Based on the Ford Edge, the Lincoln Nautilus is a two-row SUV that feels, looks, and drives like a true luxury vehicle instead of the halfhearted efforts from Lincoln vehicles past. It replaced the Lincoln MKX for 2019, though in reality, the Nautilus was a refresh of the MKX that launched for 2016.
As the unpopular Continental sedan was winding down production, the Nautilus signified Lincoln's return to proper names after a decade of jumbling alphanumerics. It also defined a brand intent on distancing itself from Ford, both mechanically and visually, to better compete against rivals with a mainstream corporate parent such as Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti.
The Nautilus is currently in its second generation and one of the few new vehicles in the U.S. built in China. As a used vehicle, for both value and luxury, we prefer the first generation.
Lincoln Nautilus Buying Guide: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Pros and Cons
- Lincoln Nautilus Generations
- Lincoln Nautilus Second Generation (2024-Present)
- Lincoln Nautilus First Generation (2019-2023)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Lincoln Nautilus years are the best?
The 2021, 2022, and 2023 model years are the best for the Lincoln Nautilus SUV. The first generation had superior interior quality, along with a more powerful turbocharged V6. Starting in 2021, the Nautilus had an upgraded dash with an updated infotainment system that made it even better.
Which Lincoln Nautilus years are the worst?
The current generation is definitely the worst in terms of interior quality and design. The software is unfinished, distracting, and difficult to use while driving. Even the air vents have to be controlled digitally. It does not feel premium enough for the price.
Is a used Lincoln Nautilus a good deal?
For a midsize, two-row luxury SUV, the Lincoln Nautilus is a good deal in any model year. Average list prices on CarGurus were around $34,000 at the time of writing.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Unique and compelling exterior style
- Powerful and efficient
- Good interior quality (first generation)
Cons:
- Average handling (first generation)
- Few physical controls and unimpressive software (second generation)
- Poor interior quality (second generation)
Lincoln Nautilus Generations
Lincoln Nautilus Second Generation (2024-Present)
Lincoln let the drama unfold with the 2024 Nautilus. It was the first Lincoln with a 48-inch panoramic display on the dash and the first to be built in China and sold in the United States. A hybrid powertrain, standard all-wheel drive, and highly original exterior styling were among the new features.
Fixed door handles on the door trim, not on the door panels, are one of many styling details that made this Lincoln Nautilus model stand out. A new grille design with studded chrome accents, an LED bar connecting the headlights with an illuminated Lincoln logo, and Lincoln badging hidden in the dark taillight strip (without any model or trim badges) made the Nautilus feel more like a concept than a production vehicle. The Jet Appearance package added a striking black roof and two-tone 22-inch wheels.
Inside, a huge display spanning the bottom of the windshield was intended to be an innovative user interface, but in reality it only displayed a clock, tire pressure, weather, and other basic information, and added little to everyday operation. A new Google-based infotainment system on an 11.1-inch touchscreen was the prime spot for interaction—part of the “Lincoln Digital Experience”—which included adjusting the driving modes and controlling the movement of each front air vent. It also included Google Maps.
The 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine was carryover from the first generation, with 250 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque, and an eight-speed automatic transmission, but all-wheel drive was now standard. A hybrid replaced the turbocharged V6 as the optional powertrain, with the same four-cylinder engine and two electric motors good for 310 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy was rated at 30 mpg city, 31 highway, and 30 combined compared to 21, 29, and 24 for the gas-only model.
In our test of a 2024 Nautilus Hybrid Black Label, we liked the peppy acceleration, smooth ride, and improved handling and steering feel, though we disliked the infotainment, the small oval steering wheel, and the obvious reduction in interior quality (cheaper, rougher leather, vinyl, and more plastic).
Three Lincoln Nautilus trim levels (Premiere, Reserve, Black Label) were available for 2024, with MSRPs ranging from $52,000 to $77,000 before options. Power 10-way heated and cooled front seats, synthetic upholstery, the Lincoln BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system, a 10-speaker stereo, an 11.1-inch touchscreen with 5G Wi-Fi, and 19-inch wheels were standard specs on the Lincoln Nautilus Premiere. The Lincoln Nautilus Reserve added 21-inch wheels, leather upholstery, wireless charging pad, a 14-speaker Revel stereo, panoramic moonroof, hands-free liftgate, and heated rear seats. The Black Label came with 22-inch wheels, adaptive dampers, 28-speaker Revel stereo, 24-way Perfect Position front seats, and a perfume function called Digital Scent, along with maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles.
For 2025, Lincoln made a four-year subscription to BlueCruise standard instead of a 90-day trial. Lincoln Rejuvenate, an available feature in the infotainment system that played music and released scents to mimic a spa day, was newly optional. A new interior theme, Smoked Truffle, was available with Black Label trims. The Blue Panther exterior paint was replaced by Whisper Blue Metallic. The 2026 Nautilus came with BlueCruise 1.5, which previous model years may support via an over-the-air update, that allowed for automatic lane changing. A new theme, Aurora, was made available with the Black Label, while the Premiere could now be ordered with the largest 22-inch wheels as part of the Jet Appearance package. New interior colors were added to the Premiere and Reserve models.
At the time of writing, a new Lincoln Nautilus had MSRP pricing ranging from $54,000 to $77,000 before options, while average list prices on CarGurus for the 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus were between $52,000 and $56,000.
Lincoln Nautilus First Generation (2019-2023)
The Nautilus was a classy new name that dressed up an otherwise ordinary Lincoln. While the MKX was significantly redesigned for 2016 so that it would no longer resemble a Ford Edge, the Nautilus replaced the split "baleen" grille and its double intakes for a single, horizontal layout with chrome latticework. The LED headlights were slimmer and exhibited the jeweled quality of other luxury SUVs, such as the Acura MDX. The wheels evoked a turbine and became larger on Lincoln Black Label trims. The infotainment system was also overhauled to use Sync 3—Ford's faster software that replaced MyLincoln Touch and allowed the Waze and Amazon Alexa apps, plus a Wi-Fi hotspot. A digital 12.3-inch instrument panel was standard. Aside from a plasticky center stack on the dashboard and center console, the rest of the interior was well-executed. In Black Label trim, Lincoln sourced premium leather from Bridge of Weir, the same Scottish tannery that supplies leather to Aston Martin.
A turbocharged four-cylinder engine replaced the 3.7-liter V6 from the MKX, though at 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, it was not powerful enough for an SUV this large. When we tested the 2019 Nautilus, the optional twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 was quiet and effortless, with 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive was standard with all four trim levels (Standard, Select, Reserve, Black Label) while all-wheel drive was optional with or without the V6 engine. An eight-speed automatic transmission replaced the six-speed unit. The Nautilus was EPA-rated between 19 and 21 mpg city, 25 to 27 highway, and 21 to 23 combined. Cargo space was 37.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 68.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, and a power tailgate was standard.
We tested the models in this generation and found the Lincoln's smooth ride, comfortable seats, and ample power to be welcome on long cruises while the vague steering and soft suspension, while well-suited to Lincoln, made it uncompetitive with sportier German SUVs like the BMW X3.
The 2019 Nautilus retailed at an MSRP of between $40,000 and $57,000 before options. Standard features included Lincoln Co-Pilot360, a group of driver-assist features such as a blind spot information system with cross-traffic alert, auto high beams, a lane-keeping system, and forward pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians. An eight-inch touchscreen with two USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Sync 3 AppLink and 911 Assist were standard, along with SiriusXM, an 11-speaker stereo, dual-zone climate control, and full LED headlamps and taillights (the lights played a welcome sequence along with Lincoln logo in the puddle lights under the mirrors). Heated and 10-way power front seats (in vinyl) were standard.
Select trim added a wireless charging pad, a garage door opener, leather-trimmed seating, ambient lighting, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, an alarm, navigation, and an auto-dimming driver's side mirror. The Reserve added an adaptive suspension, adaptive cornering lights, cooled front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic moonroof, rain-sensing wipers, a windshield wiper de-icer, and a 13-speaker Revel audio system. The Black Label gave buyers the choice of one of three interior "themes" that included special colors (Gala, Thoroughbred, Chalet) and higher-quality leathers. A Revel Ultima 19-speaker stereo and 22-inch wheels were standard, while 22-way "Ultra Comfort" seats with a massage function were optional. The Black Label also included maintenance for four years or 50,000 miles.
For 2020, Lincoln removed the Select trim. A Co-Pilot Plus package was newly available for the Reserve trim, which added 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, automatic parking, and evasive steering assist. Artisan Blue Clearcoat, Pristine White Metallic Tri-Coat, Red Carpet Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, and Silver Radiance Clearcoat were new paint colors.
For 2021, the dashboard was entirely redesigned for a rectilinear, upright, and altogether more solidly constructed design that echoed the style of the smaller Corsair and the flashier interior of the full-size Navigator. A 13.2-inch touchscreen with Sync 4 was standard and came with over-the-air updates. The lower bumper was redesigned, while a new theme, Flight, was available for the Black Label.
For 2022, the Nautilus added a Premium package to the base model, which included navigation, while the Reserve could be purchased with the Luxury package, which included a function to use a smartphone to lock and unlock the vehicle. Five colors were added—Artisan Blue, Green Gem, Iced Mocha, Red Carpet, and Chroma Elite Copper.
In its final year of this generation, the 2023 Nautilus came with redesigned wheels and a new paint color, known as Jewel Sandstone.
Average list prices on CarGurus for the 2019-2023 Lincoln Nautilus were between $21,000 and $38,000 at the time of writing.
