2024 Lincoln Nautilus Five Thoughts: Risk-Taking With Purpose

The Lincoln Nautilus was redesigned for 2024 with more tech, smart styling, and more space.

It continues Lincoln’s strategy to build more desirable vehicles, not just rebadged Fords. After testing two Nautiluses over the span of a month, I’m mildly surprised at the number of risks Lincoln was willing to take with the typically staid midsize Nautilus. This is not your grandad’s Lincoln or even the well-received Continental of the last decade. For more of my thoughts, read on.

1) Lincoln Has Made Strides as a Brand

Lincoln used to be an ‘old man’ car,’ and for some, it probably still is. I once asked a passenger if she would consider an MKC, a compact crossover (since replaced by the Corsair) designed to attract new and younger buyers. She replied: A Lincoln? Her voice catching in a way that indicated this was a bridge too far. That was nearly a decade ago. Now, fortified with sleek design, elegant interiors and useful technology, the brand is in a much better place. Sure, Lincoln is more for the salt-and-pepper crowd, but realistically, so are most luxury brands. I think that’s a compliment.

2) A Huge Screen, a Squared Steering Wheel, and Awesome Massages

Let’s unpack the interior, where Lincoln got aggressive with its approach.

The tech-forward cabin is gorgeous. It also is representative of how people want to engage with their cars these days. The dashboard is a colorful backdrop that shows things like the weather and the navigation with a bit of flare. On a rainy night, there were storm clouds on the right side of the dash. Clever.

This approach reflects how many people operate crossovers. Do you need to know exactly how many RPMs are spinning up at a given moment? Not really. The motor becomes more of an operating system, but people do like all sorts of information at hand.

The 48-inch coast-to-coast screen is the calling card, but the flat-top steering wheel is equally notable. It offers greater visibility of the dash, but changes the steering feel, requiring more input and offering less immediate feedback. I enjoyed it, but like the large dash screen, it could be off-putting for some. Still, Lincoln needs to take risks. Mercedes, Cadillac, BMW and others all have super screens in their cars and other significant strengths. Lincoln needs to be aggressive to compete.

As an aside: The Nautilus delivers one of the best massages I’ve had in a vehicle. I dialed up the “recovery” setting that focuses on your back. It’s a great way to de-stress when errands turn gnarly. Take the long way home and let the Lincoln massagers put you in the right frame of mind for the rest of the day.

3) Efficient, Comfortable Driving Manners

Lincoln has a rep for making cushy vehicles, and this Nautilus is no different. It softens potholes and maintains bearing in nearly all situations, providing a quiet, smooth ride. Lincoln deserves credit for building something in the middle of its lineup that still has the feel of its larger, more expensive models.

My primary test vehicle was a 2024 Nautilus all-wheel drive model in Black Label trim with the Jet Appearance Package that cost $80,145, including destination. This one had the hybrid powertrain with a 2.0-liter turbo teamed with a CVT and 100-kilowatt electric motor. The system is good for 30 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway, a significant step up from the base 2.0-liter non-hybrid models.

Also of note: The Nautilus is assembled in China, so if President-elect Trump follows through with his promise to raise tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles, the SUV would likely be affected.

5) What’s in a Name?

Nautilus is a solid name. Lincoln made the right move to discard the meaningless letter combos it used for a few years – like the MKX for example – in favor of real car names. While Nautilus doesn’t have quite the ring of Navigator or Aviator, it’s still far better than three letters lumped together with no recognition of Lincoln’s long history.

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