2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus evolved from its predecessor, the Lincoln MKX, which shared its platform with the Ford Edge. In 2019, it underwent a facelift and was renamed the Nautilus, moving away from the alphanumeric naming convention to embrace a more attractive design. For 2021, the Nautilus retained its exterior styling but introduced a refreshed cabin with a sharp new dash design, clean lines, soft materials, and a large 13.2-inch touchscreen. The unconventional "Piano Key" shifter-button layout was easy to use, although finding the stop-start button required some adjustment. The infotainment system, similar to Ford's SYNC 3, was user-friendly and supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Nautilus offered three trims: Standard, Reserve, and Black Label, each with varying levels of luxury and technology features.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander boasted a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design, with flared fender arches and a distinctive third-row window. Inside, it offered ample cabin space and clever storage solutions. The XSE trim, with its bold red leather interior, stood out with unique exterior styling and a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander was available in six trims: L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum, each offering a range of features. The base L trim included essentials like an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, while higher trims added luxury features such as a panoramic sunroof, JBL premium audio system, and advanced driver-assistance technologies.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine offered front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive, while the V6 came standard with all-wheel drive. The V6 provided smooth and controlled acceleration, complemented by an adaptive suspension that minimized road bumps. However, the engine stop-start feature caused a slight delay in response.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive. The Highlander offered drive modes, including Sport, Normal, and Eco, as well as AWD modes for different terrains. The V6 excelled at highway speeds, providing ample power for overtaking. The XSE trim's sport-tuned suspension reduced body roll while maintaining a comfortable ride. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a maximum payload of 1,685 pounds in the FWD L and LE trims.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, surpassing competitors like the Lexus RX 350 and Cadillac XT5. With the rear seats in use, it provided 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with spacious rear seats and luxurious front seats featuring 22-way multi-contour power adjustments. The interior included a large center console bin and deep in-door pockets for storage.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded. With the second-row seats in use, it offered 48.4 cubic feet, and with all seats deployed, 16 cubic feet behind the third row. The Highlander featured quick-release latches for easy seat adjustments and a power liftgate on trims above the base L. The interior included deep cargo pockets, a spacious center dash tray, and a large center console compartment. The XSE trim's second-row captain's chairs provided additional space and convenience.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a user-friendly menu layout. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons for easy navigation. The system included a wireless charging pad and a Revel 19-speaker premium audio system, delivering excellent sound quality.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. While it lacked wireless connectivity, the system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons for easy operation. The XSE trim included a wireless charging pad and a combination of USB and USB-C ports. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system were available.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus included the CoPilot360 package, offering standard driver-assistance features such as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional features like adaptive cruise control and a surround-view parking monitor were available. However, the backup camera quality was subpar.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and other advanced safety features. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were notably active, sometimes feeling intrusive.