2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2022 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, despite being a glorified minivan, offered a practical and stylish alternative for those needing an SUV without the higher costs and lower fuel efficiency of larger models. Starting at $33,700, the Traverse lineup extended to the High Country trim at $53,400, with AWD available across all trims. The 2022 model featured a light restyle with new headlights, taillights, and grille designs, along with updated color choices and special appearance packages like the Redline Edition.

Our RS trim test vehicle, priced at $48,895, showcased blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels, making it one of the most appealing vehicles in its segment. Inside, the Traverse RS featured black leather upholstery with red and light gray stitching, though hard plastic surfaces on the upper door panels were a downside. The interior layout was simple and logical, with matte-finish black switchgear reducing glare and making controls easy to use.

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 Black Label trim featured a Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence and offered Chalet or Flight design themes, with our test vehicle showcasing the Chalet design with light gray premium leather upholstery.

The Black Label trim included nearly every available feature, such as a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats, though some chrome-plated plastic pieces looked cheap. Starting at $44,225, the Nautilus lineup extended to the Black Label 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 proved perfect for long drives, offering exceptional comfort and support.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came with 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. With a tow rating of 5,000 pounds, the Traverse offered Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road driving modes. The V6 engine, though slightly whiny under acceleration, provided adequate power for the Traverse's bulk, and our test vehicle returned 20.9 mpg in combined driving.

On the road, the Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride, though it required careful handling over speed humps and drainage dips to avoid scraping the front air dam. The SUV excelled on highways, despite some road and wind noise, and felt more athletic in mountainous terrain, thanks to its V6 drivetrain, Active Return Assist steering, and Duralife brakes. However, the RS trim's all-season tires and the vehicle's tendency to feel disconnected at higher speeds were drawbacks.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, available on the Black Label and Reserve trims. The Black Label trim required AWD and featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with the adaptive suspension adjusting accordingly.

During our test drive, the Nautilus proved comfortable and cozy, with the massaging and heated driver's seat and heated steering wheel enhancing the experience. The twin-turbo V6 returned 25 mpg on a long road trip and 19.9 mpg in mixed driving. The Nautilus excelled on highways, offering a quiet and comfortable ride, and performed well in the mountains with its firm suspension and impressive grip from the 21-inch wheels. However, the steering lacked engagement, despite the SUV's athleticism and powerful engine.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse RS featured power-adjustable and heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row captain's chairs reduced seating capacity to seven but offered a wide pass-through for easier third-row access. The Smart Slide function and long rear doors further facilitated entry and exit.

The Traverse's interior provided generous legroom, headroom, and foot room for second-row passengers, though the captain's chairs lacked leg support. The third-row seat accommodated adults if the second-row seats were slid forward, though it wasn't as comfortable as in larger SUVs. Storage space was abundant, with hidden compartments behind the infotainment screen and under the cargo floor. Cargo space measured 23 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 98.2 cubic feet.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label featured smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive thanks to Active Noise Control and acoustic glass. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with the optional 22-way power seats offering exceptional comfort. Rear passengers enjoyed heated outboard seats and air conditioning vents, though legroom was tight for a midsize SUV.

Practical storage space was adequate, with larger compartments behind the stereo and climate controls and under the center console bridge being hard to access. The hands-free power liftgate revealed 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a maximum of 68.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system on LS and LT Cloth models, while other trims had an 8-inch high-definition display. Higher trims also included an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. The infotainment system offered Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and connected services with a WiFi hotspot. Teen Driver technology was standard, and the 8-inch system included navigation, SiriusXM 360L, and Alexa Built-in.

The Traverse's voice recognition system was excellent, and the available digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera enhanced visibility. However, the Bose premium sound system was underwhelming.

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, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L. Our Black Label test vehicle included connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system.

The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical stereo and climate controls, and the Revel speakers provided excellent sound quality. The Phone as a Key feature allowed the smartphone to unlock and start the Nautilus, offering convenience.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. A new Safety Package added rear parking assist sensors, blind-spot monitoring, lane-change assist, and rear cross-traffic alert on the LS trim, with these features standard on higher trims.

The RS, Premier, and High Country trims included adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and rear pedestrian alert. The Premier and High Country trims also featured a vibrating Safety Alert Seat. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most IIHS collision tests, except for an "Acceptable" rating in a new side-impact test. NHTSA had not published 2022 ratings at the time of writing.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus included Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, with forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, 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, parking sensors, and semi-autonomous parking assist.

The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with a four-star rating for rollover resistance. IIHS had not assessed the Nautilus for safety at the time of writing.