2021 Lincoln Nautilus

Formerly called the MKX, the Lincoln Nautilus is a two-row midsize SUV built on the same platform as the Ford Edge. Though the Nautilus has never been the most exciting vehicle in its class, Lincoln's reputation for comfort has resonated with buyers who don't need their SUV to have a sporting edge. The 2021 Nautilus is heavily updated for the new model year, but you wouldn't know it by looking at the exterior. All of the enhancements are inside where the cabin is highly improved over last year's model.

Lincoln still offers the Nautilus with two engines, both packing EcoBoost technology. The smaller 2.0-liter four-cylinder provides adequate power for its class, while the 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 dials it up with more effortless speed. Based on its size and powertrain options, the Nautilus is a "tweener," roughly competing against luxury crossovers like the Cadillac XT5, Genesis GV80, and Lexus RX. A week in the most expensive Black Label trim allowed us to discover if the Nautilus is up to the task.

The 2021 Nautilus has a new front bumper, but you'd be hard-pressed to notice the difference. Lincoln is playing it safe, and one can't really blame them. Even if it's not as bold as some of its rivals, the Nautilus is a handsome brute. Standard and Reserve models come with 18-inch alloy wheels, while the top-spec Black Label gets a set of 21s. Full LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights and auto high beams are standard. The Black Label gets LED multi-projector headlamps. All three models are equipped with a power liftgate and dual chrome exhaust tips, and Reserve and Black Label models get a panoramic vista roof as standard.

In terms of dimensions, the Nautilus has an overall length of 190 inches stretched over a 112.2-inch wheelbase. The maximum width with the mirrors folded is 78.7 inches, increasing to 86.1 inches with the mirrors extended. All models have a height of 66.2 inches.

The lightest models have the 2.0-liter base engine and FWD, and a curb weight of 4,165 pounds. Equipping it with an all-wheel-drive system increases that figure to 4,339 lbs. With two additional cylinders and some additional kit, the 2.7-liter Black Label's curb weight is 4,545 lbs.

There are 12 total colors on the palette, with the Standard and Reserve models having access to 11 of those options. No-cost options include Green Gem, Silver Radiance, Artisan Blue, Infinite Black, and Asher Gray. The $695 options include Iced Mocha, Ceramic Pearl, Flight Blue, Red Carpet, Pristine White, and Burgundy Velvet. The Black Label's available palette is limited to just seven colors, with the model-specific Chroma Elite Copper retailing for $1,750. No other color on the Black Label will cost anything extra. The color selection for the Black Label consists of the colors that work best with its unique exterior trimmings. Our tester wore Flight Blue, which is an attractive and elegant hue.

Outright pace wasn't Lincoln's main focus, but the two available engines offer enough power for adequate performance. The standard engine is a turbocharged inline four-cylinder, producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Lincoln doesn't supply performance figures, but independent tests have shown that the 2.0-liter model can sprint to 60 mph in around seven seconds. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all-wheel drive is available for the 2.0-liter engine option.

The 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6 produces 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. This engine is standard on the Black Label and optional on the Reserve. It's only available with the all-wheel-drive system. According to independent tests, the additional power takes about second off the 0-60 mph time. With the Class II, Trailer Tow Package included, the Nautilus has a tow rating of 3,500 lbs. Not only is this behind some of its main rivals, but the tow package can't be ordered as a standalone option. It requires adding the Reserve II Package, adding nearly $8,500 to the price.

Both engine options are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base Standard model is only available with the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine, but all-wheel drive is available as an option. The Reserve model comes standard with the turbocharged four-pot with FWD. AWD is available, as is the bigger turbocharged V6. At the top of the range, the Black Label trim is only available with AWD. We drove the Black Label, which meant we were able to enjoy the more potent V6. This engine offers gobs of power when requested, and we'd highly recommend it to potential buyers. The base engine isn't sluggish, but feels less effortless than the V6.

No matter which engine you pick, the Nautilus uses the same eight-speed automatic transmission as the Ford Edge. While we disliked this gearbox in the Edge ST, it was less distracting here. In a less sporty application, the transmission fades into the background most of the time. Only when you require a sudden burst of power does its oddly-spaced ratios rear their ugly heads. The transmission often needs a moment before it allows a downshift, at which point the gap in front of you may have disappeared already.

Buyers looking for an SUV with sporting credentials will likely want to look elsewhere - the Nautilus is not aimed at hitting top speed as quickly as possible. The Nautilus places a heavy emphasis on comfort, and it achieves this goal admirably. Ride comfort is sublime, though the 21-inch wheels on our Black Label tester were noticeable over rough pavement. The steering featherlight and there's no feedback through the wheel, but that's what we'd expect from a comfort-focused SUV like this. There's an "S" mode on the transmission, but it does little to transform the Nautilus from sleepy cruiser to back road barnstormer. This may sound a little critical towards Lincoln, but on the contrary, we wish more SUVs like this existed.

Too many SUVs try to aim for a sporty character and end up missing the mark, creating a compromised experience that's neither fun nor luxurious. By leaning into the latter, Lincoln created an old-school luxury sedan experience that happens to come bundled in a taller SUV package. Driven through traffic like a reasonable person, the Nautilus shines. Cabin noise is minimal and with the excellent Revel audio system and massaging seats keeping you distracted, the Nautilus becomes a temple for rest and relaxation. We best relate the Nautilus driving experience to the Lexus RX, but this feels more comfortable and offers better power. In many ways, the Nautilus feels like the RX that Lexus "should" have built.

The 2021 Nautilus 2.0-liter turbocharged FWD model has EPA-estimated figures of 21/26/23 mpg city/highway/combined. Adding the AWD system drops the estimated figures down to 20/25/22 mpg. Considering the increase in power specs, the 2.7 V6's fuel consumption figures of 19/26/21 mpg aren't all that bad. We averaged only 19 mpg during our week with the 2.7-liter V6.

The Nautilus is equipped with an 18-gallon gas tank, which will get 414 miles in the most efficient configuration.

The interior used to be this vehicle's Achilles Heel. The trim just wasn't up to German standards, not to mention the old-school center console layout. The current trend is elegant minimalism, and Lincoln's blunderbuss approach just felt cheap. Thankfully, the interior has been thoroughly revised - and it's an absolute beauty. Firstly, Lincoln's designers finally got bit by the minimalism bug. The result is a giant 13.2-inch touchscreen interface, neatly mounted on top of the dashboard. Below that is a set of elegant air vents, and under those, you'll find the new piano key gear selector.

Thankfully, Lincoln kept the major controls like climate control and basic audio controls separate from the touchscreen interface. Space is plentiful for all passengers, and the new interior color options work exceptionally well. The Black Label's Venetian leather is superb and elevates the Nautilus well into the realm of German rivals.

The cabin has seating for five fully-grown adults. In front, there are 42.8 inches of legroom, dropping down to 39.6 inches in the rear. The headroom is 39.9 in the front and 39.2 in the rear. Reserve and Black Label models come standard with a panoramic sunroof, which eats into the headroom a little, but not so much that you'd notice.

Passenger comfort was high on the list of Lincoln's priorities. Usually, base models come with basic power adjustments for the seat and not much else. Lincoln's comfort front seats with power adjustability, power lumbar support, and a driver's side memory function are standard across the range. Heating and ventilation for the front seats come standard from the Reserve upwards, as do heated rear outboard seats.

Along with the interior revamp, Lincoln also made some upgrades to the materials and available upholstery colors. On the Standard model, Luxury Soft Touch upholstery is standard in Ebony or Sandstone. The standard interior trim is linear brushed aluminum. Upgrading to leather upholstery in the same color options costs $1,815. Premium leather trim is standard on the Reserve, available in four color options: Ebony, Slate, Sandstone, and a lovely Ebony/Roast brown combination. The interior trim options are brushed aluminum, Santos Rosewood, and Espresso Ash Swirl.

The Black Label's interior comes standard with Alpine venetian leather upholstery, and there are also two available themes. The Chalet theme consists of Silverwood trim, and cashmere leather on the steering wheel and seats. You also get upmarket Espresso velour mats with a metal cuff accent. The Flight theme is not available yet, but will be introduced late in 2021.

The Nautilus isn't quite class-leading, but its trunk is capacious nevertheless. With all five seats in place, the Nautilus offers 37.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity. That's more space than you get in the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. The rear seats can fold flat in a 60/40 configuration, opening up 68.8 cubes of cargo capacity.

Interior storage is much better thanks to the revamp. In the front, the Nautilus has an armrest with a storage bin, two cupholders, and a small storage space underneath the center console buttons. There's also a large storage space underneath the central console between the driver and passenger - good for keeping valuables out of sight. An overhead sunglasses holder is also standard.

With a retail price starting above $40,000, you expect a lot of features as standard. Luckily, Lincoln delivers. You get dual-zone climate control, and the magnificent power-adjustable front comfort seats from the entry-spec model. These seats offer a memory function for the driver and power lumbar support. You also get keyless entry and ignition, a power tailgate, three 12V power outlets, and remote start. On the safety side, each model is equipped with Lincoln Co-Pilot 360, which comprises forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Forward sensing, a surround-view camera, and enhanced active park assist are optional on the Reserve, and standard on the Black Label.

The 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster is carried over from the previous model year.

The Reserve trim ups the game by adding a hands-free liftgate, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, heated and ventilated front seats, ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, and a wireless phone charging pad.

Finally, the Black Label boasts a 360-degree camera system as standard, plus the ability to use your phone as a key.

All Nautilus trims benefit from a new 13.2-inch touchscreen powered by Ford's latest SYNC 4 infotainment software. Lincoln models receive a unique Constellation theme, but the functionality is similar to Ford models like the F-150. This system now boasts wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto plus over-the-air updates to keep the system running smoothly. Navigation is included from the Reserve trim upwards. We had a chance to sample Lincoln's Phone as a Key feature, which allows drivers to leave their keys at home and use their smartphones instead. On a few occasions, we had to take the iPhone Lincoln provided out of our pockets, but it worked smoothly most of the time.

The standard audio system includes 10 speakers and comes fitted to the Standard trim. SiriusXM satellite radio is standard across the lineup. Reserve models get a Revel 13-speaker unit with HD Radio technology, but the 19-speaker Revel Ultima which is standard on the Black Label can be optioned on to the mid-spec Reserve at a cost. Our tester had the high-end Revel Ultima Audio System, which we found to be easily one of our favorites on the market. It sounds crisp at any volume and includes three listening modes, Stereo, Audience, and Onstage, to customize the experience. A rear-seat entertainment system is available as an option and includes wireless headphones.

When it comes to the Nautilus SUV, there have been a few reliability concerns in the US over the years. The 2019 model has been recalled four times, with issues including a diver airbag module plastic cover that could detach, a malfunctioning hands-off wheel alert function, an instrument cluster that goes blank on start-up, and damaged wiring that could lead to a malfunctioning airbag.

The 2020 model was recalled three times, including for the same damaged wiring issue that could cause the airbag to malfunction. It also suffered from a problematic rearview camera and poor lubrication in the rear drive unit. At the time of writing, the 2021 Nautilus had not been recalled.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus received 82 out of a possible 100 points in the J.D. Power Ownership Survey. It's not class-leading, but an excellent score nevertheless. Lincoln covers any new Nautilus sold in the USA with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. Roadside assistance is provided for the same period and distance as the powertrain warranty.

The NHTSA's review of the Lincoln Nautilus resulted in an overall rating of five out of five stars for safety. It only scored four stars in the rollover test. Reviews from the IIHS were equally positive, with six top scores of Good awarded, along with a Top Safety Pick title. However, this top rating only applies to Nautilus models equipped with specific headlights.

The basic traditional safety features include traction and stability control, ABS, and multiple airbags. The airbag count includes knee airbags for those in the first row and side-curtain airbags. Standard and Reserve trims come with Lincoln Co-Pilot 360, consisting of forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, lane keep alert, lane keep assist, and a rearview camera with a washer system. Post-collision braking, lane departure warning, and a reverse sensing system are also standard. The Black Label gets a more advanced safety suite that adds adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and active park assist, which are optional extras for the Reserve.

If you are looking for a two-row luxury SUV that puts an extra emphasis on comfort, it's hard to do better than the new Lincoln Nautilus. There are some European options that roughly compete with the Nautilus, like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, but their opulence comes with harsher ride quality and a less 'cushy' feeling than Lincoln delivers. We can best describe the Nautilus as a superior Lexus RX; a two-row luxury model built to chauffeur drivers and their families in supreme comfort on a reasonable budget.

Lincoln's biggest weakness was the interior, where it never felt worth the price next to its European and Asian competitors. With this latest refresh, the Nautilus finally receives the cabin it deserves with a distinctly American approach to luxury. If you lusted after one of the now-defunct Cadillac or Lincoln sedans that no longer exist, we think the Nautilus is an excellent alternative. And until Lexus refreshes its aging RX, the Nautilus is our go-to two-row luxury SUV.

For 2021, the price of the Lincoln Nautilus starts at an MSRP of $42,500 for the base Standard, increasing to $49,550 for the Reserve model. A top-spec Black Label has a starting price of $65,090. These prices exclude Lincoln's destination charge of $1,095.

There are three models in the Nautilus range: Standard, Reserve, and Black Label. The Standard trim is only available with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot. FWD is standard, but AWD is available. The 2.0L engine is standard on the Reserve as well, but Lincoln adds the option of upgrading to the more powerful turbocharged V6 with AWD. The Black Label is only available with a turbocharged V6 and AWD.

These three models have a lot of features in common. They all have LED exterior lights, a power tailgate, power-adjustable front comfort seats, dual-zone climate control, remote start, keyless entry and ignition, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and Lincoln's Co-Pilot 360 safety suite. On the infotainment side, all models now come with an impressive 13.2-inch touchscreen center stack display with all of the modern connectivity features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The Standard trim comes with a 10-speaker sound system, while the Reserve ups the speaker count to 13. The Black Label comes with a Revel Ultima Audio System and built-in navigation and 19 speakers. On the safety side, the Black Label adds adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera system. In terms of upholstery, the Standard has leatherette seats, while the Reserve upgrades to genuine leather.

There aren't many optional packages available across the Nautilus range. The Standard trim can be upgraded with the $1,815 Standard I Package, consisting of 18-inch bright-machined aluminum wheels, premium leather-trimmed seats, and built-in navigation.

For the Reserve trim, there are two optional packages. Reserve I retails for $3,420 and adds the more advanced Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 Plus, 20-inch alloy wheels, and the Phone As A Key feature. Reserve II costs $8,445 and comes with everything in the Reserve I package plus 21-inch alloys, a cargo utility package, and the Class II Trailer Package with a 3,500 lbs tow rating. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package can also be added on separately, and a $1,895 Monochromatic package is available too, which adds blacked-out exterior accents to the Reserve trim. You can also upgrade the seats on Reserve and Back Label trims to Ultra Comfort seats with 22-way adjustment, active motion, power thigh extenders, and power head restraints. This costs $1,500 but also requires the Reserve I package on the Reserve trim.

A rear-seat entertainment system courtesy of Lincoln Play can be had on both the top trims for $1,995, too.

We typically advise restraint when optioning a new vehicle, but we think the Nautilus is best enjoyed in its top Black Label trim. This model starts at just over $65,000 but comes mostly loaded with everything you need. The Ultra Comfort 22-way adjustable seats with massage are a must-add for $1,500 and that's the only option we'd select. All-in, a fully-loaded Black Label undercuts many of its rivals at just over $68,000 including the destination charge. You can get pretty close to this level in the Reserve trim for around $5,000 less, but we think the Black Label upgrades are worth the cost.

There is a price gap between the Nautilus and the seven-seat Aviator, but it's not as big as you might think. A Nautilus in mid-spec Reserve trim is just under $50,000, while the Standard Aviator is just over $50,000. Because the Aviator is a bigger, three-row SUV, it requires more power to move it sufficiently. That's why its turbocharged V6 develops a rather potent 400 hp. Since Lincolns tend to be generously equipped from the base level, there aren't any real sacrifices you have to make. Even the safety specification is similar. The Aviator's interior is also more upmarket than ever before, but it only has a 10.1-inch infotainment screen which looks a bit sad perched in the middle of such a large dashboard. The Nautilus's interior upgrade is a lot more successful, in our humble opinion. Still, the base Aviator offers an interesting alternative to a mid-spec Nautilus, especially if space is more of a concern than a larger touchscreen interface.

The Nautilus and Edge are distant cousins, but the overlords took great care to ensure that there's a large gap in pricing between the two. With the Ford being nearly $10,000 cheaper, the Lincoln is obviously aimed at a wealthier crowd. All Edge models are powered by the same 2.0-liter turbo used in the Lincoln, but no V6 option is available for the standard range. You can spend a little more than an entry-level Nautilus and buy the 335-hp turbocharged ST model. We doubt the average Nautilus customer will be interested in this move, but hey, it's out there if you want it. Even the top-spec Titanium Edge is more affordable than the base Lincoln, and it offers more standard features. Still, both cars have Top Safety Pick awards from the IIHS. If you aren't bothered by badge snobbery, the Edge is a smarter buy but the Lincoln is undoubtedly the more comfortable SUV.