Lincoln Nautilus vs Honda Prologue

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus exhibited a sophisticated and streamlined exterior that marked a promising new direction in Lincoln design. Available in Premiere, Reserve or Black Label trim, the Nautilus debuted a new grille reminiscent of the bifurcated designs seen on Mercedes-Benz models. This grille also featured LED lighting that illuminated the Lincoln star logo, creating a captivating visual.

The rear of the Nautilus mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. A unique design twist was apparent in its profile, where door handles were placed high and integrated into the beltline. However, it was the interior that truly made the Nautilus stand out. The centerpiece, a massive full-width screen, drew significant attention, acting as the crown jewel of the cabin.

The Nautilus's interior was far from lacking in other areas. The materials used, such as open-pore wood and fine leather, were of excellent quality. Polished metal accents and ambient lighting added a luxurious touch. The only divisive interior feature was the piano key shifter, a long-standing design element dating back to the 1950s.

For an additional $3,000, the Jet Appearance Package offered two-tone paint, black exterior trim, and either black 20- or 22-inch wheels, depending on the model, along with unique interior elements.

In contrast, the 2024 Honda Prologue, while less flamboyant, offered a pleasing, almost conservative design typical of Honda. The base EX trim came in five colors, and higher trims like Touring and Elite introduced new options like Sonic Grey and North Shore Pearl, the latter being a punchy turquoise that made the Prologue more visually striking.

The front end of the Prologue featured the traditional Honda "H" logo on a smooth black panel, indicating the absence of components needing air cooling behind it. Honda enhanced personalization options with accessories like skid plates and side cladding, allowing owners to add a rugged touch if desired.

From a side view, the Prologue's low appearance was accentuated by its length – 3 inches longer than a Honda Passport but 8 inches shorter, making it more akin to a sleek, gangster-style car. The Prologue's large wheels – 19 inches standard, 21 on the Elite – further emphasized its low roofline.

Inside, the Prologue's Elite trim featured a brown and black interior exclusive to the top trim, while all models offered a gray and black two-tone alternative. Cloth seating was standard on the EX, with leather available on the higher trims. The dashboard design was reminiscent of other recent Honda models but omitted the honeycomb grille for air vents, opting instead for piano black plastic topped by upholstery.

Overall, the Prologue leaned towards a familiar and user-friendly design, with an upscale feel that avoided overwhelming the consumer with novelty.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The power delivery was smooth, and gear changes were subtle. While sufficient for most driving needs, the optional $1,500 hybrid setup offered a more robust performance with 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, along with an improved EPA estimated 30 mpg in combined driving compared to the gas-only engine's 24 mpg.

The hybrid variant provided a commendable over 600 miles range, enough to travel from San Francisco to the Oregon border and back. Despite its efficiency, it was outperformed in fuel economy by the Lexus RX hybrid, which achieved 36 mpg combined.

All Nautilus models came with all-wheel drive and five drive modes: Normal, Excite, Conserve, Slippery, and Deep Conditions. To fully utilize these modes, the adaptive suspension was recommended. Normal mode offered a comfortable ride for city driving, while Excite mode provided a more engaging experience with tightened steering and reduced body roll. The CVT in the hybrid model avoided typical drawbacks, such as droning, and maintained a pleasant driving experience, albeit not matching the driving joy of a Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5.

The 2024 Honda Prologue, as an electric vehicle (EV), was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The FWD setup used a single motor producing 212 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, and on the EX and Touring trims with 19-inch wheels, it offered a best-in-class range of 296 miles. The AWD configuration, mandatory for the Elite trim but available on others, featured a dual-motor setup with 288 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 273 miles on the Elite’s 21-inch wheels, and 281 miles on the EX and Touring trims with 19-inch wheels.

The Prologue's driving dynamics were designed to feel typically Honda. Normal regenerative braking offered minimal deceleration, allowing smooth coasting, while one-pedal driving provided a more traditional EV experience. The standard low regenerative setting eased the transition for new EV drivers. Its 121.8-inch wheelbase contributed to a comfortable ride, although road and wind noise at highway speeds impacted the serene driving description.

Sport mode in the Prologue sharpened throttle, brake, and steering responses, enhancing the driving experience, particularly on winding roads.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus excelled in seating comfort, particularly in the Black Label model, which featured Lincoln's 24-way Perfect Position front seats. These seats were praised as possibly the most comfortable in the mid-size luxury SUV class, surpassing even those in Mercedes-Benz and Genesis models. The continuous massage function and extended heating duration offered exceptional comfort.

Rear passengers in the Nautilus enjoyed 43 inches of legroom, significantly more than the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE, making it comfortable for taller adults. The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create a relaxing atmosphere, and the option for a scented cabin added a unique touch.

Cargo capacity in the Nautilus was ample, with 36 cubic feet of space behind the second row and 71 cubic feet when folded down in the Premiere trim. Higher trims slightly reduced cargo space but still provided more than the Lexus RX. The Nautilus was limited to five seats, unlike some competitors offering a third row, though often too small for adults.

The 2024 Honda Prologue featured traditional door handles, simplifying the transition to an EV. Inside, it offered 111.7 cubic feet of passenger volume, surpassing its Cadillac Lyriq platform-mate by over six cubic feet. Rear legroom was generous at 39.4 inches, complemented by reclinable seats and a panoramic moonroof in higher trims, enhancing the sense of space.

Standard heated front seats and dual-zone climate control were joined by driver’s seat memory on the Touring trim, while the Elite trim added ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Two-tier storage and ample space between the front passengers improved usability.

Cargo space in the Prologue was 25.2 cubic feet behind the second row, expandable to 57.7 cubic feet with them folded down. The high, flat load floor facilitated easy loading, though shorter individuals might struggle to reach the seat release. Unlike some EVs, the Prologue lacked frunk storage but included a deep compartment beneath the load floor.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a striking 48-inch curved display, offering a customizable digital dash for navigation, weather, audio, and more. Its graphics were crisp and vibrant, enhancing visual appeal. An 11.1-inch touchscreen on the center console handled infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. HVAC controls were accessible as permanent icons, minimizing distraction, though adjusting air vents via the screen was overly complex.

Unlabeled steering wheel controls required some acclimation, with right-side touch revealing audio controls and left-side touch showing ADAS controls. Despite these quirks, Google Maps and Alexa Built-In provided valuable functionalities, and over-the-air updates ensured the system remained current. Wireless charging and multiple USB ports were standard.

The 2024 Honda Prologue featured standard keyless access, with the Elite trim adding a card-format key akin to a hotel room key. A pocket-style wireless charger, four USB-C ports, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto running on an 11.3-inch infotainment screen were standard. An 11-inch driver-information display and an optional head-up display on the Elite trim further enhanced technology offerings.

Google Built-In, with route planning and battery preconditioning, improved EV convenience. Touring and Elite trims boasted a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, also supporting Active Sound Control for enhanced driving audio experiences, particularly in Sport mode.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came equipped with the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite, offering standard safety features like lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. Blue Cruise 1.2 technology, included on all trims (with varying availability periods), combined adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist, featuring an automatic lane-change assist and In-Lane Repositioning. Previous model ratings indicated strong safety performance, but the latest model awaited current ratings.

Similarly, the 2024 Honda Prologue included the Honda Sensing suite as standard, with new additions like rear cross-traffic braking and blind-zone steering assist. Higher trims added front-park assist, surround-vision, and rear pedestrian alert. Common features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist were universally standard. Safety ratings were pending, but Honda aimed for top scores.