2019 Lincoln Nautilus Review

　　

zzdcar' Expert Review

byKurt NiebuhrSenior Vehicle Test Editor

　　Kurt Niebuhr has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. A automotive photographer by trade, Kurt is now one of zzdcar' high-performance test drivers. He's driven and photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of vehicles all over the world, so Kurt's library of automotive experiences would certainly make for a good book. When not dreaming about getting his racing license or trying to buy out-of-date film for his cameras, Kurt can usually be found cursing at his 1966 Mustang.

　　

What's new

The nameplate is all-new, but it's really an updated Lincoln MKXRevised styling compared to MKXBase engine is now a turbocharged four-cylinder

　　For 2019, the Lincoln has renamed the MKX, its midsize crossover SUV, the Nautilus. The name change alone is welcome — we always found it hard to remember what vehicle each of Lincoln's series of MK names referred to. Yet there's more going on than a simple badge replacement with the new 2019 Nautilus.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$203/mo  for Nautilus Base

　　Nautilus Base

　　4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $40,340 MSRP4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $42,835 MSRPSelect 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $44,545 MSRPSelect 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $47,040 MSRPReserve 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $48,875 MSRPReserve 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $51,370 MSRPBlack Label 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $56,895 MSRPBlack Label 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $59,390 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　The Nautilus adopts a bolder look up front. Most prominent is a new grille, which is similar to those found on the brand's latest vehicles such as the Continental and the Navigator. Behind the grille is a new turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 250 horsepower that replaces last year's 303-hp V6. The horsepower drop is disappointing, but this engine should be more fuel-efficient. A 335-hp 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 is still available should you think the Nautilus needs more thrust.

　　Lincoln has also added a few new technology and safety features to the Nautilus, such as a digital gauge cluster and automatic emergency evasive steering. The rest of the vehicle is pretty much unchanged, which is fine. Just like the MKX, it's quiet on the highway, the seats are comfortable and the suspension ably soaks up bumps and ruts. With seating for five, this new-ish Lincoln Nautilus should provide ample comfort and style for all of its occupants and serve as a viable alternative to other midsize luxury crossovers.

　　

zzdcar' Expert Rating

7.4 / 10

　　The 2019 Lincoln Nautilus is a statement of style in the luxury crossover segment. More than just a rebadged MKX, the new Nautilus has new safety features, a new base engine and more attractive styling. It should woo shoppers away from the stalwart German competition.

　　

Trim tested

　　Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Lincoln Nautilus Reserve (turbo 2.7L V6 | 8-speed automatic | AWD).

　　

Scorecard

Overall	7.4 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	7.5
Interior	7.0
Utility	8.0
Technology	7.5

　　

Driving

7.5

　　The optional turbocharged engine gives the Nautilus impressive acceleration. While it isn't the quickest in its class, you'll appreciate the power going up an on-ramp. Optional performance-oriented tires likewise improve braking and handling results.

　　

Acceleration

7.5

　　Though the optional turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 has a potent midrange that's useful in the daily grind, its ultimate 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds isn't as quick as other performance-minded competitors. But it's still plenty fast for an SUV of its size.

　　

Braking

7.0

　　Stopping power is easy to modulate through the brake pedal in daily use. In zzdcar' 60-0 mph panic-stop test, the Nautilus posted a stop of 119 feet, which is OK but perhaps a little underwhelming considering the vehicle was shod with performance tires.

　　

Steering

7.0

　　The grip from the optional performance-oriented all-season tires imparts agility and accuracy back through the steering wheel. The steering builds effort naturally right off center. Road feedback is nonexistent, however.

　　

Handling

7.5

　　Our test car's optional performance tires allow the Nautilus to turn harder and faster than you'd expect. Stability control intervenes smoothly, making this SUV feel composed and confident on curvy roads. But drive it hard, and the body starts leaning over and the stability control system can't keep up with the demand.

　　

Drivability

8.0

　　This SUV feels powerful and smooth. Controlling the gas pedal is rewarding, and low-speed gear changes are nearly imperceptible. The adaptive cruise control smartly slows the Nautilus down and can be easily changed to non-adaptive mode, too.

　　

Off-road

6.5

　　Though the Nautilus is available with all-wheel drive, a low ground clearance limits its off-road ability. You can't lock the power split between the front and rear axles (otherwise useful in low-traction situations), and hill start and downhill assist features are not available.

　　

Comfort

7.5

　　The Nautilus delivers what you'd expect from a small luxury SUV, provided you option it. The front seats offer massage, heating, ventilation, and multiple adjustments. The ride is well-controlled despite the large-diameter wheels, and the cabin stays quiet in town and on the freeway.

　　

Seat comfort

8.5

　　The soft and supportive front seats limit long-distance fatigue, and their heating and cooling functions work quickly. They are also highly adjustable and should accommodate just about everybody. The massage function is nice to have, too.

　　

Ride comfort

7.0

　　The Nautilus' ride quality is balanced between firm and soft. You'll feel bumps but not much aftershock. In our testing, we occasionally heard the thunk of a large wheel bottoming out when driving quickly over speed bumps.

　　

Noise & vibration

7.5

　　The cabin mutes wind, tire and road noise to a minimum. The V6 is quiet around town but lets itself be heard when you're accelerating up to freeway speeds. The sound isn't enthusiastic, but it's appropriate for the power and acceleration.

　　

Climate control

7.5

　　The system is strong and quiet and has well-placed controls. You should stick with Auto mode, however, since the manual-adjust buttons are small and require more than a glance to differentiate between functions. Though seat heaters warm up quickly, we didn't find the seat ventilation to be as consistently effective.

　　

Interior

7.0

　　The Nautilus' plus-sizing makes it easy to get in and see out of, while the front seats feature a wide range of adjustability. The interior is roomy, but headroom may be limiting for the ultra-tall. The push-button transmission selector needs to go.

　　

Ease of use

6.5

　　Minor annoyances add up and hurt the luxury experience. Your elbows sit at slightly different distances and heights, and the button shifter layout can make three-point turns difficult. The parking sensors make too many false positives in our testing.

　　

Getting in/getting out

8.5

　　A tall roof, large door openings and narrow doorsills mean there are few obstructions while getting in or out. The seats are set at the proper height and don't require a dramatic step up to get in.

　　

Driving position

8.0

　　The optional Ultra Comfort seats offer nearly too much adjustability; you can spend a lot of time getting it just right. The steering wheel has an adequate range of adjustability, and most drivers should be able to find at least one position that works for them.

　　

Roominess

7.0

　　Headroom is segment competitive until you order the panoramic sunroof. It cuts rear headroom to the point where adults will brush their hair against the roof. Front and rear legroom is ample.

　　

Visibility

7.0

　　A tall seating position and large windows make it easy to see out of the Nautilus. The rearview camera alerts you of oncoming cars when backing out of a parking space, and the optional 360-degree camera aids parking. Unfortunately, their displays are small.

　　

Quality

6.0

　　The design is polarizing, but it is well-executed. Panel gaps are tight, and the seat materials are worthy of a luxury car. But there are still hard plastics in prominent locations, and our car was beset with minor creaks and groans on bumpy roads. At this price point, we expect more.

　　

Utility

8.0

　　Though not best in the segment, the Nautilus' cargo capacity is better than most. The interior contains numerous cubbies and storage options, including a well-size center console and shelves under the center console. The cubby that houses the USB port has a cover to secure items when parked.

　　

Small-item storage

7.5

　　The center console compartment is average in size and depth, and it can swallow a standard DSLR camera. There are two shelves for even more of your stuff. The door pockets are just big enough to hold items such as small water bottles, wallets or sunglasses.

　　

Cargo space

7.0

　　With 37.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, the Nautilus has better-than-average cargo space for the class. The cargo area features tie-down points at each corner, a flip-down grocery bag hook, a 12-volt outlet, and switches to release the seatbacks. Maximum cargo capacity is a decent 68.8 cubic feet.

　　

Child safety seat accommodation

8.0

　　Rear lower LATCH anchors and top anchors are well-labeled and easy to access. There's ample space for all but the largest and bulkiest rear-facing child seats.

　　

Towing

8.0

　　The Nautilus' optional Class II hitch includes trailer sway control and provides a 3,500-pound tow rating that matches most competitors. A Neutral Tow setting allows the Nautilus to be towed behind an RV with all four wheels on the ground but only when it's equipped with the 2.7-liter engine.

　　

Technology

7.5

　　The Sync 3 infotainment system is easy to use. The Nautilus doesn't have some of the web-based connectivity features of its rivals, but it still has excellent smartphone integration. Voice commands lack the depth that luxury competitors have, but the system is adequate for routine functions.

　　

Audio & navigation

7.5

　　The Sync 3 system was a game changer when it launched, but now it's showing its age. The screen is small, there are no fixed shortcut buttons, and it lacks the modern vibe of other systems. The optional Revel Ultima audio system reproduces sounds crisply and accurately without sounding overprocessed.

　　

Smartphone integration

9.0

　　The Nautilus is excellent when it comes to connecting and controlling your phone. Bluetooth, USB, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity are all included. One highlight of the Sync system is the ability to connect two phones and use either of them for smartphone mirroring and audio at the same time.

　　

Driver aids

7.0

　　Adaptive cruise control operation is smooth and can bring the Nautilus to a stop. City dwellers may find the default forward collision mitigation setting too sensitive, but this function is easy to adjust. The lane keeping system is aggressive and not ideal in dense stop-and-go highway traffic.

　　

Voice control

8.0

　　Though Sync's built-in voice control system doesn't require strict adherence to syntax, it's not an entirely free system for you to say what you want. Most drivers will be able to figure it out but may need some initial guidance. Voice commands through Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work well.

　　

Which Nautilus does zzdcar recommend?

　　We recommend the Reserve to make the most of the Lincoln's luxury appointments and the optional 2.7-liter V6 to get everything down the road with authority. All-wheel drive would be a tempting option in order to harness all that power, and the extra traction would be welcome in areas that see a lot of inclement weather. Optioned this way, the Nautilus would tip the scales at nearly $55K, but it has both the features and power that many competitors lack at a similar price.

　　

2019 Lincoln Nautilus models

　　The 2019 Lincoln Nautilus is available in four different trim levels: base, Select, Reserve and Black Label. Each comes standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (250 horsepower, 280 pound-feet) and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Moving up through the trim levels unlocks certain option packages, more standard equipment, and different wheel and tire options. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional.

　　The base Nautilus comes standard with an impressive array of driver safety aids, including adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, automatic high beams, and forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking. Inside the cabin are a digital gauge cluster display, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, driver-seat memory settings, heated front seats and simulated leather upholstery. Also standard is keyless ignition and entry, an 8-inch central touchscreen with the Sync 3 interface, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, 4G onboard Wi-Fi, and a 10-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

　　Moving up to the Select gets you LED headlights and foglights as well as the Lincoln Embrace II package, which includes, among other things, a special headlight start-up sequence and remote software update capability. There's also leather seating surfaces, a power-adjustable steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, a standard Enhanced Security package, and auto-dimming exterior rearview mirrors.

　　The Select also unlocks the optional 2.7-liter V6 engine (335 hp, 380 lb-ft) and available adaptive suspension if you select the all-wheel-drive option. Other options include a panoramic sunroof, a tow package, a Climate package (a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats) and an optional Revel 13-speaker audio system. Twenty-inch wheels are also available.

　　You get even more standard and optional equipment with the Reserve. Standard are 20-inch wheels, adaptive suspension, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof and the 13-speaker Revel audio system. Optional packages with this trim include a Driver Assistance package, with upgraded cruise control and adaptive steering with swerve assist; a Technology package, with a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors and an automated parking system; and the Ultimate package, with 21-inch wheels, upgraded LED headlights and a 19-speaker audio system. You can also get upgraded 22-way power front seats.

　　The top-of-the-line Black Label is similar to the Reserve, but it offers different paint and interior theme options. The Black Label also comes with what is effectively a personal concierge and vehicle maintenance service.

　　Jump to:Related 2019 Nautilus articles

　　

2019 Nautilus Highlights

Trim: BaseSelectReserveBlack LabelBase

　　

Base MSRP	$40,340
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	23 MPG
Cost to Drive	$203/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	37.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles