2021 BMW X7 vs 2021 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2021 BMW X7 was a standout in the luxury SUV segment, often seen navigating the bustling streets of metropolitan Los Angeles. It boasted superior interior quality compared to the Cadillac Escalade, more prestige than the Infiniti QX80 or Lincoln Navigator, and a higher level of technological sophistication than the Lexus LX 570. Its visual presence was significant, rivaling the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. The X7's styling was both appealing and appropriate for its size, with its massive grille fitting the large SUV's design. Inside, the X7 shared many features with the X5, offering high-tech design, quality materials, and mostly intuitive controls, though some quirks required acclimation.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, previously known as the MKX, underwent a transformation that included a facelift and a name change in 2019. For 2021, it retained its attractive exterior while receiving a cabin update with a new dash design, soft materials, and a large touchscreen. The Nautilus featured Lincoln's "Piano Key" shifter-button layout, which was easy to use despite its unconventional design. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen that offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with spacious rear seats and luxurious front seats, especially in the Black Label trim.

The 2021 BMW X7 xDrive40i was powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, producing 335 horsepower and 331 lb-ft of torque. It featured an eight-speed sport automatic transmission and BMW's xDrive AWD system. The eBoost mild-hybrid technology added a 48-volt starter/generator and battery, enhancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. Despite the technology, the X7's fuel economy dropped slightly from the previous year, with EPA ratings of 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The X7 accelerated to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds, offering smooth and serene driving with its Active Comfort Drive system and Dynamic Handling Package.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, producing 355 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided excellent power, especially at highway speeds, with smooth and controlled acceleration. The adaptive suspension minimized road bumps, and the Nautilus remained composed through corners. The engine stop-start feature conserved fuel, though it introduced a slight delay in response.

The 2021 BMW X7 offered a luxurious interior with features like heated and ventilated front seats, premium Merino leather upholstery, and a five-zone climate control system. The front seats provided exceptional comfort, while the second-row captain's chairs were also comfortable. The third-row seat was surprisingly accommodating for adults, though accessing it required some maneuvering of the power seats. The X7's cargo space was limited with the third-row in use but expanded to 48.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down, and 90.4 cubic feet with the second-row folded.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus provided up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing competitors like the Lexus RX 350 and Cadillac XT5. With the rear seats in use, it offered 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with spacious rear seats and luxurious front seats, especially with the 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units. The interior featured a large center console bin and deep in-door pockets for storage, while the floating center controls design allowed for additional storage space.

The 2021 BMW X7 featured the Live Cockpit Professional digital instrumentation and iDrive 7.0 infotainment system, both with 12.3-inch displays. The system included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM 360L, and Connected Package Pro with real-time traffic data and parking information. The natural voice-recognition system and wireless smartphone charging were also included. However, the gesture control was inconsistent, and the head-up display was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons for easy use. The system was straightforward, with a home button for quick navigation. The test model included a wireless charging pad and a Revel 19-speaker premium audio system, providing excellent sound quality.

The 2021 BMW X7 came equipped with standard safety technologies, with additional features available in the Driving Assistance Professional Package and Parking Assistance Package. The Driving Assistance Professional Package included features like evasive-steering assist, traffic-jam assist, and lane-control assist. The Parking Assistance Package offered semi-automated parallel parking assist and a surround-view camera. The X7's driving assistance technology was generally impressive, though it had some issues with lane-maintenance and automated lane-changing.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus included the CoPilot360 package as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and more. Additional driver assistance features were available, such as adaptive cruise control and a surround-view parking monitor. However, the standard backup camera was of low quality, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions.