2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan's image, traditionally seen as utilitarian rather than stylish. Toyota's designers gave the Sienna a more SUV-like appearance, featuring a wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays integrated into a panel with the Toyota logo. The side profile showcased assertive lines, with re-engineered sliding doors that added a sculpted look. Alloy wheels ranging from 17 to 20 inches filled the arches, enhancing its visual appeal. From the rear, the Sienna maintained a wide and low stance, with Toyota's signature quality fit and finish.

Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a higher seating position than a sedan but not quite as high as a full-size SUV. The dashboard was simple and uncluttered, with controls clustered around the infotainment screen. The center console featured a gear selector, cup holders, and a large storage compartment. The second and third rows were comfortable for adults, with the second row sliding for maximum utility and comfort. The materials and surfaces throughout the cabin had a premium feel, making the Sienna a pleasant place to be.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus evolved from the second-generation Lincoln MKX, which was based on the Ford Edge platform. The Nautilus, facelifted in 2019, moved away from alphanumeric naming and embraced more attractive styling. For 2021, the exterior remained largely unchanged, but the cabin received significant updates. The new dash design featured clean lines, soft materials, and a large, crisp touchscreen. The "Piano Key" shifter-button layout was unconventional but easy to use, though finding the stop-start button took some time.

The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was user-friendly and visually appealing, similar to Ford's SYNC 3 but with almost no learning curve. The screen's glossy finish reflected the bright work in the center console, making sunglasses a handy accessory. The Nautilus came in three trims: Standard, Reserve, and Black Label. The Standard trim included 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, a power rear liftgate, and more. The Reserve trim added features like a hands-free power liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The Black Label trim included a twin-turbo V6, 21-inch wheels, and a 19-speaker premium stereo, among other high-end features.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a combined 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The AWD system used a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna employed an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which prioritized fuel efficiency over throttle response. The CVT's performance was smooth but lacked the punch of a conventional transmission. Four selectable drive modes—Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport—offered varying levels of performance.

Handling improved significantly over previous models, thanks to new front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The Sienna Hybrid delivered a comfortable ride with minimal body roll. The big news was its impressive fuel economy: 36 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 36 mpg combined for FWD models, and 35/36/35 mpg for AWD models.

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 a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, delivering 355 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine had standard FWD, with AWD available, while the twin-turbo V6 came standard with AWD.

The twin-turbo V6 provided excellent power, especially at highway speeds, with smooth and controlled acceleration. The adaptive suspension minimized road bumps, offering a firm and planted feel through corners. The engine stop-start feature aimed to conserve fuel but introduced a slight delay in response. Overall, the Nautilus delivered a pleasant driving experience in various scenarios.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience, crucial for minivans. It featured a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that easily stored away, and a second row that slid up to 25 inches for easy third-row access. The cabin boasted 16 cupholders (15 with the spare tire option) and ample storage cubbies. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, offering 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate responded to kick motions, enhancing family-friendly functionality.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Lexus RX 350 and Cadillac XT5. With the rear seats in use, it provided 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with ample head- and legroom in the rear seats. The front seats, especially the 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units, were the optimal places to sit. The soft-touch center console and door handles added to the comfort. The center console bin and deep in-door pockets provided additional storage, while the floating center controls design allowed for storage below the radio and climate controls.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna packed a wealth of standard and available technology features. A nine-inch touchscreen was standard, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. Connectivity included a year's trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Bluetooth hands-free and audio streaming were standard, with Qi-compatible charging available on higher trims. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a 12-speaker Premium Audio + JBL package. A rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display was available. The driver enjoyed a multi-information display, with a 10-inch Head-Up Display on Platinum trims. Limited and Platinum models offered a digital rearview mirror, enhancing visibility when the rear view was obstructed.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with large icons for easy use. The available wireless charging pad simplified phone connectivity. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system provided excellent sound quality. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a helpful home button to navigate back to the main screen.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System included enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. The Sienna had 10 airbags and LATCH connectors, with a rear-seat reminder system and tire pressure monitoring system. Crash-test ratings for 2021 were not yet available, but the 2020 model received high marks from IIHS and NHTSA.

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