Compare the2025 Toyota Rav4VS 2025 Lincoln Nautilus

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Rav4 Limited AWD 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Rav4 the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 114 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Nautilus has not been fully tested, yet.

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 maintenance on some Nautilus models.)

There are over 2 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’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 32 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 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 second in reliability, above the industry average. With 104 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 25th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Lincoln is ranked 23rd.

On the EPA test cycle the Rav4 gets better mileage than the Nautilus:

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 stops much shorter than the Nautilus:

The Rav4 4WD handles at .84 G’s, while the Nautilus Black Label pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Rav4 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Nautilus Black Label (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Rav4 LE/XLE’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (36.1 feet vs. 37.5 feet). The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s turning circle is .1 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (37.4 feet vs. 37.5 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Rav4 LE/XLE has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Nautilus (8.4 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Rav4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Rav4 XLE Premium/Limited’s minimum ground clearance is .7 inch higher than on the Nautilus (8.6 vs. 7.9 inches).

The Toyota Rav4 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 1000 to 1050 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 front grille of the Rav4 Limited uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Nautilus doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Rav4 has a much larger cargo volume than the Nautilus with its rear seat up (37.6 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’ (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

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

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Rav4, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Rav4 outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by almost 18 to one during 2023.