The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The MKT doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The MKT doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn't react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The MKT offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature which would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

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

The Toyota Highlander has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The MKT doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

Both the Highlander and the MKT have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2016, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The MKT has not been fully tested, yet, but doesn't qualify for 2015 or 2016 “Top Pick Plus.”

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Highlander's reliability will be 98% better than the MKT.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 6th.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better fuel mileage than the MKT:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MKT with the 3.5 turbo V6 engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

For better traction, the Highlander has larger tires than the MKT (245/60R18 vs. 235/55R19).

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .81 G's, while the MKT AWD pulls only .75 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the MKT (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G's vs. 28.7 seconds @ .57 average G's).

For better maneuverability, the Highlander's turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the MKT AWD's (38.7 feet vs. 41.5 feet). The Highlander's turning circle is 3.7 feet tighter than the MKT's (38.7 feet vs. 42.4 feet).

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 550 pounds less than the Lincoln MKT.

The Highlander is 1 foot, 4.5 inches shorter than the MKT, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the MKT can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 2.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MKT (144.9 vs. 142.3).

The Highlander has .6 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom, 1.5 inches more front hip room, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.2 inches more rear hip room, 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.4 inches more third row headroom, 5 inches more third row hip room and 5.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the MKT.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander's middle and third row seats recline. The MKT's third row seats don't recline.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the MKT.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The MKT's rear cargo window doesn't open.

Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln MKT is limited to 4500 pounds. The Highlander offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Highlander has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The MKT doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the MKT's headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Standard Entune App Suite for the Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations, tagging songs to buy them later, finding fuel prices at nearby service stations, searching the internet and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The MKT doesn't offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $1245 to $2265 less than the MKT over a five-year period.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the Highlander will retain 58.27% to 61.09% of its original price after five years, while the MKT only retains 40.34% to 40.6%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $12249 to $19744 less than for the Lincoln MKT.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander second among midsize SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner's expectations. The MKT isn't in the top three.