Compare the2025 Toyota HighlanderVS 2025 Lincoln Nautilus

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Highlander AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Nautilus doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Highlander and the Nautilus have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Lincoln doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Nautilus. (Lincoln offers free mainteance on some Nautilus models.)

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

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 104 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Lincoln is ranked 23rd.

The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 more horsepower (265 vs. 250) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 280) than the Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 295) than the Nautilus’ optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Nautilus requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Nautilus (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Highlander offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Nautilus can only carry 5.

The Highlander has 28.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Nautilus (141.8 vs. 113.5).

The Highlander has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear hip room and .7 inches more rear shoulder room than the Nautilus.

The Highlander’s cargo area provides more volume than the Nautilus.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Highlander. The Nautilus doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (5000 vs. 0 pounds).

The Highlander Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Highlander is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by almost seven to one during 2023.