2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Mazda CX-5

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus exuded luxury, especially in the Black Label trim with its 21-inch machined-finish wheels. The vehicle featured a striking exterior design that elegantly balanced character and style without appearing overly extravagant. Especially at night, the SUV's Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence created a warm and welcoming ambiance.

On the inside, the Black Label trim enhanced the Nautilus with distinctive interior design themes like Chalet and Flight. The Chalet design showcased light gray premium leather upholstery, while Flight featured a sophisticated Luggage Tan color. Added to this were luxurious elements like a simulated suede headliner and plush luxury floor mats. Notably, the center console and certain chrome-plated plastic components seemed less refined and appeared somewhat cheap.

Pricing for the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus began at an MSRP of $44,225, including a $1,195 destination charge. The Black Label started at $66,825 with the destination charge, offering a comprehensive set of luxurious features. With an upgrade to Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats featuring Active Motion massage, our test vehicle's price increased to $68,325. These seats provided exceptional comfort for a 14-hour round-trip drive from Los Angeles to Scottsdale, Arizona.

In contrast, the 2023 Mazda CX-5 aimed to continue its legacy as an appealing compact crossover, even as Mazda rebranded it to the CX-50. Despite the potential phase-out, the CX-5 remained a strong contender in the segment, presenting a blend of style and high-quality construction that gave it an air of luxury beyond its class. The SUV's aesthetic appeal was complemented by high-quality materials that made it feel like a more premium offering.

The 2023 CX-5 offered two engine choices. The standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine produced 187 hp, while the turbocharged version delivered up to 256 hp with premium fuel. The model lineup ranged from the base 2.5 S at $26,700 to the top-tier 2.5 Turbo Signature at $41,655 with additional features, including Nappa leather upholstery and Rhodium White metallic paint. Throughout the range, each version of the CX-5 provided a level of quality, refinement, and sophistication.

Mazda's vehicle naming strategy intended to maintain consumer loyalty as the CX-5 transitioned to the CX-50. However, the CX-5's well-crafted exterior and luxurious interior set it apart in a competitive segment.

The Lincoln Nautilus Black Label was powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, mandatory with AWD. The standard Nautilus and Reserve trims used a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, with front-wheel drive standard and AWD optional. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Nautilus featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, each affecting the powertrain behavior, steering effort, and the adaptive suspension. Comfort mode made the SUV feel overly soft, while Sport mode added unnecessary weight to the steering. Normal mode struck a balance that proved ideal for extended drives.

With an 18-gallon fuel tank, the twin-turbo V6 variant returned a combined EPA rating of 21 mpg (25 mpg highway). On a long drive from Los Angeles to Scottsdale, the Nautilus averaged a respectable 25 mpg, reaching 450 miles on a full tank. The quiet, comfortable interior and the 19-speaker Revel audio system made it a superb road-trip vehicle.

However, in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Nautilus revealed an unexpected athleticism, thanks to its capable V6 and adaptive suspension, even though its steering lacked engagement. Underneath, it shared engineering with the Ford Edge, borrowing some of its playful spirit.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5 offered two main powertrain options. The base 2.5 S model featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. It achieved an EPA-rated 26 mpg in combined driving.

The more powerful 2.5 Turbo variants packed a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, generating up to 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque on premium fuel (227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular fuel). The turbocharged engine delivered an EPA-rated 24 mpg in combined driving. Notably, the torque's availability at lower RPMs resulted in a dynamic and quick driving experience, although frequent use of this power came at the expense of fuel economy.

Mazda’s enhancements for the 2022 model year, including increased structural rigidity and refined suspension tuning, carried forward to the 2023 CX-5, resulting in improved ride quality and reduced unwanted body roll. These changes gave the vehicle a solid, connected feel, particularly noticeable on winding roads.

During our testing, including a mountainous drive in Southern California, the CX-5 2.5 Turbo achieved a combined fuel economy of 21.4 mpg, falling slightly short of the EPA estimate. Nevertheless, the CX-5's sharp steering, responsive brakes, and generous torque made it a thoroughly enjoyable compact SUV to drive.

Entering the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label, passengers were greeted with high-quality, smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a serene cabin courtesy of Active Noise Control and acoustic glass. Both front seats were heated and ventilated, with an available power tilt-and-telescopic heated steering wheel.

The optional 22-way power-adjustable seats with massage functions proved highly comfortable for long drives, offering multiple adjustments for personalized comfort. The rear outboard seats were heated and benefited from air conditioning vents, though the second-row legroom was surprisingly limited for a midsize SUV.

Cargo capacity behind the rear seats was 37.2 cubic feet, expanding to 68.8 cubic feet with the seats folded—a generous amount for the segment. Practical storage solutions within the cabin were somewhat constrained, with hard-to-access areas behind the center console and under the console bridge. Still, the Nautilus featured ample space for luggage and supplies.

For the 2023 Mazda CX-5, the automaker improved front seat comfort and support, addressing previous criticisms. All versions provided at least a height-adjustable driver's seat, with higher trims offering power adjustments for both front seats, along with heating and ventilation features. The Signature trim boasted luxurious Nappa leather upholstery.

However, the CX-5 fell short in terms of technology and practical interior space. The Mazda Connect infotainment system, despite its high-resolution 10.25-inch screen, suffered from an awkward user interface that required significant attention and adjustment.

The interior's storage opportunities were modest, and the rear-seat space was relatively cramped. In terms of cargo capacity, the CX-5 offered 30.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with the back seats folded, trailing behind several mainstream competitors but slightly ahead of some entry-luxury models.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus excelled in its technological offerings, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen running Sync 4 software. Sync 4 included over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Our Black Label variant also included connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a premium 19-speaker Revel audio system.

The system’s user interface was intuitive, offering a wide range of settings and simple navigation. Physical controls for the stereo and climate systems, despite appearing somewhat low-grade, were a practical addition. The natural voice recognition system performed well, and the Revel audio system delivered exceptional sound quality.

A standout feature was Phone as a Key, enabling users to unlock and start the Nautilus using their smartphones, an attractive alternative to the sizeable key fob.

The 2023 Mazda CX-5's Mazda Connect infotainment system, housed in a 10.25-inch display, was visually appealing but functionally frustrating. The system lacked advanced voice recognition capabilities, making navigation through its menus cumbersome. Physical controls on the center console were awkward and required memorization, often causing distraction while driving.

Despite these drawbacks, Mazda Connect offered features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a three-year Mazda Connected Services trial. Higher trims included SiriusXM and a decent 10-speaker Bose premium audio system. The test vehicle also had a front-facing camera, surround-view camera system, and front and rear parking sensors, aiding in maneuvering.

Mazda’s approach to infotainment, skewed against touchscreens, made simple tasks more complex, diverging from evolving industry standards favoring ease of use.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. The Black Label added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, incorporating adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera, and parking sensors. A semi-autonomous parking assist system was also included.

During our test drive, elements like adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist worked seamlessly, enhancing driver comfort. The SUV's safety tech proved effective without being intrusive. The Nautilus earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though the IIHS had not rated it at the time.

Mazda equipped the 2023 CX-5 extensively with i-Activsense driver assistance features. Standard on most trims were adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. The 2.5 Turbo Signature trim added a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and Traffic Jam Assist.

The i-Activsense systems operated smoothly and accurately, with the lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control providing a refined experience. The inclusion of a head-up display in higher trims enhanced safety by displaying critical information directly in the driver’s line of sight. However, the absence of an alert for traveling without headlights, which posed a significant risk, was a notable oversight.

The CX-5 excelled in crash tests, achieving five-star ratings from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for 2023.