2022 Lincoln Nautilus

The Lincoln Nautilus follows a similar trim nomenclature like all Lincoln SUV models in its segment. The trims available for selection include the Standard, Reserve, and the Black Label. The Standard and the Reserve trim sport front-wheel drive as standard and are equipped with the base turbo inline-4 powertrain.

The Black Label trim is the pinnacle of the trim pyramid and is only available with an all-wheel drivetrain and the more powerful V-6 engine. The Reserve trim equipped with AWD also includes the V-6 powertrain as an option.

Which trim should you buy?

The Reserve trim is the best choice for buyers who want to enjoy all the privileges of the Lincoln Nautilus. With this configuration, you are getting the privilege of a panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a 13-speaker Revel audio system, navigation, and heated and ventilated front seats. Add in the AWD drivetrain, the optional twin-turbo V-6, and the optional 20-inch wheels to get the most excitement out of your vehicle.

2022 Lincoln Nautilus Release date:

Lincoln has not revealed the official release date of the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus sips power from the same turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine, capable of churning out 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, the powertrain sends power to either the standard front-wheel drivetrain or the optional all-wheel drivetrain. For customers hungry for more power, Lincoln’s optional 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 should be a match made in heaven for you.

 Mated to the same automatic gearbox, the engine pumps out a robust 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, which is adequate to outclass every other vehicle on the highway. The Lincoln Nautilus sprints past the 60 MPH in a time of 6.3 seconds and clocks in at the quarter-mile run in 15.2 seconds. The MDX has a top speed of 145 MPH which is an above-average figure for most modern SUVs.

*2021 data used for reference

The V6 powertrain aboard the Lexus RX 350 offers the most power in the battle of the base powertrains. However, Lincoln’s twin-turbo V-6 turns out to be the most powerful option in the segment. However, the Audi Q5 annihilates every competitor in the speed charts, clocking in the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile runs faster than any other rival. Thanks to its Quattro system. The Lincoln Nautilus finishes 1 second, although the Audi Q5 is faster by almost 1 second.

How well does the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus handle?

The Lincoln Nautilus is an excellent everyday cruiser, with every aspect of its riding dynamics catered towards a relaxed and composed ride. The automatic gearbox keeps the torque stable at all times and provides some occasional grunts of power while charging through fast-moving traffic in highway lanes. The steering feels artificially assembled, but equally pleasant to maneuver. Again, the overall steering dynamics feel more relatable to a lazy cruiser rather than your typical sports SUV from Audi or Mercedes. Moreover, the extra power offered by the V-6 powertrain does inspire some thrill while driving.

The dampers and brushings seem to absorb most of the road undulations very well. Still, some kind of vibrations and disturbances creep inside the cabin on pothole-filled roads that may lead to some compromise with ride quality. Still, we have no complaints from our side when we equip the optional adaptive suspension setup. The higher-level trims get the privilege of 3 driving modes, namely Comfort, Normal, and Sport. Surprisingly, the Sport didn’t deteriorate the ride quality even after stiffening its suspension. This model provides superior body control, but nothing that can be exclaimed as magical. 

2022 Lincoln Nautilus Braking Performance

Braking is one of those factors that are absolutely crucial for any SUV to prevent any mishap in an emergency situation. The Lincoln Nautilus’ 4-wheel disc brakes take care of all the dirty work while braking in panic situations. The brake assist feature further enhances the braking quotient. With all the braking technologies onboard, the Lincoln Nautilus is expected to a full stop from 60 mph within a very short distance.

*2021 data used for reference

Audi has always been a perfectionist in braking performance, as it shows its prowess in the 60-0 braking stats as well. Its braking distance of 112 feet is too hot to handle for most of its rivals. The Lincoln Nautilus does offer some fights with its lightweight advantage and is expected to deliver similar braking performance like the Q5. Whereas, the Lexus is not up to the expectations in terms of braking performance.

With the base turbo inline-4 powertrain, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus can stroll for an MPG of 21 in the city and an MPG of 26 while cruising on the highway. EPA estimates the Nautilus’ combined MPG at 23, which is pretty much on par with its segment’s standards. With its decent fuel tank capacity of 18.4 gallons, the Nautilus can traverse 270 miles within the corridors of your city and 423 miles on the never-ending highways. While these figures were for the FWD variant, the AWD variant was rated at EPA estimates of 20/25/22 MPG for city/highway/combined.

However, buyers will certainly be surprised to discover the marginal difference between the fuel economy of the base engine and the optional twin-turbo V-6 engine. For example, the AWD-equipped V-6 Nautilus is rated at fuel estimates of 19/25/21 which is almost similar to the fuel economy of the AWD-equipped base powertrain. Thus, buyers who opt for the more powerful V-6 certainly won’t have to worry about any significant loss in fuel economy.

*2021 data used for reference

The Audi Q5 turns out to be the most fuel-efficient SUV in its class returning 23 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and a combined 25 mpg which is pretty impressive. Its decent-sized fuel tank combined with its frugal fuel economy equates to the lengthiest mileage in its segment. The Lincoln Nautilus sits in the middle ground of its segment when it comes to fuel economy.

The interior of the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus follows in the suit of its higher-end Lincoln siblings. Everything looks well-furnished and of premium quality, the standard you would expect from Ford’s premium luxury brand. The interior design is a masterpiece in itself, with fine craftsmanship and a mid-century-modern-inspired theme radiating from it.

The front seats are in a luxurious domain of their own, with generous interior dimensions and other creature comforts to give you a feeling of royalty. The rear seats are comfortable too with adequate headspace and leg space for the average 6-footer. Behind the rear seats, the Nautilus offers an exceptional 37.2 cubes of space, which is adequate to fit in 12 carry-on suitcases. Folding down the rear seats completely flat opens up a maximum cargo capacity of 68.8 cubic feet.

*2021 data used for reference

The Lincoln Nautilus has commodious cargo space, offering more cargo space than most rivals in its segment. To load more cargo, the rear seatbacks support the 60/40-split to free up more cargo space and also feature an Easyfold seatback release to pull in those seats more efficiently. Loading cargo in your trunk is a piece of cake with the hands-free tailgate, standard on the Black Label trim. The notable interior features onboard are:

• Lincoln soft-touch leather seats
• Front seats with power adjustability, power lumbar, and driver-side memory
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise control and secondary audio controls
• Overhead console with sunglasses holder
• Dual-zone automatic climate control 
• Cabin Particulate air-filtration system
• Active Noise Control
• Remote keyless entry

What’s there to keep you entertained?

A large 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen alongside a 12.3-digital gauge display awaits your presence once you step inside the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus. This system runs on Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment software and is integrated with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to effortlessly sync your smartphone with your car’s infotainment. 

Within the base model itself, the driver can relish various tech goodies like a 10-speaker audio system, proximity entry, push-button start, 4G LTE-powered onboard Wi-Fi hotspot, and satellite radio. The Reserve trim unlocks navigation and a wireless smartphone charging pad. The high-end Revel Ultima audio system and a plethora of other driver assistance techs are reserved for the top-draw Black Label trim. Key infotainment features include:

• 13.2-inch LCD Touchscreen
• 12.3-inch Instrument Cluster Display
• Android Auto
• Apple CarPlay
• Sync 4 infotainment
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio
• 4G LTE WiFi hotspot
• Smart Charging USB ports
• Premium AM/FM with 10 speakers including subwoofer
• Available Revel audio systems

While the Lincoln Nautilus’ interiors have adopted the brand’s modern design philosophy, the exterior hasn’t yet adopted Lincoln’s latest styling norm. With the latest iteration of the Nautilus, not much has changed except for the addition of 5 new exterior colors. That means the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus continues to impress with its massive alloy wheels, front, and rear bumpers, and an elegant front grille with chrome finishing.

All these exterior elements look upscale and graceful, although we have to say the rest of the Lincoln lineup still looks more fashionable with a stylish design language with wrap-around, and the classy headlight and taillight design makes it such an elegant car to behold. In a nutshell, the Lincoln Nautilus is still a pretty crossover thanks to its great aerodynamic design and elegant shoulder lines.

*2021 data used for reference

Comparatively, the Lincoln Nautilus has one of the longest wheelbases in its segment measuring 112.2 inches and is also bigger compared to most of its rivals. The Nautilus offers a decent 7.9 inches of ground clearance, although you shouldn’t try taking the vehicle out for a spin in the wild. The Cadillac, on the other end, weighs the lightest at 3915 lbs. Some of the standout exterior elements are:

• Full LED headlamps with auto lamp and LED dynamic signature lighting
• Auto High-Beam Headlamps
• Power Liftgate
• Auto-Folding Power Sideview Mirrors
• Chrome lower door trim
• LED taillamps with LED reverse lamps
• Dual exhaust chrome tips

Like you know, the 2022 model has not been tested yet by the topmost organizations. Nevertheless, the Lincoln Nautilus earns bragging rights in the safety sector with its IIHS Top Safety Pick for 2021. The federal agency NHTSA also rated the crossover the highest safety rating of 5-stars on their scale and also received an overall Good rating from IIHS along with the 2021 Top Safety Pick. Hopefully, these awesome safety ratings extend to the 2022 variant as well. With standard driver assistance systems galore like Front Collision Mitigation and automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, and auto high-beams, drivers will always feel at peace while chauffeuring their friends or family.

Besides, the driver can also bolster the safety quotient by adding in optional features like a 360-degree camera, following distance alert, and Lincoln’s auto-parking technology. With the optional Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Plus Package, the Nautilus gets the most advanced safety gizmo in the form of an adaptive cruise control system with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering through steering assist. The Nautilus has a plethora of optional advanced safety tech like:

• Blind Spot Detection
• AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control
• Electric Parking Brake
• Lincoln Co-Pilot360
• Pedestrian Detection
• Forward Collision Warning and Dynamic Brake Support

2022 Lincoln Nautilus VS 2022 Lexus RX 350

The Lexus RX 350 is the closest rival to Lincoln Nautilus both in terms of style and performance. In the power charts, it is even as the Lincoln has the edge in terms of horsepower while the Lexus wins it in terms of torque. However, if we had to pick the more luxurious ride out of the two, the Lexus RX particularly impresses with its extremely comfortable ride quality. Inside, the Lincoln Nautilus offers plenty of cargo space, much more than what the Lexus has on offer. Both the crossovers feature a full-fledged safety suite and a long list of comfort features. In the end, the Lexus RX 350 does seem to be the more affordable buy, as the Lincoln can get pricier as you add in more options.

2022 Lincoln Nautilus VS 2022 Cadillac XT5

In a battle between the two American compatriots, the Cadillac XT5 and the Lincoln Nautilus are pretty evenly matched. Both these crossovers offer two similar engines, although the Lincoln has the more powerful options in both cases. The Caddy redeems itself with more accurate steering feedback than the Lincoln, although the grumble of the engine while amping up the accelerator may ruin the mood. The Nautilus also has a more refined cabin overall and also packs in more cargo room than the Cadillac. Overall, the Lincoln Nautilus is a more well-rounded option than the Cadillac.

2022 Lincoln Nautilus VS 2022 Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 is one of the fastest crossovers in its business and is certainly a more athletic SUV than the Lincoln Nautilus. The Nautilus delivers more power with its powerful V-6 engine, but it still cannot match the spritely acceleration of the Audi. The Nautilus offers more cargo room behind the rear seats and also has a roomier cabin. The Audi Q5 is a more trendy option, thanks to its handsome exterior styling and a tech-rich cabin. The Lincoln Nautilus isn’t far behind either, although it does get more expensive compared to the Audi with the same equipment list. Overall, the Audi Q5 is a more thrilling car than the Lincoln Nautilus.

The Lincoln Nautilus is getting better with every new iteration, as it gets closer and closer to its outstanding siblings in terms of quality. The Nautilus is no longer the weak link of Lincoln’s lineup as it leads the way in the power charts. Although the ride quality doesn’t shoot up your adrenaline levels, the Nautilus’ drive quality is tranquil and comfortable, which is very ideal for a family ride. The Lincoln Nautilus is also one of the top dogs in terms of interior refinement, safety, and technology. Overall, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus is a stellar local alternative to the flamboyant German crossovers and is also proved more affordable than any of its European contemporaries.