The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus includes a 48-in pillar-to-pillar display screen, another 11.1-in touch screen, optional hybrid power, and two rows of heated seats.
| What’s Good: 48-in screen offers a nice view of lots of information, without distracting. Quiet, comfortable ride. Good levels of straight-line performance. | What Could Improve: A calmer, more progressive throttle would do wonders. Lincoln should swap the CVT for the eight-speed offered with the other engine. | My Conclusion: The Nautilus looks great, offers plenty of space for four adults, and a nice, quiet ride. Just keep it in the conserve driving mode. |
OVERVIEW
The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus begins the second-generation of the two-row crossover SUV with a name. If you want to include the MkX days, which started in 2007, consider this the third generation. Regardless, this Nautilus closely follows Lincoln’s current design language, which makes it revolutionary compared to the outgoing model.
The biggest change—physically and emotionally—comes from a super wide, 48-in display screen that stands about four inches tall, just beneath the base of the windshield. It runs nearly the full width of the dash, a-pillar to a-pillar. Ford also installed an 11.1-in center display that controls the larger screen above as well as the usual battery of tricks touchscreens perform.
Of the three trim levels offered: Premiere, Reserve, and Black Label. My mid-level Reserve model included a healthy package of optional items, including massaging seats. Little changed for the 2025 model year, by the way. Except, notably, the price. A 2025 Nautilus Premiere now starts at $53,485, and Reserve costs $62,705, a more than $5000 jump in price from 2024. To be fair, it also receives quite a bit more standard equipment. Both prices include the $1595 destination charge.
Powertrain
You choose between two turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engines in the Nautilus, one standard, the other hybrid. The standard engine pumps out a respectable 250 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft of torque. It bolts up to an eight-speed automatic transmission and then sends power to all four wheels. Every Nautilus is all-wheel-drive.
My test car included the $2000 optional hybrid engine, which gets help from a 134-horsepower electric motor housed inside a continuously variable transmission bolted up to a turbo 2.0-liter. It makes a combined 310 horsepower and 295 lb.-ft of torque. The electric motor works hardest at low engine revs to provide strong pull throughout the rev range. In fact, 310 horsepower feels a bit underrated.
You can choose either engine in all three Nautilus trims. And Lincoln guesses that roughly half will go hybrid. Those that do will see the biggest benefit in city fuel economy, though the hybrid ekes a little more mileage on the highway, too. The non-hybrid delivers 21 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway, 24 combined. The hybrid jumps up to 30 mpg in the city, 31 on the highway, 30 combined.
Straight line speed and smoothness
And it feels quick, once the CVT takes a moment to adjust, you get strong pull, making easy work of merging on to the interstate, or weaving around a slow poke on a two-lane. The caveat, of course, is the CVT. It takes a good two-seconds before everything fully engages. In normal, more pedestrian driving, it’s fine. But I have a feeling the eight-speed automatic responds quicker.
Ironically, it’s also a bit jumpy. Put it in the Excite (sport) driving mode, and just a light tap of throttle feels like you pressed half way down. Even in the normal driving mode, it’s hard to really keep launches from a stoplight smooth. The Conserve (eco) driving mode feels the most appropriate to me. Overtime, your foot calibrates, and it feels, OK.
Chassis
Lincoln tuned the four-wheel-independent suspension (struts up front, controls arms in back) to deliver a plush, comfortable ride. My Reserve trim included adaptive shock absorbers, which make it feel downright cushy when not in the Excite driving mode. Your heart rate will stay nice and low in the Nautilus.
Happily, engineers put a lot of work into isolating the cabin from wind and road noise. At interstate speeds, the Nautilus stays as quiet as the best from Germany and allows you to enjoy the tunes from the 28-speaker, REVEL sound system or a pleasant conversation with other passengers.
And don’t worry about the driving part, so much. The Nautilus comes standard with Blue Cruise, Ford’s answer to GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving technology. Generally speaking, Blue Cruise works very similarly to Super Cruise. But while GM’s tech will automatically change lanes, Ford’s makes you indicate you want a lane change and turn the signal off once it’s complete. Whether that’s good or bad is up for debate. Personally, I prefer the Super Cruise route.
Want to tow with your Lincoln, well… The Nautilus, if properly equipped, can tow up to 1750 lbs. Or, not much. But, if you need to tow your Jetski, or small landscaping trailer, no problem. It’s better than nothing.
Details and Inside
Lincoln went big with its 48-inch combined digital instrument cluster and other information display. I love that you also get a perfectly reasonably sized 11.1-inch center display in addition to the big one. And that includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto, as well as Google built-in (Assistant, Maps, Play).
And the Nautilus includes an admirable level of standard equipment. Aside from the aforementioned screens, you get heated front and rear seats (except for the center rear seat) and a heated steering wheel. Lincoln also includes dual-zone climate control for good measure.
interior comfort
Tick the right options boxes and Lincoln adds ventilation and massaging to the seats, not to mention crazy amounts of adjustment, such as three levels of lumbar, upper bolsters, and individual thigh support. The REVEL sound system requires extra funds as well. As does what Lincoln calls rejuvenate, mainly canisters of scents that spray into the cabin and add one of four odors you wish to smell. Lovely, but not for me.
Lincoln also offers a nice selection of ambient lighting, what I most appreciate is how easy it is to adjust. And that includes adjusting what’s on your 48-inch display. You can choose what information you want, and in what order, even the background imagery and whether or not you want Google Maps displayed. Or swipe calm mode and turn the non-digital-instrument-cluster half of the screen off.
Sticking with just two rows of passenger space, the Nautilus offers plenty of room in both rows. My five-foot, eleven-inch frame found the second row both comfortable and supportive. A long road trip in back would be no trouble. Theres also plenty of room for stuff, you get 35 cubic feet of storage behind the second row. Fold them down for 69 cubic feet of space.
in conclusion
Lincoln built a quiet, smooth, economical two-row crossover SUV in the Nautilus. You get a lot of technology inside, all of it easy to digest and use without feeling distracting. That’s laudable. Lincoln took the time to ensure all these gadgets and screens work well and add to the experience, not hinder it.
This is no performance SUV, you drive it to get to a destination comfortably, not to enjoy the activity of driving. And that’s OK. Because, the Nautilus also brings relief. It calms the nerves and lowers the heart rate. Consider it a personal sanctuary for your needs and interests. One that filters out the cacophony of life.
Then—I dunno—get a Porsche for the weekends.
COMPETITORS
SPECIFICATIONS
2024 Lincoln Nautilus AWD Reserve III: 5-door, 5-seat, crossover SUV
Base price: $56,145 (includes $1395 destination charge)
Price as Tested: $68,150
Powertrain: Turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 Hybrid
Peak System Power: 310 horsepower at 5500 rpm
Peak System Torque: 295 lb.-ft at 3000 rpm
Electric motor power: 134 horsepower
Transmission: continuously variable transmission
Drive: all-wheel-drive
Fuel Economy in MPG and range
30 city
31 highway
30 combined
Driving range: 600 miles
Dimensions
Length: 193.2 inches
Width: 79.8 inches (including folded sideview mirrors)
Height: 68.2 inches
Wheelbase: 114.2 inches
Weights and Capacities
Curb weight: 4517 lbs.
Interior volume: 111 cu ft
Cargo volume: (seats up/folded): 35/69 cu ft
Calculated weight to power (lbs./HP): 15.1:1
Mfr’s claimed 0-60 mph: NA seconds
Mfr’s claimed Top Speed: NA mph
Government classified size: Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Options: Equipment Group 203A, $10,005; FHEV engine, $1500; 21-in wheels painted bright, $500
