Toyota Highlander vs Lincoln Nautilus

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, especially in its Black Label trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels, was an attractive SUV. Its styling was balanced and detailed, giving it plenty of character without appearing plain. At night, the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence greeted drivers, and the Black Label model offered interior design themes like Chalet and Flight, featuring premium leather upholstery. Despite some cheap-looking chrome-plated plastic pieces, the overall interior was luxurious, with a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander had a modern, somewhat aggressive front-end design. Its flared fender arches and third-row window design made it appear smaller than it was. Inside, the Highlander offered tons of cabin space and clever storage solutions. The XSE trim featured a bold red leather interior, unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander’s trim levels ranged from the base L to the top-tier Platinum, each adding more features and luxury.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered two engine options. The standard and Reserve trims came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission as standard, and all-wheel drive as an option. The Black Label trim included a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, requiring all-wheel drive. The Nautilus featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behavior and steering effort. The twin-turbo V6 had an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg combined, with a maximum range of 450 miles on the highway. Over 871.1 miles, it averaged 25 mpg.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive as an option. The transmission had a tap-shift function and certain trims included steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The Highlander featured Sport, Normal, and Eco drive modes, as well as Mud/Sand and Rock modes for the AWD system. The Highlander’s handling was good in all scenarios, with the XSE trim’s sport-tuned suspension reducing body roll while remaining soft over bumps. The Highlander could tow up to 5,000 pounds and had a max payload of 1,685 pounds in the FWD L and LE trims.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label featured smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive thanks to Active Noise Control and acoustic glass. Both front seats were heated and ventilated, with a heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The optional 22-way power front seats with massage programs were exceptionally comfortable. The rear seats were heated and had air conditioning vents, but legroom was tight. The Nautilus offered 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander provided up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second- and third-row seats folded, 48.4 cubic feet with the second-row seats in use, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. The base L trim featured an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and deep cargo pockets. The XSE trim had second-row captain’s chairs, providing a center aisle to the third row. The second-row seats were spacious for adults, but the third row was only tolerable for short trips. The Highlander’s interior was practical, with plenty of storage solutions and cupholders.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software. Sync 4 offered over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The Black Label trim included connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel premium audio system. The system had an intuitive user interface, physical stereo and climate controls, and a natural voice recognition system. The Nautilus also offered Phone as a Key, turning a smartphone into a digital key.

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. The infotainment system had a straightforward layout with hard buttons on either side of the screen. The XSE trim featured a wireless charging pad, USB and USB-C ports, and an available 12.3-inch touchscreen. Other available features included a digital instrument panel screen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Black Label trim added Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors. The Nautilus earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense, including forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. All trims above the base L included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional safety features included front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view parking monitor, a head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were very active, sometimes feeling too intrusive.