2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus had its origins in the second-generation Lincoln MKX, which was based on the Ford Edge platform. In 2019, it was facelifted and renamed the Nautilus, moving away from the alphanumeric naming convention and embracing more attractive styling. For 2021, the exterior design remained largely unchanged, but the cabin received significant updates. The new dash design featured clean lines, soft materials, and a large, crisp touchscreen. The "Piano Key" shifter-button layout was unconventional but easy to use, although finding the stop-start button took some extra time. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was user-friendly and visually appealing, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, priced from $33,700 to $53,400, received a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs. The RS trim, which sat above the LS and LT models but below the Premier and High Country trims, featured blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels. The Traverse's styling was considered appealing, with crisply tailored lines and tasteful details. Inside, the RS trim had black leather upholstery with red and light gray contrast stitching, black carpets, and gloss black trim. The materials were a mix of hard plastics and polished metallic accents. The interior design was simple and logical, with matte-finish black switchgear and easy-to-use stereo controls.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine had standard front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while the twin-turbo V6 came standard with AWD. The V6 engine provided smooth and controlled acceleration, complementing the adaptive suspension that nearly eliminated road bumps. The engine stop-start feature had a slight delay, but overall, the driving experience was pleasant.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse had a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse's tow rating was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, with Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road driving modes available. The V6 engine's power output was well-matched to the Traverse's size, and it returned 20.9 mpg in combined driving. The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride, absorbing smaller road imperfections. However, it felt softer at higher speeds, making it easy to scrape the front air dam on larger road anomalies. On the highway, the Traverse was comfortable but had noticeable road and wind noise. In the mountains, it felt more athletic than some rivals, with good steering and braking performance.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 37.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with plenty of head- and legroom in the rear seats. The front seats, especially the available 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units, were the most comfortable. The center console and door handles had soft-touch materials, and there was ample storage space in the center console bin and in-door pockets.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, in RS, Premier, or High Country trims, had captain's chairs in the second row, reducing seating capacity to seven. The RS trim featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and long rear doors made accessing the third-row seat easier. The all-black cabin was comfortable, with generous legroom and headroom in the second row. The third-row seat was less comfortable for adults but better than many rivals. The Traverse had abundant storage space, including a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. Cargo space measured 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured 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 and no unnecessary repackaging. The available wireless charging pad made phone integration seamless. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system provided excellent sound quality.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse had a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the LS and LT Cloth models, while other trims had an 8-inch high-definition display. The Premier and High Country trims also featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. The infotainment system supported Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The 8-inch system offered integrated navigation, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and Alexa Built-in. The RS trim had a Bose premium sound system with seven speakers, but it was not particularly impressive. The voice recognition system was quick and accurate, and the available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera enhanced visibility.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came with the standard CoPilot360 package, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional features like adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights were available. However, the standard backup camera had low-quality visuals, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse had the standard Chevy Safety Assist package, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. The optional Safety Package for the LS trim added rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. The RS, Premier, and High Country trims had adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Premier and High Country trims also featured Chevy's vibrating Safety Alert Seat. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most IIHS collision tests but was rated "Acceptable" in the new side-impact test. NHTSA had not published 2022 crash-test ratings at the time of writing.