Lincoln Nautilus medium luxury SUV, exterior interior real shot, elegant and noble overview engine, transmission and performance fuel economy and real-world MPG interior, comfort and cargo infotainment and connectivity safety and driver assistance features warranty and maintenance coverage

With continental and Lincoln palanquins Lincoln focusing only on off-road vehicles, the 2021 Nautilus reminds us of the brand's big soft-topped four-door car from decades ago. The Nautilus' suspension is tuned for comfort, and its off-road behavior is better suited to relaxing Sunday driving than to more passionate opponents like the Audi sq8, the Porsche cayenne, and the Maserati Levante. Turbocharged four-cylinder engines are standard, but buyers can choose to upgrade to the more dynamic twin-turbo V-6 and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Nautilus has a spacious and upscale cabin that keeps pace with its smooth sailing top spec black label models offering the most palatial accommodation. Unfortunately, the price of the black label puts it in competition with several off-road vehicles that use a more ideal brand name.

Lincoln has completely redesigned the Interior of the Nautilus for 2021, aligning the mid-size SUVs with the company's other lineup. The new dashboard design incorporates a larger 13.2-inch infotainment display that runs the latest version of Ford's Sync 4 operating system. Lincoln's now-common piano key shifter replaces last year's button setting. Fancy black label models can now be ordered in two new interior themes – cabin and fly – while standard and reserve trims can be selected from sandstone or black ebony. The only recognizable cosmetic change is the adjusted front bumper.

Mid-range reserve trim is in our opinion the best balance of value and luxury. Buyers can enjoy panoramic sunroofs, rain-sensing windshield wipers, 13-speaker revel audio system, in-instrument panel navigation, power-adjustable steering columns, and heated and cooled front seats for only an extra cash compared to standard décor. We'll swap out the standard 18-inch wheels for 20-inch rollers — 18s look too small on the Nautilus's curved frame — otherwise we'll keep the options to a minimum.

The entry-level engine of the Nautilus series is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that produces 250 horsepower. It is connected to an eight-speed automatic transmission and can be used for front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Our all-wheel drive backup test car ran a 6.8-second zero to 60 mph record V-6 powered Lexus Rx3500.1 seconds, but was 0.2 seconds behind the Cadillac XT5. We also tested the optional 335-horsepower 2.7-liter turbocharged V-6, which delivers brisk 5.9 seconds in zero to 60 mph. In city driving, neither engine feels underpowered, but the additional power of the V-6 is convenient when merging and overtaking on highways. In keeping with the spirit of luxury of the Lincoln brand, the Nautilus is a soft-shoe crossover that's happiest when it floats lazily. Its usable adaptive suspension helps eliminate the impact of potholes. Reserve and black label models and all-wheel drive selects are equipped with three driving modes (Comfort, Normal and Sport) for extra personalization.

When it comes to the EPA's fuel efficiency estimates, the off-road vehicles in this segment are tightly grouped, but it's no surprise that the front-wheel-drive four-cylinder Nautilus leads among Lincoln entrants. However, it was surprising that the turbocharged V-6 model was so close to the data for the four-cylinder model. The all-wheel drive four-cylinder nautilus is rated at 22 mpg in combination driving, while the all-wheel drive V-6 version is rated at 22 mpg. Our all-wheel drive V-6 black label test vehicle delivered only 25 mpg estimated 24 of our 75 mpg fuel economy test route on the highway. In context, the all-wheel-drive RX350 offers an incredible 31 mpg, while its EPA rating is 26 mpg.

The Nautilus's cabins are made of premium materials; as you climb through the collection, more luxurious leather, metal, and wood layers become available. Our stock and black label test car is almost everything wrapped in soft leather, and the headline of the black label model is faux suede. Although the Nautilus is sharply bounded by the Ford, buyers may not have guessed this. While the vehicle is just as spacious, Lincoln's cockpit offers more style and content in the form of optional massage seats, with 22-way adjustability, standard digital instrument clusters, and button gear selectors. In our tests, behind the nautilus's rear seat was a huge cargo hold area that housed 12 carry-on suitcases – two more than the xt5 and three more than the rx350. Laying the rear seats flat – a process made very simple thanks to the convenient lever in the cargo area that flips the seat backrests downwards – can hold up to 27 suitcases, matched to the larger suitcases, the three rows of Volvo xc90s.

With the exception of the 12.3-inch digital meter display, all Nautilus models are equipped with a large 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen. Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment software is easy to use and offers more modern features, including over-the-air updates. Apple's carplay and Android autocompatibility, 11-speaker audio system, 4G LTE-powered car Wi-Fi hotspot are standard; navigation and wireless smartphone charging pads are standard on reserve and black label models. Particularly appealing to buyers with children, Lincoln offers an optional rear-seat entertainment system on all trim levels.

overall safety rating (nhtsa)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Nautilus five stars the highest safety rating but missed the Highway Safety Insurance Association's "Best Safe Choice" designation with a score of "Poor" headlamp in that agency's test for the following reasons. All nautilus models come with Lincoln's co-pilot360 kit driver assistance features as standard. Key security features include:

Standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection

Standard lane keeping assistance with lane departure warning

Adaptive cruise control with lane-centered adaptive steering is provided

While Lincoln's powertrain warranties are longer than those of competitors, including the XC90 and Audi Q8, its "one by one" policy doesn't break the boundaries of this segment. Paying for expensive black label decorations adds to the dealer's perks such as four years of free regular maintenance, having annual detailed service for the next four years, and a culinary concierge service for restaurant reservations.

The limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles

The powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles

Free regular maintenance is valid for up to 4 years or 50,000 miles