The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Sportage doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it's stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Sportage doesn't offer a GPS response system, so if you're involved in an accident and you're incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Highlander and the Sportage have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The Highlander's 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Sportage runs out after 100,000 miles.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Kia doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the Sportage.

There are almost 2 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Kia dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Highlander's warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 47 more problems per 100 vehicles, Kia is ranked 20th.

The Highlander LE's standard 2.7 DOHC 4 cyl. produces 4 more horsepower (185 vs. 181) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. 175) than the Sportage LX/EX's standard 2.4 DOHC 4 cyl. The Highlander's optional 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 30 more horsepower (270 vs. 240) than the Sportage SX Turbo's standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl.

The Highlander has 2.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Sportage (19.2 vs. 16.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Highlander's brake rotors are larger than those on the Sportage:

For better traction, the Highlander has larger tires than the Sportage (245/60R18 vs. 225/60R17).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Highlander has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sportage LX.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Highlander's wheelbase is 4.7 inches longer than on the Sportage (109.8 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Sportage (8 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Sportage can only carry 5.

The Highlander has 1.4 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom, 2.9 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .8 inches more rear headroom, .2 inches more rear legroom, 5.9 inches more rear hip room and 4.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Sportage.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the Sportage.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Highlander. The Sportage doesn't offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Sportage's rear cargo window doesn't open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Kia Sportage is limited to 2000 pounds. The Highlander offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

When different drivers share the Highlander Limited/Platinum, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver's seat position and outside mirror angle. The Sportage doesn't offer a memory system.

The Highlander's standard front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Sportage's standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver's window opens automatically. The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches. With the Sportage EX/SX Turbo's power windows, only the driver's window opens or closes automatically.

The Highlander's standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Kia charges extra for heated mirrors on the Sportage.

Both the Highlander and the Sportage offer available heated front seats. The Highlander Platinum also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren't available in the Sportage.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Highlander Limited offers an optional Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Sportage doesn't offer an adaptive cruise control.

To direct the driver from any location to a given street address, a GPS navigation system is standard on the Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum. The Highlander's navigation system also has a real-time traffic update feature that offers alternative routes to automatically bypass traffic problems. (Service not available in all areas.) The Sportage doesn't offer a navigation system.

The Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Sportage doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications: