The 2023 Lincoln Nautilus is a small luxury SUV with a smooth ride and comfortable seats. This five-seat, four-door crossover shares a platform and powertrain with the Ford Edge.
The first Lincoln Nautilus debuted in 2019 as a replacement for the MKX model. Since then, Lincoln ensured the SUV came with added luxury and ownership perks to appeal to upscale buyers. The vehicle has a naturally aspirated engine, an all-new outlook, and many safety and tech features.
Unfortunately, Lincoln will stop producing the Nautilus after the 2023 model year, making this model the last one. One of the main reasons it's retiring is because the vehicle had a hard time competing in the midsize luxury SUV market. The Nautilus has a potent optional turbocharged V6 engine and is quiet and comfortable. However, its rivals with comparable price tags offer better features.
The midsize luxury segment is a tough market, with almost every major car manufacturer joining. Furthermore, the market has top-tier SUVs like the BMW X3, and Cadillac XT5, providing the best performance and luxury.
Let's find out more about the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus.
The Lincoln Nautilus Has A Potent Engine And Delivers Good Handling
Under the hood, a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine produces 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft. There's also an optional turbocharged 2.0L I-4 engine that produces 250 horsepower and uses three technologies. The optional engine provides a smoother ride because of the twin independent variable camshaft timing (Ti-VCT). The Nautilus' closest rival, the Jaguar E-PACE, runs with the same engine but falls short on horsepower.
Both engines have an 8-speed automatic transmission to power either the forward wheels or all wheels. Compared to previous model years, the new 8-speed transmission provides more shift points and is not sluggish.
According to Lincoln, the 2.0-liter inline-four can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds, while the 2.7-liter V-6 can reach 60 mph in 6.0 seconds.
Regarding its performance, the Lincoln drives a lot better than most crossovers in its segment. However, with wheels that range from 18 to 21 inches and a slow steering ratio, the Nautilus takes some effort to change direction.
The Nautilus performs better as a long-distance cruiser when equipped with adaptive dampers, although it can handle potholes and bumps fairly well with any configuration. Also, the adaptive suspension and noise cancelation systems make the ride smoother and quieter on any road.
The 2023 Nautilus Has A Quiet And Comfortable Interior
The Nautilus' size makes it easy to get in and see out of, and the front seats have many adjustments. The cabin is spacious in headroom, but the optional panoramic sunroof cuts rear headroom. The front and rear legroom are ample, and the elevated seating position and large windows make it easy to see your surroundings.
The soft front seats offer long-distance comfort, and their heating and cooling functions work well. Despite the 20-inch wheels, the ride balances between hard and soft. The cabin mutes wind, tire, and road noise to a minimum. Furthermore, the engine is mostly quiet but becomes audible as you approach freeway speeds.
The Nautilus can carry more than most SUVs in the small luxury segment. The vehicle offers 37.2 cubic feet of space and 68.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The center console compartment can carry something equal to a DSLR camera, and the door pockets are big enough for soda cans.
Owners with small children will love the Nautilus. There is enough room for all rear-facing child seats, and the designers labeled the top and bottom car-seat anchors.
The Nautilus Has Advanced Safety And Infotainment Systems
The 2023 Nautilus has advanced features like automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and blind-spot monitors. Optional features include adaptive cruise control, automatic park assist, and a surround-view camera system.
These features allow the Nautilus to receive five stars overall from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS. However, this shouldn't be surprising because many Lincoln models have good safety scores.
For infotainment, there's a 13.2-inch LCD touchscreen and SYNC® 4. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone compatibility is standard, and wireless smartphone charging. Also, the SUV can connect to two phones and use either smartphone mirroring or audio simultaneously.
The higher trims offer more features like 13-speaker Revel audio and built-in navigation. The navigation system can inform you about the latest weather, traffic, and parking availability.
Overall, the 2023 Nautilus is a luxurious SUV with a knockout interior and top-flight tech features in its five-seat cabin. Few cars can rival the Nautilus, and the ones that can are top-tier vehicles like the Audi Q5 and Lexus RX. However, the Nautilus offers something that most cars don't have; a composed driving experience with good acceleration.