2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, with its redesigned exterior, maintained a subtle distinction between its standard and hybrid models. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle, in its Iridium silver finish, mirrored the standard RX 350, lacking any overt hybrid identifiers. This understated approach was appreciated, as it kept the hybrid's aesthetic clean and cohesive. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, however, stood out with its Copper paint, blacked-out grille, and aggressive styling, signaling its performance-oriented nature. Despite its popularity, the RX's design was not considered particularly striking, with a front-heavy appearance and a rear that seemed visually shortened due to its signature roof pillar design. Inside, the RX embraced a minimalist design with fewer controls and an improved infotainment system, offering a modern touch with ambient lighting and luxurious materials like Macadamia leather and Ash Bamboo wood in the RX 350h Luxury.

In contrast, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus debuted with a sophisticated and streamlined exterior, hinting at a new design direction for Lincoln. Its grille, reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz's bifurcated design, featured LED lighting that illuminated the Lincoln star logo, creating a stunning visual effect. The rear continued this horizontal aesthetic with an animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. The interior was the highlight, with high-quality materials, ambient lighting, and textures like open-pore wood and fine leather. The Nautilus offered a Jet Appearance Package for an additional cost, adding two-tone paint, black exterior trim, and unique interior elements, enhancing its visual appeal.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered a range of powertrains, with the RX 350h featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 246 hp and 233 lb-ft of torque. It promised efficiency with an estimated 36 mpg in combined driving, though real-world testing averaged 32 mpg. The RX 500h F Sport Performance, with its turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds. However, its fuel economy was lower, averaging 20.9 mpg during testing. The RX 500h's adaptive damping suspension and Dynamic Rear Steering system provided a sporty driving experience, though accessing drive modes required navigating the infotainment system.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid variant, offering 310 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, achieved an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in combined driving, with a range exceeding 600 miles. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with an adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance. The hybrid's CVT avoided the typical droning, providing a smooth driving experience, though it wasn't considered a driver's car.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid provided a comfortable interior with ten-way power-adjustable front seats in the RX 350h Luxury, featuring premium leather and effective climate control. The RX 500h F Sport Performance offered eight-way power-adjustable seats with standard-grade leather and a thicker steering wheel. The hybrid's battery placement under the rear seat improved leg support but reduced headroom. Cargo space was increased to 29.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 46.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, though it still lagged behind some competitors.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus excelled in comfort, especially with the Black Label model's 24-way Perfect Position front seats, offering massage and extended heating functions. Rear passengers enjoyed 43 inches of legroom, surpassing competitors like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images for relaxation. Cargo space was generous, with 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with seats folded in the Premiere trim, though slightly reduced in higher trims. The Nautilus offered seating for five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, requiring subscription plans for full functionality. The Lexus Interface offered features like cloud-based navigation and an Intelligent Assistant, though it had limitations such as single-screen viewing and reflective screens. The available head-up display included dual-function touch-sensing control pads, which were challenging to use with polarized sunglasses.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a striking 48-inch curved display, customizable for various information. A smaller 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment tasks, with permanent HVAC icons. However, adjusting vents required navigating menus, which was distracting. Unlabeled steering wheel controls added to the distraction, though Google Maps and Alexa Built-in provided useful features. Wireless charging and USB ports were standard, with OTA updates ensuring current technology.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid came equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring advanced driving assistance systems like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. Proactive Driving Assist and Traffic Jam Assist were also available, though some features had limitations, such as the front cross-traffic alert's reliance on visual indicators not visible with polarized sunglasses.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus included the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite, offering lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. Blue Cruise 1.2 technology was available, providing hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. The 2023 Nautilus received high safety ratings from NHTSA, and the 2024 model was rated "Good" by IIHS for crashworthiness.