The Nautilus is a mid-size crossover SUV with two rows of seats that reaches into luxury territory. It takes on the likes of the Audi Q5, Lexus RX, and Cadillac XT5.
We’ll know when we drive it early next year, but it’s attractive, spacious, and loaded with technology. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
Just about everything. The Nautilus has a new design inside and out, a new platform, and a new hybrid powertrain. The new platform is shared with the compact Corsair and is stretched to fit the mid-size Nautilus. At 193.2 inches long, the Nautilus is 3.2 inches longer than the outgoing model and its 114.2-inch wheelbase is 2.0 inches longer. It’s also 2.0 inches taller and 1.1 inches wider.
The design features a new nose that was previewed by the Chinese Zephyr sedan. The large grille has a hint of a horse collar shape. It’s bisected by a light bar that runs from the center-located Lincoln star to the “upwing”-shaped LED headlights. Lincoln logos are part of large trim pieces along the front flanks, and the door handles are located in the beltline. Large 19- to 22-inch wheels fill out the wheel wells, and the rear has Lincoln lettering in a full-width LED taillight. The roof can be had in a contrasting black, which is reflected in black rocker panels.
Inside, the full-width theme carries over with a screen at the base of the windshield that’s actually made of two 23.6-inch screens, which somehow add up to 48.0 inches, according to Lincoln’s calculations. The center stack also has an 11.1-inch touchscreen that can control what is shown on the passenger side of the full-width screen, including the Apple CarPlay or Android Auto screens. The driver side of that screen shows speed, a tachomoter, the fuel level, and a navigation map screen. Lincoln has Constellation, Tranquil, Engage, and Inspire graphic themes for the wide screen, and the steering wheel has a flat-top design to provide a better view of the screen. The system will have over-the-air update capability.
The Nautilus has two seating rows to accommodate five passengers, and Lincoln claims it will have best-in-class rear legroom. The cabin offers up to 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 71.3 cubic feet behind the first row.
The base powertrain carries over. It’s a 2.0-liter turbo-4 that produces 250 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque hooked to an 8-speed automatic transmission. A new hybrid model gets a 300-hp 2.0-liter turbo-4 that teams up with a 134-hp electric motor and a continuously variable transmission. The engine and motor combine to make 310 hp. Both powertrains come with standard all-wheel drive. Fuel economy is not yet available for either.
Lincoln makes its Co-Pilot 360 safety suite standard. It comes with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alerts with emergency braking, rear parking sensors, an exit warning system, automatic high beams, automatic parking, and a surround-view camera system. The Nautilus will also come standard with the hands-free BlueCruise 1.2 driver-assist system that can operate the vehicle on nearly 200,000 miles of mapped highways in North America and perform hands-free lane changes.
How much does the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus cost?
Prices aren’t yet available, but Lincoln says Nautilus will start around $51,000. Premiere, Reserve, and Black Label trim levels will be offered. Standard equipment will include a 10-way power driver seat, an 8-way power front passenger seat, heated and cooled front seats, ambient lighting, driver seat memory, a heated power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, a 10-speaker audio system, a 5G wi-fi hot spot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa Built-In, a power tailgate, and 19-inch alloy wheels.
Lincoln will also offer leather upholstery, 24-way power front seats, Revell 14- and 28-speaker audio systems, heated rear seats, a panoramic sunroof, adaptive dampers, and a Lincoln Rejuvenate system that can use the seat massagers, display animations, ambient lighting, and a scent to help calm drivers.
Where is the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus made?
In China.
