10-way power adjustment, providing comfort during drives. However, extended highway trips revealed that the seat cushions could be more supportive. The Sorento offered a second-row bench seat in the LX and S trims, accommodating seven passengers, while turbocharged trims featured second-row captain's chairs for six-passenger capacity. The test vehicle's second-row passengers enjoyed heated seats, sunshades, USB ports, and air conditioning vents. The Sorento's cabin offered generous storage space, and the cargo area was practical, with 12.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 38.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 75.5 cubic feet.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, when upgraded from the 1958 model, featured SofTex artificial leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. The front seats provided excellent support on long trips, but the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's running boards could be cumbersome for long-legged individuals. The rear window design was less practical compared to the 4Runner, and the center console's cool box seemed unnecessary. The Land Cruiser offered 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space, with a high load floor requiring effort to load heavy items. With the rear seats folded, the maximum cargo space was 82.1 cubic feet.

The 2025 Kia Sorento featured a 24-inch panoramic display, combining a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While the native voice assistant required a Kia Connect subscription, the Sorento offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, making it easy to use Siri and other voice assistants. Kia Connect provided additional features like 911 Connect, remote access, and safe driver settings. The Sorento's infotainment system included a touch-sensing strip of dual-function controls, which could be frustrating to use. Digital Key technology transformed smartphones into key fobs, and a digital rearview mirror provided a camera-based view. The Sorento's surround-view camera system made parking in tight spaces easy.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser, when upgraded from the 1958 model, featured two 12.3-inch displays with a sophisticated appearance. The Toyota Audio Multimedia (TAM) system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Five connected service plans were available, including Drive Connect with cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2025 Kia Sorento came equipped with a range of standard safety features, with more advanced technology available in higher trims. The SX and SX Prestige trims added active collision avoidance features, evasive steering assist, a Blind-Spot View Monitor, and a surround-view camera system. Highway Driving Assist, a semi-autonomous feature, was standard on most trims, with the SX and SX Prestige offering Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) with lane-changing functionality. The Sorento earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for 2024, though changes in testing criteria might affect its 2025 rating.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), a comprehensive suite of advanced driving assistance systems. TSS 3.0 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist provided a semi-autonomous highway driving aid. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive Driving Assist. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a five-star side-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating.