2023 Lincoln Nautilus vs. the Competition

The luxury and commanding presence of a Lincoln makes them a popular choice for SUV buyers. The Nautilus in particular brings that appeal to the midsize luxury SUV segment. But there are a lot of other midsize luxury SUVs out there, and a more detailed look is required to see how it stacks up to the competition. That’s why we’ve put this concise guide together - take a look!

Lincoln Nautilus VS INFINITI QX55

At first glance, the INFINITI QX55 and the Nautilus look pretty similar apart from the price advantage the Nautilus enjoys. Both have 2.0-liter turbocharged engines, which produce nearly identical power numbers, but then the differences start to show up as we look at what type of transmissions are used. The QX55 uses a CVT transmission (continuously variable transmission), a transmission type notorious for its bland driving dynamics. The Nautilus, as with most of the other vehicles in this segment, uses a conventional transmission, and in this case a sophisticated 8-speed variant. Also impacting your driving dynamics are the tires. The QX55 uses run flat tires, which are great for saving space in sports cars, but are also significantly stiffer, making for an unpleasantly harsh ride. The QX55’s sleek roofline robs it of a bit of interior space. You can see this in the legroom, but it’s especially obvious when looking at max cargo capacity, where the Nautilus enjoys a huge usability advantage. The tech found inside offers another startling difference, with the QX55 coming with a much smaller touchscreen, fewer stereo speakers, and an old-fashioned analog gauge cluster. Lastly, you get 6 years of included roadside assistance with the Nautilus, a full two years more than you get with the QX55.

Lincoln Nautilus VS Lexus GX

Next we’ll look at the other end of the Nautilus range - the most well-equipped version. Here we compare the exclusive Nautilus Black Label with the top Luxury trim of the Lexus GX 460. The reason why the Lexus GX has such a high starting price has a lot to do with the V8 under the hood, which is the only engine available. This initially might sound like a good thing, but this engine is practically an antique in automotive terms. The twin-turbo V6 found in the Nautilus Black Label produces more horsepower, more torque, and is considerably more fuel efficient than the outdated Lexus V8. Helping with this is the more sophisticated 8-speed transmission in the Nautilus, which gives a real advantage over the also-outdated 6-speed transmission in the Lexus GX. The Nautilus Black Label’s standard 21-inch wheels give it a more commanding presence than the Lexus riding on its 19-inch wheels. These two vehicles are about the same length, but the GX is narrower than the Nautilus, and you can see what that does to interior space, especially shoulder room and cargo space. Also bigger on the Nautilus is the 13.2-inch SYNC® 4 screen, which is easier to see and use than the 10.3-inch unit in the GX. And while you might expect a top-trim Lexus luxury vehicle to extend heated seats to all passengers including those in the rear seats, only the Nautilus does this as standard. Lastly, Lexus will cover your first year of routine maintenance for the GX, falling well short of the 4 years of maintenance that comes with the Nautilus Black Label.

Lincoln Nautilus VS Volvo XC60

Last in our comparisons is the Volvo XC60, which starts at an almost identical price to the Nautilus. That might make you believe these are very similar vehicles, but a closer look reveals the Volvo to be lacking in some key areas. For starters, there is less power, especially when it comes to torque. The Volvo is smaller, and while you’ll feel this in the passenger area, the dramatic difference is in the cargo area, where there is only half the cargo volume as you get in the Lincoln. You’ll find a technologically advanced interior in the Nautilus, with a big 13.2-inch touchscreen that dwarfs the 9-inch unit that Volvo has been using for years. And even when you aren’t listening to music, the standard active noise canceling in the Nautilus lets you enjoy one of the most difficult-to-find luxury features, a quiet cabin. Other tech you’ll find in the Nautilus but not the XC60 include a “brake hold” feature to make stop-and-go traffic easier to deal with, and an optional block heater for those cold winter days. Lastly, as we’ve seen before, the Nautilus comes with 6 years of roadside assistance to the XC60’s 4.

Winner - Lincoln Nautilus

Against the variety of other midsize luxury SUVs on the market, the Lincoln Nautilus shines through. Whether it’s creature comforts, tech, or power, the competition just doesn’t measure up to the Nautilus. Come see what an unrivaled luxury experience feels like at Joe Rizza Lincoln.