Compare the2026 Toyota Rav4VS 2026 Lincoln Nautilus

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Rav4 AWD’s standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Nautilus doesn’t offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Rav4 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, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Rav4 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 almost 3 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Rav4’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Toyota higher than Lincoln.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 59 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 24th.

The Rav4’s optional 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 39 more horsepower (324 vs. 285) than the Nautilus’ optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Nautilus:

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid SE/XSE can travel with zero emissions for 52 miles. The Nautilus can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Rav4 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Nautilus requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Rav4 Plug-In Hybrid’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Nautilus are solid, not vented.

For better maneuverability, the Rav4’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (36.9 feet vs. 37.5 feet). The Rav4 GR Sport’s turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (37.3 feet vs. 37.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 Woodland has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Nautilus (8.5 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Rav4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 800 pounds less than the Lincoln Nautilus.

The Rav4 is 1 foot shorter than the Nautilus, making the Rav4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume than the Nautilus with its rear seat up (37.8 vs. 36.4 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Rav4. The Nautilus doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Rav4’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (1750 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln Nautilus is only 1750 pounds. The Rav4 offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The Rav4 Limited/XSE Plug-In Hybrid offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction 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 Toyota Rav4 stands out above the Lincoln Nautilus by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and one of them provide more flexibility.

The Rav4 is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by over 13 to one during 2024.