The lights seemed brighter and higher to me too but they weren’t reflected off the rear-view mirrors of cars in front and didn’t get the ‘turn-your-lights-down’ reaction from other drivers so I presumed alls well.
The best way would be to drive the other car while the better half is in the Sportage that’ll give a definitive answer.
I hate the aftermarket HIDs which seem to burn through your eyes so wouldn’t like to be in the same category