2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy. Known for its conservative styling, Volvo managed to infuse the XC90 with more character while retaining its recognizable features. The XC90 maintained a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but the lines were softer, and there was more chrome instead of unpainted plastic. The LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights added a distinctive touch. The Inscription trim, with its extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more basic looks, respectively. The XC90 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models, ensuring a cohesive design language across the brand.

Inside, the XC90 embraced “Swedish minimalism” with thoughtfully arranged, high-quality materials. The matte-finish wood trim had a natural appearance, and the wool upholstery option was unique. The Orrefors crystal shifter in the Inscription trim added a high-end touch, though it seemed a bit out of place in the otherwise restrained interior. The XC90’s interior was designed to be functional and aesthetically pleasing without overwhelming the occupants with excessive flash.

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. The Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence greeted drivers after dark, and the Black Label models 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, such as a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats, creating a decadent interior. However, the center console design and some chrome-plated plastic pieces looked a bit cheap.

The Nautilus was priced starting at $44,225, with the Black Label trim 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. These seats were perfect for long drives, providing exceptional comfort. The Nautilus proved to be a comfortable and cozy road-tripper, with features like massaging and heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all built around a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, also known as Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric assist, delivering a combined output of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T5 came standard with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8.

Despite the impressive 400 hp, the XC90’s small engine struggled to provide the flexibility of six-cylinder or V8 engines found in competitor SUVs. The XC90 Recharge had difficulty accelerating away from stops on electric power alone, often requiring the gasoline engine to assist. The XC90 offered three drive modes—Pure (all-electric), Hybrid, and Power—but Pure mode was only usable at low speeds with gentle acceleration. The XC90 excelled in ride quality, thanks to an optional air-suspension system, and maintained a quiet cabin. Most XC90 models had a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity, with the base FWD T5 rated at 4,000 pounds.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an option. The Black Label trim featured a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, requiring all-wheel drive.

The Nautilus provided Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behavior, steering effort, and adaptive suspension. Comfort mode made the SUV feel too soft, while Sport mode made the steering too heavy. Normal mode offered a balanced driving experience. The Nautilus had an 18-gallon fuel tank, with the twin-turbo V6 achieving an EPA rating of 21 mpg combined. During a road trip, the Nautilus averaged 25 mpg over 871.1 miles. The Nautilus excelled as a road-tripper, offering a quiet, comfortable ride with excellent sound quality from the 19-speaker Revel audio system. The twin-turbo V6 provided impressive performance, especially in Sport mode, though the steering lacked engagement.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with second-row captain’s chairs or a bench seat. Headroom and legroom in all three rows were average for the segment, with the third row being tight for adults. The seats in the second and third rows felt hard and lacked support. An optional power moonroof extended across the first two rows, enhancing the spacious feel. The XC90 offered standard four-zone climate control with an optional filtration system. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console storage bin and few storage options on the console.

Cargo space in the T8 Recharge model was near the bottom of the segment, with 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The hands-free power tailgate was a useful feature.

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, with a heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The optional 22-way power front seats with massage programs, adjustable thigh extensions, and head restraints provided exceptional comfort. The rear seats were heated, with air conditioning vents for rear passengers. However, the rear accommodations were cramped, with tight legroom for a midsize SUV.

Practical storage space was adequate, though some storage locations were hard to access. 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 rear seat folded.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. Two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports were standard. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display were available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, though the amount of text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving. The wireless charging pad was too small for most phones, and the lack of front USB-C ports was a drawback.

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, with separate physical stereo and climate controls. The natural voice recognition system worked well, and the Revel speakers provided excellent sound quality. The Phone as a Key feature allowed the smartphone to act as a digital key.

The 2021 XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top “Good” scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The NHTSA gave all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered extensive standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid. Pilot Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, though it struggled with highway curves.

The 2022 Nautilus included Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, with 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 added Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors. The NHTSA gave the Nautilus a five-star overall rating, with a four-star rating for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not assessed the Nautilus for safety.