Lincoln Nautilus vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was an SUV geared towards practicality and comfort, with an abundant offering of options within Toyota's extensive lineup of crossovers and SUVs. Starting from smallest to largest, Toyota's lineup included the Corolla Cross, RAV4, Venza, Highlander, Grand Highlander, and Sequoia. Most of these options offered either gas or hybrid powertrains, with the Venza being solely hybrid.

Built on the TNGA-K platform, the Grand Highlander shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry. With a length of 201.4 inches and a wheelbase of 116.1 inches, it surpasses rivals like the Kia Telluride in size, translating to a more spacious interior. Visually, its conservative yet rugged design drew inspiration from vehicles like the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. Its trapezoidal grille paired with narrow headlights created a resemblance to the tougher 4Runner. Offered in XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims, the interior featured either light gray or black Softex synthetic leather in the XLE, with real leather in the Limited and Platinum trims. The top-spec Platinum also offered Portobello (brown) upholstery with the premium engine setup.

The Grand Highlander provided ample comfort with a standard 10-way power-adjustable driver seat and 8-way adjustable front passenger seat, standard heated front seats, and added ventilation in the higher trims. The spacious interior included a large center console, second-row sunshades, and easy third-row access. Overall, it showcased Toyota's reputation for quality and mechanical reliability.

In contrast, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came across as a more sophisticated and streamlined vehicle with exterior styling headed in a new direction for the Lincoln brand. Available in Premiere, Reserve, or Black Label trims, it showcased a stunning grille featuring LED lighting and an illuminated Lincoln star logo. The horizontal aesthetic continued to the rear with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. The door handles were uniquely positioned high along the beltline.

The Nautilus’s interior was a highlight, featuring materials of excellent quality, including ambient lighting, open-pore wood, and fine leather. The 48-inch curved display was the centerpiece, accompanied by a smaller 11.1-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment tasks. While steering wheel controls and vent adjustments were somewhat distracting, the inclusion of Google maps and Alexa Built-in, along with OTA updates, were significant upsides. The piano key shifter was a traditional albeit less favored feature.

Ultimately, the Grand Highlander’s robust design catered to families seeking practical comfort, whereas the Nautilus leaned towards luxury and refined aesthetics.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured three engine options. The base model had a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid offered 245 combined horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. At the top end, the Hybrid Max powertrain, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid engine, delivered 362 combined horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid models offered FWD and AWD options, while the Hybrid Max came exclusively with AWD. The Hybrid Max impressed with a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds.

Despite its size, the Grand Highlander’s standard turbo engine accounted for about 85% of sales due to its balanced performance. While it excelled in road manners, it presented challenges in tight spaces and exhibited some body roll. Its steering felt numb and disconnected, but its brakes were solid with a consistent pedal feel. Toyota offered three drive modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal, with additional modes for AWD-equipped models. Though Eco mode felt dull, Sport mode offered slightly improved responsiveness.

In comparison, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid setup, available for an additional $1,500, provided 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque with an EPA-estimated 30 mpg combined. The hybrid’s total range was over 600 miles, significantly more efficient than the gas-only engine's 24 mpg combined.

All Nautilus models featured AWD and five drive modes, with an adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance. The Normal mode catered to relaxed driving, while Excite mode improved steering and throttle response. The hybrid employed a CVT, but it did not detract from the driving experience. However, the Nautilus wasn’t a driver’s car but rather a comfortable and capable cruiser.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander excelled in space and comfort, standing at 201.4 inches long with a wheelbase of 116.1 inches. This size offered superiority over the Ford Explorer, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, and Kia Telluride. Its cargo capacity was substantial, with 97.5 cubic feet total, 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats in place. Such space made it a compelling alternative to minivans like the Sienna.

Passengers enjoyed ample head, leg, and shoulder room in all rows, making it comfortable even for adults in the third row. Features like the large greenhouse allowed for great outward visibility, enhancing the overall comfort and utility of the vehicle.

On the other hand, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus aimed at ultimate comfort, especially with the Black Label model's 24-way Perfect Position front seats, which included continuous massage functions and extended heating times. The rear seats, though heated only in the top trim, provided an ample 43 inches of legroom, outdoing competitors like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

Though the Nautilus offered only five-passenger seating, it featured a Rejuvenate function that combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create various moods. Cargo space was notably less than the Grand Highlander, with 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet when they were folded down in the Premiere trim. The Reserve and Black Label trims had slightly less space, but still more than the Lexus RX.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, and optional cloud-based navigation. Voice command features and 24/7 live agent assistance were available through a connected-services subscription. The Limited and Platinum trims included an 11-speaker JBL stereo system. While Toyota’s tech packages had evolved, careful reading of subscription requirements was advised for full functionality.

In contrast, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus showcased a breathtaking 48-inch curved display, offering a customizable digital dash and clear, vibrant graphics. A smaller 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. Despite some distracting controls, features like Google maps, Alexa Built-in, gaming, web browsing, and OTA updates enriched the user experience. Wireless charging and numerous USB ports were standard.

As a new model, the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander hadn’t yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS but came with an extensive Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 suite. This included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings. These comprehensive ADAS features aimed to ensure a safer driving experience.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, with the CoPilot 360 suite, offered lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. Notably, Blue Cruise 1.2 technology was included across all trims, offering hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. While Blue Cruise required a subscription after the trial period, it enhanced safety by adding automatic lane-change assist and in-lane repositioning. Previous models scored high ratings, and the new Nautilus was expected to continue this trend.