Kia Sportage vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Kia Sportage emerged with a completely redesigned look that was both exciting and exotic, drawing comparisons to French automakers like Renault and Citroen. Its styling was a departure from previous generations, featuring standout elements such as bright boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar. The Sportage was available in seven trim levels, including new options like the X-Line, X-Pro, and X-Pro Prestige. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, offering a more durable and animal-friendly alternative to traditional leather. The interior boasted a large display dominating the dash, although some areas, like the hard plastic plate near the door handle, were less appealing.

In contrast, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a true crossover built on the TNGA-K platform, sharing its underpinnings with models like the Highlander and RAV4. It was notably larger than its competitors, with a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, providing a spacious interior. The Grand Highlander's design was more conservative and blockier, drawing inspiration from rugged vehicles like the 4Runner. It was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. The Grand Highlander excelled in comfort and build quality, making it a strong contender for road trips.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It was available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. While the engine was more powerful than the previous model, it lacked the punch of the discontinued turbocharged option. The Sportage's X-Line and X-Pro trims added rugged visual cues and off-road features, but the naturally aspirated engine struggled to compete with turbocharged rivals.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander provided three engine options, including a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-liter hybrid option offered 245 combined net horsepower, while the top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net pound-feet of torque. The Grand Highlander was available in FWD and AWD, with the Hybrid Max exclusively AWD. While not a sports car, the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander featured three drive modes and additional off-road modes for AWD models, providing versatility for various driving conditions.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, as a compact crossover, was larger than its predecessor, offering more interior space. Rear-seat legroom measured 41.3 inches, and the trunk provided 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Sportage's interior featured decent storage options, but its technology, particularly the touch-sensitive HVAC controls, could be frustrating to use.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. It offered 57.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seats and 20.6 cubic feet with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, ensuring comfort for passengers. Its spaciousness and comfort made it an attractive option for families and road trips.

The 2023 Kia Sportage featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen interface on higher trims, paired with a panoramic driver information display. While visually impressive, the system had some quirks, such as wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay on higher trims. The Sportage offered wireless charging, rear USB-C ports, and a Harman Kardon stereo on select trims, providing a technologically advanced experience.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering features like dual-device Bluetooth connectivity and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available through a subscription. The Grand Highlander also featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo on higher trims, providing a balanced audio experience. Toyota's tech offerings had improved significantly, but subscription options required careful consideration.

The 2023 Kia Sportage included standard collision-avoidance tech and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), such as automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. However, the Sportage had not yet been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) as standard, offering features like automatic emergency braking and lane-departure alert. The adaptive cruise control included four following-distance settings. Like the Sportage, the Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS.