2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a design that was somewhat unremarkable from the side, with a few updates from the previous model year, such as a more slanted tailgate glass and more pronounced body panel creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various parts of the vehicle, including the tailgate's license plate cutout, rear bumper, headlights, grille, and lower front bumper. Higher trims like the Limited and Platinum featured projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, along with attractive LED running lamps. The new 20-inch wheels were exclusive to these top trims. The interior of the Highlander was where it truly shined, with quality fit and finish, silver-painted accents, and a multi-layered dash. The Limited trim boasted a three-tone interior with padded surfaces and rich textures, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, which evolved from the second-generation Lincoln MKX, carried over its exterior design from the previous year but featured a refreshed cabin. The new dash design followed Lincoln's attractive design trends, with clean lines, soft materials, and a large, crisp touchscreen. The "Piano Key" shifter-button layout was unconventional but easy to use. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was user-friendly and had high-definition graphics. The Nautilus offered three trims: Standard, Reserve, and Black Label, each with a range of features. The Black Label trim, in particular, included luxurious amenities like 22-way Multi-Contour front seats and a 19-speaker premium stereo system, contributing to an upscale feel.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. This engine delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The eight-speed automatic transmission made full use of the engine's power, though it required a heavy foot to initiate a kickdown. The Highlander's steering was loose, and the suspension was soft, leading to a floaty ride. However, this made for a comfortable and isolating driving experience, especially on long road trips. The AWD models on the Limited and Platinum trims featured torque vectoring and selectable driving modes. Fuel economy was commendable, with the FWD model achieving 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined, while the AWD model achieved 20/27/23 mpg.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered two engine options: a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, and an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine making 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine came with standard FWD or available AWD, while the twin-turbo V6 came standard with AWD. The V6 engine provided excellent power, especially at highway speeds, and the adaptive suspension smoothed out road imperfections while maintaining composure through corners. The engine stop-start feature helped conserve fuel, though it caused a slight delay in response.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander could seat eight passengers or seven with the second-row captain's chairs, which were standard on the Limited and Platinum trims and optional on the XLE. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous legroom and easy access to the third row. The Highlander featured three-zone climate control, a 120-volt outlet for the rear, side window shades, and a heated second row on upper trims. Cargo space was ample, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. The interior had eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash for additional storage.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus provided up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 37.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The Nautilus focused on two-row comfort, with plenty of head- and legroom in the rear seats. The front seats were particularly comfortable, especially with the available 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units. The interior featured a large center console bin, deep in-door pockets, and a floating center controls design that allowed for additional storage.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's infotainment system felt outdated, with low-resolution maps, no onboard apps, and a convoluted process for using connected phones. The optional 12.3-inch touchscreen was not fully utilized, as climate and fuel economy information always occupied part of the screen. However, the Highlander did come with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The vehicle also featured a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster. The semi-automated driving system was effective, and the optional JBL audio system provided decent sound quality. Standard features included SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons for easy use. The available wireless charging pad further enhanced the convenience of phone integration. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system delivered excellent sound quality. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a helpful home button to navigate back to the main screen if needed.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander had a driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it a 2020 Top Safety Pick.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured the CoPilot360 package, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional available features included adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, a surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera was of low quality, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions.