2026 Lincoln Nautilus

The Lincoln Nautilus straddles segments in terms of both size and luxuriousness. It’s larger and roomier than the Lexus RX but not quite as large as premium 3-row SUVs like the Acura MDX and Genesis GV80. On the top Black Label trim, the Nautilus aims for the top of the luxury space. This tweener is a looker. The stately Nautilus embraces aeronautical themes to rich effect, from its available 22-inch turbine wheels to an illuminated star logo in the grille. It’s a boat! It’s a plane! It’s Lincoln’s best-selling vehicle.

The commanding presence of the Nautilus most notably carries over inside, with a daring panoramic dashboard that might be the remedy to screen fatigue. Shoppers can pick between two turbocharged 4-cylinder engines, including the recommended hybrid option. It can’t match the performance of rivals such as the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and Audi Q8, even though the Nautilus Black Label is priced in that realm. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard, but the premium for power gives way to sumptuous luxury options such as massaging seats that better characterize the intent of the Nautilus.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of luxury midsize SUVs, including the Lincoln Nautilus.

The Nautilus comes with standard AWD, which narrows the price gap with rivals such as the Lexus RX. The base Premiere costs about $56,000 and rolls on 19-inch wheels that appear small by Nautilus standards. It’s relatively well-equipped despite a whopping $2,295 destination fee. In addition to the 48-inch panoramic display and 11-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Nautilus comes with wireless device charging, power-adjustable front seats that are heated, a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, active noise cancellation, and the brand’s BlueCruise semi-autonomous drive system. Also standard is a surround-view camera, which is usually extra on competitors’ models.

The hybrid powertrain costs $3,000 more across all three Nautilus trims. The Reserve trim adds an adaptive suspension and leather upholstery to raise the comfort quota even more, while the Black Label indulges occupants in the full Lincoln luxury experience.

Before buying a Lincoln Nautilus, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Historically, the Nautilus has poor resale value relative to its competitive set. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

With either the hybrid or the turbo-4 powertrain, a cushy ride quality reflects how the Nautilus is built for comfort, not speed. The turbocharged 4-cylinder engine has become the powertrain of choice for the luxury midsize SUV segment, and the 250-horsepower mill in the Lincoln Nautilus has plenty of power to move with confidence. The 8-speed automatic shifts as expected, but Lincoln buries drive modes in the touchscreen. It would be better as a hard button or toggle, perhaps near the piano-key gear shifter at the base of the console.

The 310-hp hybrid powertrain can be a little twitchy at low speeds, but the overriding characteristics are smoothness and quiet. Unlike rivals, there are no regen brake settings beyond those built into the buried drive modes. The brake pedal can be a little soft before an assertive bite; it might be the only jarring thing. The electric power-assist steering can feel loose off a turn from a stop, but otherwise it blends in well with the overall comfy character.

The $3,000 hybrid premium is more about this added comfort than significant fuel savings. The EPA estimates the Nautilus hybrid nets 30 mpg combined versus 24 mpg for the non-hybrid, which amounts to about $500 in fuel savings per year. As ever, your mileage may vary. Same with your savings.

All but the base Premiere have an adaptive suspension that offsets the sensitivity of the available 22-inch wheels and also counteracts any road imperfections.

Engine & Transmission / Efficiency, Battery, & Charging

If you’re coming from outside the Ford family, then sitting in the Nautilus for the first time may be a different experience. The 48-inch panoramic display screen curving from door to door at the base of the windshield results in a low set dash and optimal visibility out the front windshield. An odd oval steering wheel enables unobstructed views of the five-panel screen.

All this means the nearer part of the dash can still shine with luxurious finishes, such as knurled toggles, aluminum speaker grilles, and chrome accents contrasting plush leather upholstery. It’s all the more easy to overlook the piano-key gear selector and blank steering wheel controls. When you brush a thumb over those controls, the icons appear in the display screen.

Max seat comfort continues to be a Lincoln hallmark. The standard setup includes power front seats covered in synthetic leather. The seats are heated, as is the leather-wrapped steering wheel. Step up to the Black Label trim for 24-way power front seats with massagers that, once you get comfortable and set it to memory, entice you to indulge in the full Lincoln experience. Lincoln has select themes, such as the new Aurora, which takes inspiration from the Northern Lights. It blends deep blue colors on the headliner and carpets with perforated blue leather upholstery contrasted with copper piping and a smattering of wood trim.

Comfort extends to the rear seats as well, which have some of the best legroom (43 inches) and headroom in the luxury midsize segment. Four large adults fit with ease. Those rear outboard seats can be heated, and they slide and recline to help optimize cargo or passenger space as necessary. At 36.4 cubic feet, or about 10 duffel bags, the cargo hold also exceeds the competition. Shave a cubic foot of space for hybrid components, including the 12-volt battery, which is under the spare tire well in the cargo floor.

Panoramic Display: Curving around the base of the windshield is Lincoln’s 48-inch Panoramic Display. Replacing a traditional instrument cluster, it houses five tiles, including navigation, speedometer, media, clock, and other info. The tiles can be swapped out via the 11.1-inch touchscreen to show tire pressure, fuel economy, trip meters, or your most frequently used items. The idea is to take your eyes and distractions away from the touchscreen and place them in a prominent position near where your eyes would normally be looking out onto the road. It takes some getting used to, but once acclimated, you may wonder why other automakers don’t do the same.

Revel sound system:  With active noise cancellation and acoustic laminated glass on the front windshield and doors, the Nautilus aims to keep sound out. With two available Revel sound systems, you can ramp up whatever sounds you like. A 14-speaker sound kit comes on Reserve trims, while the Black Label gets a rocking 24-speaker setup. In addition, the aluminum speaker grilles look cool.

Perfect Position front seats: The 24-way power-adjustable seats may overwhelm at first, but once you dig into the thigh extenders for both the right and left legs, it’s worth the time to get to know your seats. Get it right, lock it in memory, activate the various massage settings, and it might be a comfier seat than what’s in your home.