2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Volvo XC60

The 2021 Volvo XC60, a product of Volvo's rebirth under Geely Holding Group, showcased a blend of Swedish elegance and modern innovation. Built on the SPA platform, the XC60 shared its architecture with other Volvo models, offering a cohesive design language. Its exterior featured a sophisticated two-box design with short overhangs, an upright grille adorned with Volvo's iron mark logo, and distinctive Thor's hammer LED headlights. The interior exuded Scandinavian charm with clean lines, authentic materials, and a serene atmosphere. The 9-inch portrait-oriented infotainment touchscreen, once a novelty, had become a familiar and user-friendly feature. The XC60's cabin was a harmonious blend of textures and colors, with thoughtful details like elegant HVAC vents and a grooved, chromed knob for airflow control, making it a delightful space for occupants.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, formerly known as the MKX, underwent a transformation with a facelift in 2019, adopting a more attractive design and a new name. For 2021, the Nautilus retained its exterior styling but received a cabin update with a sharp new dash design, clean lines, and soft materials. The centerpiece was a large, crisp 13.2-inch touchscreen rising from the center of the dash, complemented by Lincoln's "Piano Key" shifter-button layout. The infotainment system, similar to Ford's SYNC 3, was user-friendly with a minimal learning curve. The Nautilus offered a range of trims, from the Standard to the luxurious Black Label, each equipped with a host of features, including a Revel 19-speaker premium stereo system and advanced driver-assistance technologies. The Nautilus provided a comfortable and upscale driving experience, with thoughtful interior touches and ample cargo space.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 offered a range of powertrains, all centered around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The T5 models, available in FWD or AWD, delivered 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 models, with AWD, produced 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, thanks to a turbocharger and supercharger. The T8 models, plug-in hybrids, combined an 87-hp electric motor with the gasoline engine, achieving 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Polestar Engineered variant further enhanced performance to 415 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The XC60's AWD system and torque vectoring provided agile handling, while the cabin remained quiet and the suspension smoothed out road imperfections. Fuel economy ranged from 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway for the T5 FWD to 57 MPGe in electric-only mode for the T8 PHEV.

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 a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, generating 355 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6, standard with AWD, provided smooth and controlled power delivery, especially at highway speeds. The adaptive suspension minimized road bumps, ensuring a comfortable ride. The Nautilus featured an engine stop-start system to conserve fuel, though it introduced a slight delay in response. Overall, the Nautilus delivered a pleasant driving experience across various scenarios.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was designed for comfort and style, with a focus on safety and functionality. The front seats offered excellent adjustability, and the heating system performed admirably in cold conditions. The XC60's interior featured smart storage solutions, intuitive controls, and glove-friendly features, making it well-suited for winter driving. Cargo space measured 21.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanded to 63.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The XC60 could tow up to 3,500 pounds, adding to its versatility.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus provided ample cargo space, with 68.8 cubic feet available with the rear seats folded and 37.2 cubic feet with them in use. The Nautilus prioritized two-row comfort, offering spacious rear seats and luxurious front seats with 22-way adjustability. The interior featured soft-touch materials, a large center console bin, and deep in-door pockets for storage. The floating center controls design allowed for additional storage space, enhancing the vehicle's practicality.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 featured the Sensus infotainment system, a tablet-style interface with a portrait orientation. The system divided the screen into function quadrants, allowing users to access audio, navigation, vehicle, and communication functions easily. While intuitive for some, the system required a learning curve. Smartphone integration included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system provided exceptional sound quality.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a user-friendly menu layout. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were seamlessly integrated, and the system included a wireless charging pad. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system delivered impressive sound quality, enhancing the overall tech experience.

The 2021 Volvo XC60 was a testament to Volvo's commitment to safety, earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, collision avoidance, and more. Volvo's Pilot Assist system offered semi-autonomous driving capabilities, integrating adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. The XC60's top speed was limited to 112 mph for safety reasons.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came equipped with the CoPilot360 package, featuring automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and more. Additional driver-assistance features included adaptive cruise control and a surround-view parking monitor. However, the standard backup camera's low quality was a drawback, affecting visibility in low-light conditions.