The Nautilus is Lincoln's five-passenger midsize crossover SUV, slotting into the lineup between the compact Corsair and three-row Aviator. With its first significant redesign since its introduction in 2019, the 2024 Nautilus gets a fresh exterior look, a new hybrid powertrain, and a completely redone interior highlighted by the new 48-inch display screen.
I tested the newest Lincoln SUV on the city streets, mountain roads, and freeways surrounding Palm Springs, California. While I thoroughly enjoyed the new cabin's luxury trappings and high-tech features, the hybrid powertrain didn't deliver the expected performance.
Read our full preview of the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus for more background and details.
Photo: Perry Stern
Lincoln offers the new Nautilus in three trim levels: Premier, Reserve, and Black Label. Already on sale, the 2024 Nautilus ranges in price from around $52,000 to almost $76,000. All variants come standard with all-wheel drive and the option of upgrading to the more powerful hybrid powertrain. Lincoln builds the Nautilus at the Changan Hangzhou Assembly Plant in China.
While I drove multiple versions of the new Nautilus during the Palm Springs, California event, I spent most of my time in a Nautilus Reserve with the hybrid powertrain. With the additional options of upgraded 21-inch wheels and the Reserve III package, the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) is $68,350, including the $1,595 destination charge.
Photo: Perry Stern
The Lincoln Nautilus gets a bold new look for the 2024 model year, featuring the brand's new signature grille adorned with an illuminated Lincoln Star logo. An LED light bar spans the grille, connecting the slim LED headlights and giving the Nautilus a wide stance. Similar light treatment at the rear provides a cleaner look than the outgoing model.
Climbing inside the new Nautilus, the 48-inch panoramic display immediately grabbed my attention. Part of the Lincoln Digital Experience that debuts with the 2024 Nautilus, this large display resides at the windshield's base and spans the cabin's width.
The left side of the screen operates as the driver's display with speed and driver-assist system status, as well as a dedicated section for navigation. Its placement just below the windshield makes it easy to see without taking your eyes off the road, almost as good as a head-up display. The right side of the screen features three large, easy-to-read tiles that are configurable to show features like the trip computer, weather, or media.
The Google-based infotainment system uses an 11.1-inch touchscreen at the dashboard's center. Lincoln almost completely eliminated physical controls from the Nautilus. However, I was pleased to see Lincoln included a giant volume control knob in the center console.
Lincoln trims the base-level Premier's seats in synthetic leather, while the upper trims get the genuine article. The standard seats are good, but you'll want to opt for the available 24-Way Perfect Position front seats for the ultimate comfort. With multiple adjustments, the front seats work for adults of any size. In addition to looking stylish and offering excellent support, these seats are heated and cooled and feature multiple massage programs.
Rear-seat passengers will enjoy the increased legroom and headroom versus the previous version. I found that even the middle seating position is comfortable and less of a penalty than it is in some SUVs.
The Nautilus is a luxury crossover SUV, but it still offers a good level of utility. Behind the rear seats, there's 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space—plenty for multiple suitcases or other gear. Folding the rear seats gives access to 71.3 cubic feet of space to handle those larger items.
Photo: Perry Stern
With its Google-based infotainment system, the Nautilus carries popular features like Google Assistant and Google Maps, making it easy to use. One of the best natural-voice interfaces available, Google Assistant, is fully integrated and activates by saying, "Hey, Google." As the driver or passenger, I could ask the system for directions, change the radio station, make a phone call, or adjust the temperature, and it worked perfectly every time.
Drivers can download additional apps, such as the Waze navigation system, music-streaming services, and games you can play while the Nautilus is stationary. While this is Google-based, iPhone users needn't worry—Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration come standard with a wireless connection.
One of the more unusual features of the new Nautilus is the Digital Scent system. Designed to add to the overall experience of driving the Lincoln, Digital Scent comes with three in-cabin fragrances: Mystic Forest, Ozonic Azure, and Violet Cashmere. You can buy four additional scents; they come in cartridges you install in the center console. Activated via the infotainment display, the scents come from the center console. I tried all three, and while they are pleasing at first, they quickly overpower the cabin. I prefer a lighter touch, similar to what Mercedes-Benz has in the S-Class.
In addition to these convenience features, Lincoln equips the new Nautilus with the latest advanced driver assistance systems as part of its Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 Vision 2.2. Not only does every 2024 Nautilus come standard with features like automatic emergency braking, automatic emergency steering, rear cross-traffic warning and braking, and active parking assistance, Lincoln BlueCruise is available for the first time on the Nautilus.
Available on Ford and Lincoln products, BlueCruise is the brand's advanced semi-autonomous driving system that allows hands-free driving on more than 130,000 miles of limited-access highways in the United States and Canada. I drove for about 20 miles on I-10 outside of Palm Springs, California, and during that drive, I didn't have to touch the steering wheel.
BlueCruise kept the Nautilus centered in its lane—even around curves—while maintaining speed and distance from the car ahead. This latest version of BlueCruise includes automatic lane change. When I came upon a slower vehicle, I put on the left turn signal, and the Lincoln changed lanes, recentered in the new lane, and resumed the original speed.
The system works seamlessly and confidently, but it is not fully autonomous. The driver must remain engaged and keep their eyes on the road. A driver-facing camera ensures this.
Photo: Perry Stern
The new hybrid powertrain in the 2024 Nautilus is a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine with an electric motor that puts out 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. While the non-hybrid gets an 8-speed automatic transmission, the hybrid pairs with a continuously variable automatic transmission.
Anyone who has driven the previous Nautilus with its twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter engine may be disappointed with the new hybrid's performance. It's the most powerful motor in the 2024 lineup. Still, the hybrid puts out almost 100 fewer pound-feet of torque than the outgoing engine. That said, the hybrid makes up for its power deficiency with much-improved fuel economy. According to the EPA, the hybrid Nautilus returns 30 mpg in combined driving.
The Nautilus is extremely quiet, and the suspension delivers a smooth ride, even when the road gets rough. The Lincoln feels stable and comfortable at 70 mph on the highway.
However, the Lincoln SUV is not very agile. The steering is soft, and the vehicle exhibits considerable body lean in the corners when the road gets windy. Overall, the Nautilus hybrid feels heavy when pushed on a twisty road.
With either powertrain, the Nautilus is not very quick from a stop. While the power is adequate for daily use, I expected more satisfying performance from an SUV in this price range.
I was concerned that the new full-width display screen would be distracting once I got on the road, but it not only worked quite well, I became used to it very quickly. With a clear presentation and clean design, the driver's information display is clear and easy to see, and the additional information shown on the right is large enough to take in with just a glance. I liked having the navigation screen presented in front of the driver.
Lincoln has done a fabulous job creating a luxurious, high-tech cabin in the 2024 Nautilus. Seats are supremely comfortable, especially with seat massagers in operation, and the Revel Ultima 3D Audio System delivers tunes with outstanding quality. The large display screen and clean design add to the premium vibe, and I liked the smooth, quiet ride.
Unfortunately, I'm not as thrilled with the hybrid powertrain. It delivers excellent fuel economy, but the power and performance leave room for improvement. That said, the Nautilus should be a strong competitor against models like the BMW X5, Cadillac XT5, Genesis GV70, and Lexus RX.
Perry Stern has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years and has always been a car enthusiast. Driving almost every new car on the market, Perry has written for multiple publications in addition to his work for jdpower.com. Recently relocated to southeast Michigan, Perry is still crazy about cars, especially his 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
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