2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Nissan Rogue

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, particularly in its Black Label trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels, was an attractive SUV with balanced yet distinct styling. Lincoln’s design ensured the Nautilus had ample character without appearing awkward. During nighttime, approaching the SUV triggered the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence, adding a sophisticated touch.

Inside, the Black Label model featured Chalet or Flight design themes, with our test vehicle showcasing light-gray premium leather upholstery in the Chalet theme. The Flight theme, new for 2022, offered a luxurious Luggage Tan color. Luxury was evident with key interior elements, including a simulated suede headliner and deluxe floor mats. However, the center console and some chrome-plated plastic pieces appeared slightly cheap.

Price-wise, one could acquire a Nautilus starting at an MSRP of $44,225, while the fully loaded Black Label priced at $66,825. Our Black Label model, equipped with Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats with Active Motion massage, cost $68,325. These seats exemplified comfort on a 14-hour round-trip from Los Angeles to Scottsdale, Arizona.

Conversely, the 2023 Nissan Rogue maintained a conservative yet appealing design appealing to a broad audience. It featured proper proportions and rugged SUV detailing, essential for its popularity. The Rogue's lineup included S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from $27,360 to $37,140, plus a $1,295 destination charge.

Our test Rogue, arriving in Platinum trim with the Premium package and AWD, along with several enhancements like two-tone paint and exterior ground lighting, escalated the price to $43,100. This price rivaled the entry-level Infiniti QX50. The Platinum trim boasted upscale features such as soft, diamond-pattern leather seats and various high-quality touchpoints for the driver and front passenger, aligning with compact SUV standards.

In terms of performance, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered various engine options. The standard and Reserve models came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive as an option.

The Nautilus Black Label, on the other hand, packed a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, mandating AWD. Driving modes such as Comfort, Normal, and Sport adjusted powertrain behavior and steering effort, making each drive adaptable. However, Comfort mode felt too soft and caused motion sickness, while Sport mode made the steering excessively heavy. Normal mode struck a balance, providing a pleasant drive.

The Nautilus impressed as a road-tripper with its 18-gallon fuel tank, achieving an average of 25 mpg over 871 miles and a maximum highway range of 450 miles. The adaptive suspension in Sport mode and the 21-inch wheels offered impressive grip, though the steering lacked engagement.

In contrast, the 2023 Nissan Rogue introduced a new turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder VC-Turbo engine for improved performance and fuel economy over its predecessor’s 2.5-liter engine. It generated 201 horsepower and 225 lb-ft of torque, paired with a CVT featuring paddle shifters for a more engaging driving experience. The Rogue could switch between Eco, Auto, and Sport modes, with AWD models adding Off-Road and Snow modes.

The new engine delivered responsive performance in urban settings, though it lacked highway passing power. The CVT's simulated gear changes sometimes appeared too abrupt. Despite decent fuel efficiency claims of 31 mpg combined, our test returned 28.9 mpg.

The Rogue featured Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control for enhanced ride quality and cornering stability. Though it handled local speed humps and sharp bumps well, it displayed more lateral and vertical body motion on undulating roads than was desirable. The steering felt lifeless despite the overall secure handling character.

Inside the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label, the cabin exuded luxury with smooth leather, ambient lighting, and exemplary noise control through Active Noise Control technology. Front seats were heated, ventilated, and the power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel was also heated. The optional 22-way power front seats with massage functions were highly recommended for their comfort and adjustability.

However, the Nautilus’ rear seating was unexpectedly cramped for a midsize SUV. While heated outboard seats and air vents were provided, legroom was tight. Storage space was adequate but not exceptional, with some areas difficult to access. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a well-finished 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 68.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue served as a viable replacement for the family car, providing easy entry, better visibility, and practical cargo capabilities. It comfortably fit four adults, though a fifth passenger could squeeze into the rear middle seat. Our Platinum trim test vehicle had triple-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and premium leather seats, though heated but not ventilated.

The Rogue’s Zero Gravity front seats offered substantial comfort, although height adjustment for the front passenger was missing. Visibility was excellent, but the placement of the ambient lighting control button within the center storage bin was oddly inconvenient. The rear seats, while roomy, lacked comfort, with low-mounted cushions and firm diamond-shaped inserts.

The Rogue’s cargo space measured 36.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, extendable to 74.1 cubic feet with the seats folded using Nissan’s Divide-N-Hide feature. Though storage was plentiful, unlined compartments could cause noise and vibration from unsecured items.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus sported a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Sync 4 software, offering over-the-air updates and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It included Lincoln Connect, a Wi-Fi hotspot, SiriusXM 360L radio, connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system.

The system was intuitive, featuring a natural voice recognition system and high-quality sound from the Revel speakers. A unique Phone as a Key technology enabled locking and starting the vehicle via a smartphone, a handy feature considering the large remote key fob.

Conversely, the 2023 Nissan Rogue used an older infotainment system with an 8-inch or optional 9-inch touchscreen. Our test vehicle’s larger screen included Bluetooth, satellite radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, wired Android Auto, NissanConnect services, a navigation system, and a Bose premium audio system. Alexa Built-in was new, though not fully functional, struggling with basic voice commands.

The Rogue also offered a digital instrument panel and a HUD. Both worked well, albeit not tested with polarized sunglasses. Enhanced connectivity and intuitive controls were decent, although lacking the newer features recently introduced in other Nissan models.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus included Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Black Label models added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus with adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera, parking sensors, and semi-autonomous parking assist. With a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and automatic post-collision braking, the Nautilus emphasized safety, albeit without IIHS assessment.

The 2023 Nissan Rogue boasted Safety Shield 360, comprising forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights as standard. ProPilot Assist with Navi-link came on higher trims, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering. The Rogue also offered a surround-view camera, active blind-spot monitoring, and driver monitoring system. It received five stars from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS but had marginal and acceptable scores in updated crash tests.