2026 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus presented a stately and sophisticated appearance, characterized by its distinctive grille with a hint of horse collar design. The grille's mesh was black across all models, but the Lincoln star trim elements varied in chrome, copper, or black, depending on the trim level or appearance package. A prominent Lincoln logo was centrally placed, flanked by squinting eye-slit headlights with winged LED light signatures. The body of the Nautilus sat wide and proud, featuring a contrasting black roof and pillars. Integrated door handles were hidden within the shoulder line, while the slab sides were accentuated by a spear-shaped design element along the upper doors, which included Nautilus lettering. The rear was marked by a spoiler and a full-width taillight within a black trim piece, also featuring Lincoln lettering. Standard 19-inch alloy wheels were offered, with options for larger sizes on higher trims. The interior boasted a unique, high-end look with a large 48-inch screen at the base of the windshield, requiring a lowered steering wheel with a flat top. The cockpit had a stepped design, starting with a low-set center console and culminating in the wide display screen. The base Premiere trim offered synthetic leather upholstery, while the Reserve trim upgraded to leather with additional color options. The top Black Label model featured two design themes: Chalet and Aurora, each offering a distinct luxurious ambiance.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two versions: the Land Cruiser 1958 and a higher trim level. The 1958 model was distinguishable by its round headlights and cloth seats, while the higher trim featured rectangular lamps and standard artificial leather upholstery. The upmarket version offered a broader color palette and more features. Starting at $59,775, the 1958 catered to those seeking a basic yet functional vehicle, while the higher trim, priced from $64,620, targeted buyers desiring more luxury. Our test vehicle included options like two-tone paint, a Premium Package, and off-road enhancements, bringing the MSRP to $73,740. The Land Cruiser's cabin emphasized function, with the Premium Package adding soft leather upholstery and technology upgrades. The displays and switchgear mirrored those of the Lexus GX, offering a sense of quality. Despite a thin metallic echo when doors slammed, the Land Cruiser exuded quality in construction and materials.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus offered modest power for its price, with a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This was adequate for a typical midsize SUV, but luxury buyers often expected more, especially given the vehicle's weight of over 4,500 pounds. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and came standard with all-wheel drive. The hybrid version, which was tested, used the same engine with a larger turbo and an electric motor, boosting output to 310 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It employed a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which was designed to stay in the background. The hybrid's extra power reduced the 0-60 mph time from about 7.5 seconds to 7 seconds, still middling for a luxury vehicle. The Nautilus prioritized quiet, serene comfort over sportiness, with a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension. Adaptive dampers were available on higher trims, offering varying levels of softness. The Nautilus featured multiple drive modes, but its handling was generally soft and spongy, with slow but direct steering. The ride was smooth, even with the largest 22-inch wheels, though rippled surfaces could cause some jiggling.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, shared with the 4Runner SUV and Tacoma pickup truck. This system combined a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission was standard, along with full-time four-wheel drive, a trailer brake controller, and a 6,000-pound towing capacity. The EPA estimated a combined fuel economy of 23 mpg on premium fuel, though our test vehicle averaged 20.3 mpg during a heat wave and 18.1 mpg on a mountainous route. The Land Cruiser featured off-road capabilities, including center and locking rear differentials, hill-start and hill-descent assist, and Crawl Control. Ground clearance was 8.7 inches, with approach, breakover, and departure angles of 32, 22, and 23 degrees, respectively. The higher-spec Land Cruiser offered different wheel designs and additional off-road features. Despite its weight of 5,445 pounds, the powertrain provided adequate performance, with impressive torque delivery. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road conditions, easily navigating challenging trails. In daily driving, it felt rugged and capable, though a touchy brake pedal and occasional drivetrain clunk were noted. The Land Cruiser handled urban environments well, with its boxy dimensions and surround-view cameras aiding in parking. On winding roads, it exhibited predictable handling, though with noticeable body roll and tire noise. On highways, it was smooth and easy to drive, though wind noise was a concern.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus emphasized comfort for both front and rear passengers. It came standard with power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, active noise cancellation, ambient lighting, and a power tilt/telescoping steering column. Higher trims offered ventilated front seats, 24-way power front seats with massage functions, and heated rear seats. The second row provided excellent space, with 43.2 inches of legroom and sculpted seats. The rear seats folded down via power releases, though manual effort was required to raise them. Cargo space was generous, with 36.4 cubic feet available with the rear seats upright and 71.3 cubic feet when folded flat. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free version available.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser's 1958 model featured basic amenities, including manually adjustable front seats and cloth upholstery. The higher trim level offered power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, wrapped in SofTex artificial leather. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, included genuine leather, memory settings, heated and ventilated rear seats, and a power sunroof. The Land Cruiser's seats were comfortable, with ample room for five passengers. Storage was mixed, with a small center console cool box and cupholders unable to accommodate larger bottles. A power liftgate was standard on the upper trim, providing access to a 46.2 cubic-foot cargo area. The cargo space expanded to 82.2 cubic feet, though achieving a flat surface was not possible, complicating the loading of bulky items.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus featured a unique approach to technology, with a full-width 48-inch screen at the base of the windshield displaying essential information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled typical infotainment controls, including navigation, climate settings, and audio functions. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, a digital key, satellite radio, remote start, and a wireless smartphone charger. Audio options ranged from a standard 10-speaker system to a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D unit. The Black Label trim offered Lincoln Rejuvenate, a relaxation program using scent, seating adjustments, and calming images. The steering wheel featured five-way controllers for cruise control and voice commands, with a central volume dial on the console.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 came with a 7-inch digital driver display and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The higher trim level offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. Our test vehicle included wireless phone charging, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and Toyota Connected Services. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL audio system, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. Five connected service plans were available, with complimentary subscriptions for some. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though it lacked a home screen. The Intelligent Assistant worked well, though it occasionally misinterpreted commands.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering steering, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, exit warning, front and rear parking sensors, a driver-attention monitor, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and intersection assist, and front and rear automatic emergency braking. Lincoln BlueCruise, a hands-free driving system, was also standard. The Nautilus scored well in crash tests, earning a perfect five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included high-beam assist, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and front and rear parking sensors with automatic low-speed braking. Additional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and lane-centering assist. Proactive Driving Assist provided subtle braking and steering inputs. The Premium Package added lane-change assist, front cross-traffic alert, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and mostly Good ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.