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 Lincoln MKX 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 Lincoln MKX 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 Lincoln MKX offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

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 Lincoln MKX doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Highlander Limited's optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Lincoln MKX doesn't offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the Highlander and the Lincoln MKX 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, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Lincoln MKX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Lincoln MKX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in the IIHS moderate overlap frontal impact, side impact, rear impact, roof-crush crash tests, an “Acceptable” rating in the newer small overlap frontal crash test, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2015, a rating granted to only 64 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Lincoln MKX has not been fully tested, yet, but doesn't qualify for 2015 “Top Pick Plus.”

The Toyota Highlander has a better fatality history. The Highlander was involved in fatal accidents at a rate 4.8% lower per vehicle registered than the Lincoln MKX, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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 65% better than the Lincoln MKX.

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.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Highlander V6 is faster than the Lincoln MKX:

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander AWD V6 gets better fuel mileage than the Lincoln MKX AWD (18 city/24 hwy vs. 17 city/23 hwy).

The Highlander has 1.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Lincoln MKX FWD's standard fuel tank (19.2 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Highlander's brake rotors are larger than those on the Lincoln MKX:

The Highlander's front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Lincoln MKX's (58% to 42%). This gives the Highlander more stable handling and braking.

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .81 G's, while the Lincoln MKX AWD pulls only .72 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.5 seconds quicker than the Lincoln MKX AWD (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G's vs. 29.3 seconds @ .57 average G's).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Lincoln MKX (8 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Highlander has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Lincoln MKX uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Lincoln MKX can only carry 5.

The Highlander has 36.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Lincoln MKX (144.9 vs. 108.4).

The Highlander has .7 inches more front headroom, 1.8 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, .4 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.9 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Lincoln MKX.

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

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln MKX is limited to 3500 pounds. The Highlander offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Highlander has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Lincoln MKX (1455 vs. 909 lbs.).

The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Lincoln MKX's rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Lincoln MKX doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Highlander Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Lincoln MKX doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

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 Lincoln MKX doesn't offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

The Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Lincoln MKX doesn't offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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 Lincoln MKX only retains 41.33% to 41.42%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $6051 to $13710 less than for the Lincoln MKX.

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 Lincoln MKX isn't in the top three in its category.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Lincoln MKX by almost eight to one during the 2015 model year.