2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus presented a sophisticated and streamlined exterior, available in Premiere, Reserve, or Black Label trims. Its design featured a new grille reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz, with LED lighting extending through the grille to illuminate the Lincoln star logo, creating a stunning visual effect. The rear mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. A unique design twist was the placement of door handles high on the profile, integrated into the beltline. Inside, the Nautilus boasted a luxurious interior with high-quality materials, ambient lighting, and textures like open-pore wood and fine leather. The centerpiece was a full-width screen, complemented by Lincoln's traditional piano key shifter style. An optional Jet Appearance Package added two-tone paint, black exterior trim, and unique interior elements for an additional cost.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, particularly the 110 four-door model, struck a balance in design, offering a rugged appeal with extensive customization options. Base prices varied significantly, with the Defender 90 starting at $58,525 and the 130 V8 reaching $120,525, including destination charges. The Defender OCTA, available only as a 110, was priced at $153,625. The test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack, upgraded interior materials, and comprehensive off-roading technology. It swapped standard 22-inch wheels for 20-inch ones with Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires. The exterior, painted in Gondwana Stone, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and the color clashed with the orange brake calipers and delicate twin-spoke wheels. Inside, the Defender X upgraded to premium Windsor hides with Kvadrat fabric, offering a choice of colors. The interior maintained an industrial theme with quality materials, focusing on functionality over luxury.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered smooth power application and unobtrusive shifts. For an additional $1,500, a hybrid option was available, offering 310 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque, and an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in combined driving, compared to 24 mpg for the gas-only engine. The hybrid's range exceeded 600 miles, making it ideal for long trips. All Nautilus models featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with an adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance. The hybrid's continuously variable transmission (CVT) avoided typical drawbacks, providing a pleasant driving experience, though not quite a driver's car.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender test vehicle featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport and manual shift modes connected to a standard all-wheel-drive system with a low-range setting for off-roading. The Defender 130 X accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. Standard features included an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes. The Defender excelled off-road, with capabilities often surpassing driver skill levels. On-road, the Defender 130's 20-inch wheels and Pirelli tires limited its enthusiasm for twisty roads, but it cruised comfortably on highways. The Defender 130 offered 11.4 inches of ground clearance and a maximum wading depth of 35.4 inches, though its fuel economy was lower than expected at 16.2 mpg.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus offered power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats across all trims, with the Black Label model featuring 24-way Perfect Position front seats with massage and extended heating functions. Rear seats provided 43 inches of legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images for relaxation. Cargo space measured 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with seats folded in the Premiere trim, slightly less in higher trims. The Nautilus seated five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating rows.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 required effort to enter and exit without programmed air suspension lowering, but rewarded with spacious seating across three rows. The test vehicle featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with effective heating and ventilation. Visibility was excellent, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. A panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row enhanced the open feel. Storage was ample in the front but less accommodating further back. The Defender 130 excelled in third-row accessibility and comfort, with heated, supportive seats. Cargo space was limited to 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with seats folded, and 89 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for various information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. HVAC controls were permanent icons, though vent adjustments required menu navigation. Steering wheel controls were unlabelled, relying on screen interaction. Google Maps, Alexa Built-in, gaming, web browsing, and over-the-air updates were included, along with wireless charging and USB ports.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessed via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and connected services. Pivi Pro's performance improved, with accurate voice command response and intuitive user experience. The Meridian premium sound system impressed, and additional features included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and surround-view camera system. The Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus included the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, such as lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. Blue Cruise 1.2 technology was available, offering hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways with automatic lane-change assist. The 2023 Nautilus received high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS, though the 2024 model had not yet been rated.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured driver aids like automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. A Driver Assistance Mode menu allowed customization of assistance levels. Crash-test ratings were unavailable, as low-volume models like the Defender typically aren't tested by NHTSA or IIHS.