Lincoln Nautilus vs Genesis GV70

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus was offered in three trims: Premiere, Reserve, and Black Label. It debuted with an exterior design that was both sophisticated and streamlined, hinting at a new direction in Lincoln’s design language. The new grille resembled the bifurcated design seen in Mercedes Benz models, but the Nautilus featured LED lighting extending through the grille and illuminating the Lincoln star logo, adding a stunning touch. This horizontal aesthetic continued at the rear with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. Lincoln incorporated a unique design twist on the car’s profile by placing door handles high and integrating them into the beltline.

However, it was the interior that truly shone. The most talked-about feature was the full-width screen, an immersive display that was the crown jewel of the interior. The rest of the cabin didn’t lack quality either, utilizing excellent materials with shiny, polished metal accents, ambient lighting, and textures like open-pore wood and fine leather. Although the piano key shifter style was debated, it remained a nostalgic nod to Lincoln’s designs from the mid-1950s. An optional Jet Appearance Package for an extra $3,000 added two-tone paint, black exterior trim, black 20- or 22-inch wheels, and unique interior elements.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 stood out distinctly within the Genesis lineup and against its competitors. Maintaining certain Genesis styling features such as the split headlights and large shield-like grille for brand recognition, the GV70 was sleeker than its larger sibling, the GV80, and avoided the quirks of the smaller GV60. Standout features included the hatchback-like rear window profile, large round exhaust outlets on the Sport Prestige trim, and distinct 21-inch wheels (19-inch wheels were standard).

The GV70 balanced SUV size and luxury car style adeptly, unlike competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 which appeared overbuilt, or the Porsche Macan which struggled to adapt car styling cues to SUV proportions. The GV70 presented itself effectively as both an SUV and a luxury brand vehicle. The Electrified GV70 maintained the same styling as the gasoline models, offering a shiny grille housing the charge port for easy charging station access.

Inside, the GV70 boasted one of the most distinctive designs among new vehicles, combining traditional luxury touches like quilted Nappa leather upholstery and a panoramic sunroof with unique details. The climate controls and other buttons and knobs were housed in an elliptical pod, and the infotainment system featured a rotary controller, resembling something out of Star Trek. The dashboard had a rounded cross-section akin to an airplane wing, adding to its distinctive appeal.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivered 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This combination provided a smooth application of power and discreet shifting. However, the hybrid setup, costing an extra $1,500, was recommended for better performance. The hybrid added electric assist, boosting output to 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, along with an EPA estimated 30 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid setup offered a range of over 600 miles, although the Lexus RX hybrid surpassed it with 36 mpg combined.

Every Nautilus, equipped with all-wheel drive (AWD), offered five drive modes ranging from Normal to Excite and Slippery. The hybrid model included a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that avoided the usual CVT pitfalls like droning noises and over-eager engine speeds. Though not a “driver’s car” like the Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5, the Nautilus could still provide an enjoyable driving experience.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 retained its familiar powertrain options. The standard gasoline model came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. Also available was a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 with 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD.

The Electrified GV70 offered AWD through dual electric motors, delivering a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, with a “Boost Mode” increasing output to 483 horsepower for 10 seconds. While the GV70 provided vigorous straight-line acceleration, its chassis tuning wasn’t as agile as some sportier rivals like the Acura RDX or BMW X3. The suspension tended to be firm, less adept at absorbing bumps and road imperfections gracefully. Nonetheless, the Electrified model did not feel significantly heavier or more cumbersome than the gasoline version.

Overall, the GV70 offered a competent but not excessively sporty or graceful driving experience. Features like steering-wheel paddles for regenerative braking and a 236-mile EPA-rated range made the Electrified GV70 a practical choice for those seeking an electric luxury SUV.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats across all trims, with the Black Label model boasting Lincoln’s 24-way Perfect Position front seats. These were among the most comfortable in their class, featuring massage functions that ran continuously until turned off. The rear seats, though only heated on the top trim and lacking massage functions, provided an impressive 43 inches of legroom, surpassing competitors like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create various moods, beneficial for relaxation. The Nautilus offered 36 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expandable to 71 cubic feet with seats folded down in the Premiere trim. However, space diminished slightly in the Reserve and Black Label trims. The Nautilus was limited to five seats, unlike some competitors offering three rows, which often compromised on adult seating comfort.

The 2024 Genesis GV70 provided a spacious interior compared to its rivals. It offered slightly less headroom but more streamlined roofline than the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class. Legroom comparisons showed small variations, with the Genesis offering a bit more front-seat space than the BMW and Mercedes, but slightly less than the Audi. The Genesis also had slightly more rear-seat legroom than the X3 and marginally less than the Q5 and GLC.

Cargo capacity in the GV70 was 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats up, better than the Mercedes’ 21.9 cubic feet, slightly better than the BMW’s 28.7 cubic feet, but less than the Audi’s 29.5 cubic feet. With seats folded, the GV70 offered 56.9 cubic feet, trailing behind all its German competitors. The Electrified GV70’s battery pack had minimal impact on interior space, reducing legroom by 0.6 inches and headroom by about an inch in both rows. Cargo space differences between gasoline and electric models were less than a cubic foot.

The stylish interior design of the GV70 came with some drawbacks in small-item storage due to the rotary shifter, orb-like infotainment controller, and curvaceous dashboard. However, it included a phone storage nook and rear-seat climate controls. Automated side bolsters on Sport mode added to front-seat occupant comfort during strong acceleration or cornering.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus was notable for its massive 48-inch curved display, which divided into three customizable sections on the driver’s side for weather, audio, fuel economy, tire pressure, or trip mileage. The center console housed an 11.1-inch touchscreen for basic infotainment tasks, equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. HVAC controls were touch-based but featured permanent icons for easy access, although adjusting vents required navigating through menus.

Unlabeled steering wheel controls added to the distraction factor, necessitating careful thumb placement to activate audio or Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) controls. Despite these drawbacks, the Nautilus integrated Google Maps, Alexa Built-in, gaming, web browsing (when the car was stationary), and over-the-air updates to keep software current. Wireless charging and a range of USB-A and USB-C ports ensured ample device connectivity.

In comparison, the 2024 Genesis GV70's infotainment system, derived from Hyundai's designs, wasn’t as intricate as those in the BMW X3 or Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class but remained user-friendly. All GV70 models featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Higher trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display, while a 16-speaker Lexicon audio system enhanced sound quality.

The touchscreen's intuitive layout allowed for easy reach and operation by both driver and front passenger, complemented by a high-quality rotary controller on the center console. Advanced features like a fingerprint scanner for driver profiles and digital key functionality enriched the connectivity experience.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus boasted the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite, spotlighting lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. The standout feature was the Blue Cruise 1.2 hands-free driving technology, included as a 90-day trial on lower trims and standard for four years on the Black Label. Post-trial, a subscription cost $75 per month or $800 annually. This system combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping on pre-mapped North American highways, automatically changing lanes with driver signaling.

The 2024 Nautilus hadn't been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but saw the 2023 model score five stars for frontal and side crash protection and four for rollover protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated it "Good" in crashworthiness but hasn't yet assessed front crash prevention or seat belt and child restraint systems.

Gasoline versions of the 2024 Genesis GV70 achieved the IIHS’s highest Top Safety Pick+ award, alongside the 2023 Electrified GV70. NHTSA ratings weren't fully available at publication, but gasoline models received four stars for frontal and rollover crash tests and a five-star overall safety rating identical to the 2023 GV70. Ratings for the Electrified model were pending.

All GV70 models came with an array of safety features: lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitor, parking assist sensors, and Highway Driving Assist. The latter merged adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering. The more enhanced Highway Driving Assist 2 added automated lane-change capability and blind-spot monitoring, although hands-on operation was necessary. High-tech features like safe exit assist and a sophisticated rear occupant alert system provided additional safety measures.