2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

Ford had been teasing the new Bronco for years, and it finally revealed that the resurrected off-roader would be preceded by a smaller sibling: the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. While the big Bronco harkened back to the 1966-1996 models and aimed to compete with the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner, the Bronco Sport captured some of the same styling cues but was a frameless (unibody) crossover with a more suburban focus. It was designed as an everyday driver ready for weekend adventures.

The Bronco Sport had a modern retro look that could easily fit into the Land Rover lineup. It featured a short front overhang for a better approach angle and a similarly short rear overhang. The tall fender wells and tucked-in body sides were designed for trail driving, minimizing unnecessary adornments. The front end echoed the big Bronco, and bold white lettering on the grille and tailgate announced the vehicle’s name as “BRONCO,” with a smaller “SPORT” postscript. The Ford blue oval appeared only once on the exterior, a modest badge on the tailgate.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, especially in the Black Label trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels, was an attractive SUV with balanced styling and plenty of character. Lincoln added enough detailing to ensure the Nautilus stood out without appearing plain. The Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence greeted you after dark, and the Black Label model offered Chalet or new-for-2022 Flight design themes. The Chalet design featured light gray premium leather upholstery, while Flight offered a classy Luggage Tan color.

The Black Label trim included nearly every available feature on the Nautilus, along with a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats. The result was a decadent interior, though the center console design and some chrome-plated plastic pieces looked a bit cheap. The Nautilus had a Manufacturer’s Retail Suggested Price (MSRP) starting at $44,225, with the loaded Black Label starting at $66,825. Our test vehicle, equipped with Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats with Active Motion massage, was priced at $68,325 and proved perfect for long drives.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine choices tied to trim levels. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims featured a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. The Badlands and First Edition models came with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 245 hp and 275 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD), along with a terrain management system with up to seven G.O.A.T. modes (Go Over Any Type of Terrain).

The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase (105.1 inches), four-wheel independent suspension, generous suspension travel, and decent ground clearance (7.8 to 8.8 inches). Despite its off-road capabilities, the Bronco Sport was also a competent on-road vehicle, making it suitable for commuting and family hauling. The 2.0-liter engine in the Badlands and First Edition trims felt better suited to the vehicle’s character, while the 1.5-liter engine could sound strained when pushed hard.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine making 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque in the standard and Reserve trims. Front-wheel drive (FWD) and an eight-speed automatic transmission were standard, with AWD as an option. The Black Label trim included a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, requiring AWD.

The Nautilus featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behavior, steering effort, and adaptive suspension settings. Comfort mode made the SUV feel woozy, Sport mode made the steering too heavy, and Normal mode was just right. The twin-turbo V6 had an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg in combined driving, with a maximum range of 450 miles. During a road trip, the Nautilus averaged 25 mpg and proved to be a quiet, comfortable, and enjoyable road-tripper.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered clever features for active buyers, including cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes. Ford launched a catalog of over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories for transporting kayaks, surfboards, skis, and camping equipment. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds (100 with a moonroof), and the 2.0-liter engine could tow up to 2,200 pounds, while the 1.5-liter could tow 2,000 pounds.

The cargo hold featured a flip-up rear glass, an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps. The front cabin had ample storage compartments, including big door pockets and multiple cubbies. However, taller drivers might find it challenging to see past the roof overhang to spot traffic lights, and the seating position could obscure the trail ahead when off-road.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label featured smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive thanks to Active Noise Control and acoustic glass. Both front seats were heated and ventilated, and the power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel was heated. The optional 22-way power front seats with massage programs were exceptionally comfortable, even after hours on the road.

The outboard rear seats were heated, and rear passengers had air conditioning vents. However, the rear accommodations were unexpectedly cramped for a midsize SUV, with tight legroom. Practical storage space was adequate but not easily accessible. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a nicely finished luggage compartment with 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also had Ford+Alexa, SiriusXM capability, and FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The base audio system was an AM/FM stereo with six speakers, while a Bang & Olufsen sound system was available on higher trims. The terrain management system offered five to seven G.O.A.T. modes, depending on the trim, and trail control technology for off-roading.

Intelligent access with push-button start was included on all trims except the Base model. Heated and leather-wrapped steering wheels were available on higher trims, along with a 6.5-inch digital instrument panel.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software. Sync 4 offered over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect connected services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The Black Label trim included connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel premium audio system.

The system had an intuitive user interface, physical stereo and climate controls, and a natural voice recognition system. The Revel speakers produced excellent sound quality. The Nautilus also offered Phone as a Key, turning your smartphone into a digital key.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, and more. AWD and a terrain management system with G.O.A.T. modes were standard on all models. Crash-worthiness ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Black Label trim added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors. The Nautilus earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with a four-star rating for rollover resistance. IIHS had not assessed the Nautilus for safety.