Should You Buy a 2024 Lincoln Nautilus?

• The 2024 Lincoln starts at $52,010 in the United States and at $64,295 in Canada, freight and delivery charges included.

• Composed ride, great Perfect Position seats, efficient hybrid powertrain.

• Unexciting drive, some intuitive switchgear, coast-to-coast display more or less useful.

Ford’s luxury brand is currently offering a lineup of four crossovers in North America, and that’s it. Well, it does sell a sedan called the Zephyr, but it’s only available in China. So among those four utility vehicles, there’s the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, ushering in an all-new generation for the nameplate.

The Nautilus used to be built in Canada at the automaker’s Oakville assembly plant, but not anymore. This new generation is imported from China, which may surprise some, offend others, and leave most consumers indifferent because they might never realize it.

From a technological standpoint, the new Nautilus is a step forward compared to the outgoing one, which appeared for the 2019 model as the mid-cycle refresh of the second-generation Lincoln MKX. Its two V6 engine choices are replaced by two turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder powertrains. The first one produces 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque while being managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission.  The second one mixes the gasoline engine with an electric motor, a continuously variable automatic transmission and a small battery pack, for a combined output of 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is standard.

The U.S. market gets three trim levels, including Premiere, Reserve and Black Label, each one available with either the base 2.0L turbo or the hybrid powerplant. Meanwhile, the Canadian market only gets the Reserve. The Premiere trim will be added to the lineup north of the border for the 2025 model year.

Outputs of both powertrains were calculated based on the use of premium fuel, but they can run fine on regular fuel. Here are the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus’ fuel economy ratings:

It’s worth noting that even when choosing the towing package, the Nautilus’ towing capacity is limited to 1,750 pounds or 794 pounds.

The midsize Nautilus is bigger than the compact Lincoln Corsair, smaller than the three-row Lincoln Aviator, and competes in a slimming two-row segment that currently includes the Audi Q8, the BMW X5 and BMW X6, the Cadillac XT5, the Genesis GV80 Coupe, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Lexus RX, the Mercedes-Benz GLE, the Range Rover Velar and the Porsche Cayenne. Arguably, we could also throw in the Toyota Crown Signia that’s a premium product at a slightly more affordable price. The rest of the midsize luxury crossovers on the North American market are bigger models with three rows of seats. And to be fair, the X5 and X6, GV80, GLE and Cayenne are way more expensive than the Lincoln, and in a different league altogether, so the comparison with them pretty much stops here.

The first thing that catches the eye while we climb aboard the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus is the 48-inch coast-to-coast display that houses the digital driver instrument cluster, the navigation map and three other configurable displays. Among them are a clock, a tire pressure monitor, trip 1 and trip 2 readouts, the song currently playing and the local weather forecast. There’s also a separate 11.1-inch touchscreen closer to the front-seat occupants that hosts the infotainment system, which isn’t branded SYNC as in other Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Said system offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Alexa built-in, on-board Wi-Fi hotspot (data plan required), 5G connectivity and over-the-air software updates.

The Premiere trim level includes standard features such as 19-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a power-adjustable steering column, synthetic leather seat upholstery, 10-way power-adjustable front seats with lumbar support, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, digital key compatibility, a 10-speaker sound system, wireless phone charging and the usual suite of advanced safety systems like autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control with stop and go as well as a trial period for the Lincoln BlueCruise semi-autonomous drive system.

Available features across the Nautilus range include 20- to 22-inch wheels, an adaptive suspension, a panoramic glass roof, a hands-free power liftgate, leather upholstery, Perfect Position 24-way power front seats, heated second-row seats, an air scent diffuser, a Revel surround sound system with 14 speakers and a Revel Ultima 3D stereo with 28 speakers. The Jet Appearance Package adds black exterior trim to the crossover for a more sinister look. A total of six interior colors are available: three for the Premiere, four for the Reserve and two for the Black Label.

Pricing ranges from $52,010 to $83,495 in the United States and from $64,295 to $86,420 in Canada, freight and delivery charges included. Lincoln USA also mentions an $825 acquisition fee on its website.

Why You Should Buy a 2024 Lincoln Nautilus

• With the right set of features such as the Perfect Position seats, the Nautilus serves up a very comfortable and relaxing on-board experience. And with one of the Revel sound systems, we get a high-quality audio thrown in for good measure.
• While the Nautilus with the hybrid engine can’t match the fuel economy of the Lexus RX 350h, it’s a very efficient luxury crossover, with 310 horsepower on tap as well. What’s more, U.S. customers can get the hybrid powertrain for only $1,500 extra. Canadian customers aren’t so lucky, as the hybrid system is a $3,500 option.
• There’s plenty of space in the Nautilus, while rear-seat passengers get good amount of legroom, their seatbacks can be reclined for increased comfort, the middle occupant won’t scrape his or head on the ceiling, and there are USB ports on the front seatbacks to keep phones charged up. The Premiere trim’s cargo volume is rated at 36.4 cubic feet or 1,031 litres with the rear seatbacks in place and 71.3 cubic feet or 2,019 litres with the seats folded. Meanwhile, Reserve and Black Label’s cargo hold is rated at 35.2 cubic feet or 997 litres with the rear seats in place and 68.8 cubic feet or 1,947 litres with the seats folded. That’s on par with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and surpasses the published volume for the Lexus RX, the Cadillac XT5 and the Range Rover Velar.
• While not overly impressive, fit and finish is quite good. The Nautilus feels like a quality product.

Why You Shouldn’t Buy a 2024 Lincoln Nautilus

• The coast-to-coast display looks cool until you realize that there’s only a certain amount of data and graphics you can look at. We like the wide navigation map, as long as we use the built-in navigation system and not Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which only appears on the separate screen. The rest of the wide display has two few tiles to choose from, and we certainly don’t need a huge fuel economy graphic in the middle of the dashboard when a smaller readout does the job just fine. Same goes for extra-big trip computers. Maybe more features will be added over time through over-the-air updates.
• The transmission selector buttons, or Lincoln calls piano keys, certainly do the job, but they aren’t as intuitive to use as a traditional shift lever. We always have to look to make sure we’re pressing the right button. This isn’t a dealbreaker either, but it’s not something to rave about. The steering wheel-mounted switchgear is unidentified until we put our finger on them, after which their functionality lights up on the display in front of the driver. It’s mildly distracting and could be confusing for some people.
• While the hybrid powertrain is fuel-efficient, the regular 2.0L turbo engine doesn’t stand out in its segment for power or fuel economy. We averaged 22 mpg or 10.6 L/100 km aboard a Reserve variant with the non-hybrid powertrain. It’s fine, just not amazing. Towing capacity is a little disappointing as well, especially compared to a Grand Cherokee that can pull up to 6,200 pounds or 2,818 kg and a Lexus RX can tow up to 3,494 pounds or 1,585 kg.
• The Nautilus is built in China. Whether that bothers us or not for political or patriotic reasons is a personal matter. It doesn’t bother us, as long as the product is solid. In this case, it is. On the other hand, the previous-gen Nautilus was built in Canada, so we’re arguably no longer supporting the local economy.

Final Word

There’s a lot to like about the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, starting with its competitive price, its long list of standard features and its comfortable and quiet ride. Overall, it’s a well-rounded luxury crossover that has already received a few awards and recognitions across the North American media outlets.

On the other hand, the Nautilus isn’t all that exciting. It drives well but doesn’t send shivers down our spine, it’s well-appointed cabin is swell but not the most luxurious in its segment. The hybrid powertrain is efficient but the regular engine doesn’t overachieve in any way. It’s a well-engineered crossover that should please loyal Lincoln consumers, and it’s the brand’s best-selling vehicle in 2024, but likely won’t steal many sales away from the competition.

2024 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve

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