Overview
With the death of the Continental and MKZ sedans Lincoln is left to focus solely on SUVs, and of those it’s the 2021 Nautilus that reminds us most of the brand’s big, soft-riding four-doors from decades past. The Nautilus’s suspension is tuned for comfort, and its over-the-road demeanor is better suited for relaxed Sunday drives than for tearing up the pavement like zestier rivals such as the Audi SQ8, the Porsche Cayenne, and the Maserati Levante. A turbocharged four-cylinder engine is standard but buyers can choose to upgrade to a perkier twin-turbo V-6 and either front- or all-wheel drive. The Nautilus has a spacious and upscale cabin that’s in synch with its placid ride, with the top-spec Black Label model offering the most palatial accommodations. At Unfortunately, the Black Label’s price has it competing with several SUVs wearing more desirable brand names.
What’s New for 2021?
Lincoln has given the Nautilus a thorough interior redesign for 2021, bringing the mid-size SUV in line with the rest of the company’s lineup. A new dashboard design incorporates a larger 13.2-inch infotainment display running the latest version of Ford’s Sync 4 operating system. Lincoln’s now-pervasive piano-key shifter replaces last year’s push-button setup. Fancy Black Label models can now be ordered with two new interior themes—Chalet and Flight—while Standard and Reserve trims can be had with either Sandstone or Black Ebony. The only discernable exterior styling change is a tweaked lower front bumper.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The mid-range Reserve trim strikes us as the best balance of value and luxury. For the extra cash they pay versus the Standard trim, buyers will enjoy a panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a 13-speaker Revel audio system, in-dash navigation, a power-adjustable steering column, and heated and cooled front seats. We’d replace the standard 18-inch wheels with 20-inch rollers—the 18s looks too small on the Nautilus’s curvy frame—otherwise we’d keep options to a minimum.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The entry-level engine in the Nautilus lineup is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that pumps out 250 horsepower. It’s hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission and can be had with front- or all-wheel drive. Our Reserve test vehicle with all-wheel drive managed a 6.8-second zero-to-60-mph time, edging out the V-6–powered Lexus RX350 by 0.1 second but falling behind the Cadillac XT5 by 0.2. We also tested the optional 335-hp 2.7-liter turbocharged V-6, and it delivered a brisk 5.9-second zero-to-60-mph time. Neither engine felt underpowered in city driving, but the V-6’s extra power is handy during highway merging and passing maneuvers. In keeping with the Lincoln brand’s luxury ethos, the Nautilus is a soft-shoed crossover that’s happiest wafting lazily along. Its available adaptive suspension helps smooth impacts from potholes. Reserve and Black Label models, along with the all-wheel-drive Select, come with three driving modes (Comfort, Normal, and Sport) for an extra layer of personalization.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The SUVs in this segment are all closely grouped when it comes to EPA fuel-efficiency estimates, but it’s no surprise that the four-cylinder Nautilus with front-wheel drive leads the way for the Lincoln entrants. What is surprising, though, is how close the turbocharged V-6 models are to the four-cylinder’s numbers. The all-wheel-drive four-cylinder Nautilus is rated at 22 mpg in combined driving, while the all-wheel-drive V-6 version is rated for 21. Our all-wheel-drive V-6 Black Label test vehicle only delivered 24 of its 25-mpg highway estimate on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route. The all-wheel-drive RX350, for context, delivered an incredible 31 mpg versus its EPA rating of 26 mpg.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The cabin of the Nautilus is finished in nice materials; layers of more luxurious leathers, metals, and woods become available as you climb up through the lineup. Nearly everything in our Reserve and Black Label test vehicles was wrapped in soft leather, and the headliner of Black Label models is covered in faux suede. Although the Nautilus shares a platform with the Ford Edge, buyers likely wouldn’t guess that. While the vehicles are similarly spacious, the cabin of the Lincoln offers more style and substance in the form of optional massaging seats with 22-way adjustability, a standard digital gauge cluster, and a push-button gear selector. Behind the Nautilus’s rear seat is a vast cargo area that swallowed 12 carry-on suitcases in our testing—two more than the XT5 and three more than the RX350. Dropping the rear seat to its flat position—a process that’s made simple due to handy levers in the cargo area that flop the seatbacks down—creates room for up to 27 suitcases, which matches the larger, three-row Volvo XC90.
Infotainment and Connectivity
In addition to the 12.3-inch digital gauge display, all Nautilus models come with a large 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen. Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment software is easy to use and offers more modern features, including over-the-air update capability. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, an 11-speaker audio system, and a 4G LTE–powered onboard Wi-Fi hotspot are all standard; navigation and a wireless smartphone-charging pad are standard on Reserve, and Black Label models. Especially appealing to buyers with kids, Lincoln offers an optional rear-seat entertainment system on all trim levels.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Nautilus its highest safety rating of five stars but missed out on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick designation thanks to headlamps that scored “Poor” in that agency’s tests. All Nautilus models come with Lincoln’s Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assistance features as standard. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-keeping assist with lane-departure warning
- Available adaptive cruise control with lane-centering adaptive steering
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Although the Lincoln’s powertrain warranty is longer than rivals’, including the XC90 and the Audi Q8, its bumper-to-bumper policy doesn’t push the boundaries of what the rest of the segment offers. Paying for the expensive Black Label trim adds dealership perks such as four years of complimentary scheduled maintenance, an annual detailing service for the first four years of ownership, and a culinary concierge for restaurant reservations.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for up to 4 years or 50,000 miles