Audi Q3 vs Lincoln Nautilus

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive corporate grille that complemented its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling. The cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, making it a standout feature. However, newer Volkswagen interiors began to catch up, making the Q3's interior feel less special over time. The Q3 offered two trims: Premium and Premium Plus, with the latter adding features like remote start, wireless device charging, and a hands-free power liftgate.

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 Black Label trim included nearly every available feature, along with a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats, though some chrome-plated plastic pieces looked a bit cheap. The Nautilus had a starting MSRP of $44,225, with the Black Label starting at $66,825.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Q3 featured Audi’s Drive Select with Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road modes, providing a balanced blend of nimble handling and a comfortable ride. However, the base engine exhibited some turbo lag, especially under hard acceleration.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Black Label trim included a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, requiring all-wheel drive. The Nautilus featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with the adaptive suspension adjusting accordingly. The twin-turbo V6 provided a smooth and powerful drive, though the steering lacked engagement. The Nautilus averaged 25 mpg on a long road trip and proved to be a comfortable and quiet road-tripper.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the space behind the seats was decent for a subcompact luxury SUV, the overall cargo space was subpar for the class. However, the Q3 made up for it with comfortable front seats and impressive rear headroom and legroom, making it suitable for four passengers on a road trip.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label featured smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive thanks to Active Noise Control. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with optional 22-way power adjustments and massage programs. The rear seats were also heated, but legroom was tight for a midsize SUV. The Nautilus offered 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded. Practical storage space was adequate, though some areas were hard to access.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi’s MMI system, with standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. An upgraded 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation was available, along with features like wireless device charging and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit replaced the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Sync 4 software. Sync 4 offered over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The Black Label trim included connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel premium audio system. The system had an intuitive user interface and natural voice recognition, with physical stereo and climate controls.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and traffic-sign recognition. Additional available features were a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus included Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, featuring forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Black Label trim added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors. The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a four-star rating for rollover resistance.