Old-school ethos. Modern cars and SUVs attempt to be do-it-all vehicles. Instead of focusing on one thing, automakers try to make vehicles good at everything. Refreshingly, Lincoln sticks to what it does best with luxurious vehicles that are only concerned with comfort. In this day of age, it’s a refreshing twist.
Lincoln also does things a little differently on the styling front. There aren’t any jagged edges or sharp angles on the Nautilus. The SUV has soft lines, round edges, and pronounced body lines to be a handsome vehicle.
On the inside, the Nautilus flexes its modern muscle with a simple, elegant design that’s packed with tech. Upscale leather, high-end metals, and stylish wood trim make the Nautilus feel just as luxurious as any other SUV in the segment. Opt for a Black Label trim and the SUV feels downright lavish. The Nautilus may be based on the far more humble Ford Edge, but it’s hard to see that in the SUV’s design.
Cozy, comfortable cruiser. Without the need to have any kind of sportiness, the Nautilus doubles down on comfort. The suspension is geared toward offering a smooth ride, handling bumps in stride. The SUV is available with adaptive suspension, but those deliver an equally mellow ride. In daily driving situations, the Nautilus’ quick steering helps it feel stable, but the SUV sways around corners.
The same relaxed approach carries over to the powertrains. The standard engine in the Nautilus is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 250 horsepower. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard with the engine. Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are offered with the engine. A more potent twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine is available. It produces 335 hp and comes with AWD as standard.
Neither engine feels underpowered, but for shoppers that plan on spending a lot of time on the highway and need extra power to pass, the available V6 is the better option of the two. Both engines remain quiet at high speeds, resulting in hushed cabins. The main issue with the Nautilus powertrains is the lackluster fuel economy. With the base engine and FWD, the best the SUV can get is up to 23 mpg combined.
High-end tech features. For being an automaker that looks to its past for inspiration, Lincoln offers some impressive tech features with the Nautilus. Even the base SUV comes standard with a 13.2-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 10 audio speakers, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. The touchscreen features Lincoln’s Sync 4 infotainment system that is intuitive and has crisp graphics.
Optional features like a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 19-speaker Revel audio system, navigation, a wireless smartphone charger, and a rear-seat entertainment system bolster the Nautilus’ list of tech features.
Comfy seating for five. Unlike the majority of midsize SUVs, the Nautilus is only available as a two-row vehicle. While that means the Nautilus isn’t as versatile as other midsize SUVS, it creates a more spacious cabin for passengers in the first two rows of seats. In the back, passengers get 39.6 inches of rear legroom, which is enough for adults to stretch out.
In addition to having a large amount of passenger space, the SUV’s seats are plush, supportive, and comfortable. For added comfort, massaging seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and 22-way manually adjustable front seats are optional.
The Nautilus offers above-average cargo space, allowing it to hold plenty of cargo for a weekend road trip. There are 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and a total of 68.8 cubic feet of space.
Final thoughts. If you prefer the old days when cars pretended not to be sporty and didn’t try to cram seven people into a midsize SUV, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus has a lot of qualities to like. The handsome exterior design, impressive tech features, comfortable ride, and sumptuous seats make this midsize SUV a luxurious option.
There aren’t many other two-row midsize SUVs in the class. The Cadillac XT5 has a more angular design, has less powerful engines, has an uncomfortable ride, and doesn’t feel as luxurious. The BMW X5 is a sporty midsize SUV that’s offered with an available third row of seats. It’s available with seriously powerful engines, has cutting-edge tech features, and has an upscale interior.
