2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Toyota Sequoia

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was a striking presence on the road, with its bold design inspired by the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The SUV's exterior featured a traditional grille and front bumper, which distinguished it from the Tundra's more unconventional look. Inside, the Sequoia shared many design elements with the Tundra, offering an industrial yet upscale feel, especially in the Capstone trim. This top-tier version boasted a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone interior, dominated by a 14-inch infotainment system. However, despite its premium appearance, some materials reminded occupants of its pickup truck origins.

In contrast, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve trim was available in Canada, showcasing a sophisticated and streamlined exterior design. The grille, reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz, featured LED lighting that illuminated the Lincoln star logo, creating a stunning visual effect. The rear design mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with an animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. Inside, the Nautilus impressed with its high-quality materials, ambient lighting, and a full-width screen that served as the interior's focal point. The cabin was adorned with polished metal, open-pore wood, and fine leather, although the piano key shifter style was a nod to Lincoln's design tradition.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup delivered 437 horsepower at 5,200 rpm and 583 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The Sequoia's towing capacity was impressive, with a maximum rating of 4,137 kilograms in Canada, surpassing the previous model's 3,356 kilograms. Fuel efficiency improved significantly, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD, compared to the older model's 16.4 L/100 km. The Sequoia offered various driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the driving experience to their preferences.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For those seeking more power, a hybrid option was available, delivering 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated fuel economy of 7.7 L/100 km in combined driving. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, including Normal, Excite, Conserve, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. The hybrid version utilized a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which provided a smooth driving experience without the typical droning associated with CVTs.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads, offering a comfortable cabin with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and a heated steering wheel was standard. However, the Sequoia's interior space was compromised by its hybrid powertrain, resulting in reduced cargo capacity compared to the previous model. With the third-row seat in its rearmost position, the Sequoia offered 325 litres of cargo space, expandable to 631 litres by sliding the seat forward. Folding the third-row seats increased capacity to 1,387 litres, while folding the second-row seats provided 2,460 litres of cargo space.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus offered power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats, with the option for Lincoln's 24-way Perfect Position seats, which included a massage function. Rear passengers enjoyed 1,095 millimetres of legroom, providing ample space for taller individuals. The Nautilus featured the Lincoln Rejuvenate feature, combining massage, lighting, and screen images to create different moods. Cargo space was generous, with 997 litres available behind the second row and 1,947 litres with the seats folded down. The Nautilus was limited to seating for five, prioritizing cargo space over a third-row option.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, with a 14-inch touchscreen in most trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Intelligent Assistant responded to voice commands, although it occasionally required manual intervention. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display and a surround-view camera system, enhancing the driving experience. However, the system's glare and occasional bugs detracted from its overall usability.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for various information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Nautilus included Google Maps, Alexa Built-in, and over-the-air updates. However, the unlabelled steering wheel controls and menu-driven HVAC adjustments were potential distractions. Wireless charging and USB ports were standard throughout the cabin.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5), which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and road sign recognition. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services. While crash test ratings were not available, the Sequoia's platform shared with the Tundra, which received high ratings from the IIHS.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, including lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. The Blue Cruise 1.2 technology offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, with automatic lane-change assist and In-Lane Repositioning. While the 2024 Nautilus had not been rated by the NHTSA, the 2023 model received high scores for crash protection. The IIHS rated the 2024 Nautilus as "Good" in crashworthiness.