On my 2016 Sorento EX, the parking brake pedal always seemed to go down a long way, almost to the floor, and then didn't hold too well.
When I forgot it was on, I could back down the short driveway and drive for about 1/2 block before the bell started dinging. Didn't seem to impede enough to notice.
In looking at replacement cars, I checked the Highlander owners' manual and it said something like "Your car has a specific type of parking brake which must be bedded before use. Ask your service dept. to do this for you before you drive the vehicle." Or words to that effect.
When I recently bought a 2019 SX, I asked the salesman if the parking brake needed to be bedded. He'd never heard of such a thing. But I found this in a Sorento service manual:
"9. If the parking brake shoe or the brake disc are replaced a newly one, perform the brake shoe bed-in procedure.
(1)
While operating the parking brake for 69N (7kgf, 15lbf) effort, drive the vehicle 500 meters (0.31 miles) at the speed of 60kph (37 mph).
(2)
Repeat the above procedure more than two times.
(3)
Must be held on 30% uphill."
So bedding is required. Wonder if it is done at the factory.
The last comment (3) could be taken to mean that the brake must hold on a thirty degree slope, when the car is facing _uphill_.
The few times I have used the parking brake on the 2019 car, it does not go down so far as on the 2016, and it seems to hold OK, though I haven't tested it in either direction.