2024 Lincoln Nautilus Review – AutoMart Review
The Nautilus adopts a handsome silhouette and is well-proportioned compared to the boxy Navigator and the bulbous Aviator. The front grille is eye-catching with a horizontal light bar cutting through the entire width, giving it a unique light signature in the dark. The same goes for the rear end, with the light bar sloping down on the edges like a Kia EV6, and with fake exhaust surrounds making up for the real tips hidden beneath the rear bumper. But we appreciate how Lincoln did not bother slapping engine badges or AWD stickers on the trunk lid, giving it a much cleaner appearance. We prefer darker paint colours on the Nautilus like the optional Blue Panther, and the 22-inch turbine-shaped wheels are an easy recommendation.
Working with the nautical theme, the interior is spacious, airy, and ergonomic. But the spotlight shines on the 48-inch (total) panoramic screen that wraps around the entire cabin width and is like stepping inside an IMAX theatre. It might appear seamless like one large piece of glass, but there is a physical divide in the centre, so it’s technically two screens conjoined in the middle with black plastic panels at the edges that meet the door trim.
Hosting 4K resolution and crisp graphics, the interface is divided into three sections, with the most critical information (speed and lane assist) displayed in front of the driver, supplementary info in the centre (navigation), and less imperative displays on the far right, the latter of which can be customized with widgets like weather, tire pressure, and fuel economy. This is all controlled via the 11.1-inch touchscreen mounted in the centre.
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Lincoln has cleverly positioned the panoramic display just below the windshield and right below eye level, giving us an unobstructed view out front. This also allowed us to see all the features and information on the screens while keeping the road ahead in the sharpest points of our peripheral vision.
The flat-top, two-spoke steering wheel ensures that the wheel isn’t impeding our frontal view either. It’s shaped similarly to the one in the BMW iX and though the squared shape can be awkward to grasp at first, we began to appreciate its small size over time, and we could comfortably rest our wrists on the top of the rim. The unlabelled capacitive touch sensors on each side remind us of the Lexus RX and are unfortunately just as unintuitive. The display will only show what features the button is paired with when you hover over it, and while it is an annoying bit of kit, once accustomed and memorized it becomes less of a hassle.
Lincoln tuned the user interface to be a voice-first system, so you can use the Nautilus like your Google Home and verbally command it to turn down the car temperature. There are still physical touchpoints for highly used functions like the large crystal-like volume dial and toggles for the gear selector, auto hold, and drive modes. Should you prefer a more familiar interface, there is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though its native system does come with many integrated apps and passengers can watch Netflix, YouTube, or Prime Videos on the centre screen, or even connect a keyboard and work on the go.
The screens may steal the show but they overshadow improvements and upgrades that Lincoln has made to their newer vehicles. First, the build quality is excellent in the Nautilus, with a sturdy fit and finish, and the materials are more upscale and less flimsy than the Navigator and Aviator we previously drove. Leather is the dominant material and generously stretches from the door panels to the entire dashboard surface.
The 24-way seats are exceptionally comfortable and are equipped with an effective and strong massage function. Unlike the rather weak massaging seats in the Range Rover or Audi Q8, this one kneads into your back far enough to feel therapeutic. Paired with the 28-speaker Revel audio system and in-car diffuser scents, the Nautilus cabin becomes one of zen.
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We flew to YHZ to sample both powertrains on offer. First up was the hybrid model that consists of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder paired with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery mounted on the floor bed. It costs $3,500 more than the non-hybrid and delivers 310 combined horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque through an electronic CVT with all-wheel drive.
The hybrid made for a welcome and competent driving partner on the high-speed open roads sprawled onto the East Coast landscape. Low-end turbo lag is mitigated with the help of the electric motor, and it even allows for zero-emission cruising at low speeds. The regenerative braking was effective too and very natural in pedal effort, requiring no learning curve for those coming from non-hybrid vehicles. You will not notice the electricity and combustion tag team behind the scenes either – the transitions are quiet and seamless. Lincoln claims a combined fuel efficiency average of 7.7 L/100km but we yielded 8.6 L/100km. As expected, most of our routes were lengthy stretches of high-speed highways and the hybrid’s true advantage lies in city traffic.
Next up was the non-hybrid 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 250 hp and 280 lb-ft through an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. It is no V6 like the last Nautilus, and the resulting acceleration is far more glacial than its hybrid counterpart. The four-cylinder requires more time to build up steam but is more than enough for the daily commute, and it does feel lighter on its feet and more willing to change direction versus the hybrid that weighs 76 kg more. Selecting Excite mode ramps up its responsiveness to throttle inputs and it becomes more engaging when a serpentine road unravels itself on the designated route. We averaged an impressive 9.8 L/100km. Of note, both the gas and hybrid models only require 87-octane fuel, unlike the Lexus RX 350 and BMW X5.
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Every Nautilus is equipped with an adaptive suspension (no air suspension) with five different driving modes but no customizable setting to individually tailor the steering, ride, and throttle mapping. The ride is expectedly soft and supple and hides its weight relatively well but still exhibits lots of roll and lean once you swing the wheel. We found it absorbent even on the harsher 22-inch wheels but the Nautilus doesn’t neutralize those pesky, minor oscillations as well as a Lexus RX.
The real ace up the Nautilus’ sleeve is Lincoln BlueCruise, a hands-free driver-assist system that tops the tech pyramid and we highly recommend it for drivers that commute long distances on the highway, whether it’s from Toronto to Montreal or Nova Scotia. BlueCruise allows drivers to fully keep their hands off the wheel while its army of cameras and sensors takes care of the driving for you. While it only works on divided highways, it makes our commutes more relaxing and bearable. The lane-centring is effective and doesn’t err too closely to neighbouring lanes, and will even angle itself away should it sense large trucks speeding past. Flick the signal stalk and it will autonomously change lanes as well.
Of course, the driver must still keep their eyes on the road ahead, and there is a sensor behind the steering wheel that will monitor your eyes and flash warnings should it sense you are distracted. It was able to detect through our sunglasses too and it took about seven seconds of ‘distracted driving’ for the warning light show to appear.
Lincoln uses words like sanctuary and effortless to describe their new Nautilus, and we’re hard-pressed to argue otherwise. The acoustic glass, active noise cancellation, and sound deadening in the tires make the cabin a quiet and serene place to spend time in. Our noses were flowing with the scents of synthetic forest smells and non-synthetic maritime air, our backs were heated and massaged, and our hands were free to relax with BlueCruise taking over as master and commander. Overall, the Nautilus made for a fantastic road-trip companion, highly adept at covering long distances and overflowing with enough digital real estate and amenities to satisfy all demographics.
Author: Craig Clowes
Images: Lincoln Canada
