2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2022 Kia EV6

The 2022 Kia EV6 was a striking vehicle, reminiscent of a Ford Mustang Mach-E with its sporty and svelte design. It appeared lower and wider, with a highback tail featuring a lip spoiler that doubled as a lightbar. The wheels were pushed to the far corners of the chassis, giving the car a muscular stance. The headlights had an aggressive squint, and the black trim on the bumper mimicked air intakes, though they were sealed. The EV6's profile was sharp and smooth, especially in matte silver paint, making it a head-turner.

The interior of the EV6 was equally impressive, with dual 12-inch screens on a linear dash, a floating center console, and seats covered in faux suede and leather. Ambient lighting flowed around the dash and rear passengers, creating a futuristic ambiance. The hockey-puck shifter and digital controls added to the high-tech feel, making the EV6 a joy to drive with its car-first, computer-second aesthetic.

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. At night, the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence greeted drivers, and the Black Label model offered Chalet or Flight design themes. The Chalet design featured light gray premium leather upholstery, while Flight had a classy Luggage Tan color.

Inside, the Black Label trim included nearly every available feature, such as a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats. The center console design and some chrome-plated plastic pieces felt a bit cheap, but overall, the interior was decadent. The Nautilus was available at various price points, with the Black Label model starting at $66,825. Our test vehicle, equipped with Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats with Active Motion massage, was perfect for long drives, providing exceptional comfort.

The 2022 Kia EV6 GT-Line e-AWD, with its dual electric motors producing 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, was a powerhouse. It had a 77-kilowatt-hour battery and could accelerate to 60 mph in 4.6 seconds. The upcoming GT trim promised even more power with 576 hp and a 0-60 time of under 3.5 seconds. The base EV6 Light had a smaller battery and less power, making it less desirable. The single-motor Wind and GT-Line models offered a more balanced performance with 225 hp.

The EV6's acceleration was smooth and immediate, with torque distributed effectively. The regenerative braking system had over eight settings, allowing for one-pedal driving in the maximum I-Pedal setting. However, the driving range was disappointing in cold weather, with the EV6 delivering only 65 percent of its 274-mile EPA estimate. Charging was relatively quick, but the real-world performance fell short of Kia's claims.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered two engine options. The standard and Reserve models had a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 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 had Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behavior and steering effort. Comfort mode felt too soft, while Sport mode made the steering too heavy. Normal mode was the best balance. The twin-turbo V6 provided strong performance, and the adaptive suspension kept the ride smooth. The Nautilus averaged 25 mpg on a long road trip, proving to be a comfortable and quiet road-tripper with excellent audio quality from the 19-speaker Revel system.

The 2022 Kia EV6 featured innovative design elements like pop-out door handles, paddle shifters, and a rotary shifter. The climate controls and stereo shortcuts were combined in a thin touchscreen, which could be frustrating to use while driving. The interior offered generous legroom and headroom, with reclining rear seats and optional heated cushions. However, the cargo space was limited, with only 24 cubic feet behind the seats and 50 cubic feet when folded. The EV6 had a towing capacity of 2,300 pounds and an onboard power generator for 120-volt equipment.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label had a luxurious interior with smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with an optional 22-way power adjustment and massage programs. The rear seats were also heated, but legroom was tight for a midsize SUV. Practical storage space was adequate, though some areas were hard to access. The cargo space was more generous, with 37.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 68.8 cubic feet when folded.

The 2022 Kia EV6's infotainment system was user-friendly, with dual 12-inch screens and a head-up display with augmented reality. It lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, requiring a wired connection. The Highway Driving Assist (HDA) system was standard, with features like blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. The 360-degree cameras and customizable "engine" sounds added to the tech appeal. However, Kia Connect features were disabled for Massachusetts residents due to compliance issues.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen with Sync 4 software. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. The system was intuitive and easy to use, with physical stereo and climate controls. The Phone as a Key feature allowed the smartphone to act as a digital key, adding convenience.

The 2022 Kia EV6 had no published test results from U.S. agencies but came with impressive standard safety tech. The HDA system included lane-keeping, cyclist and pedestrian detection, front and rear cross-traffic alert, and more. Higher trims added features like automatic rear braking and 360 cameras.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Black Label trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, and a semi-autonomous parking assist system. The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not assessed it.