Used 2023 Lincoln Nautilus

Lincoln doesn’t make big, boat-like sedans anymore, but it retains its reputation as a luxury automaker prioritizing comfort over sportiness. The 2023 Lincoln Nautilus is a midsize luxury SUV that lives up to this reputation with a premium interior, a whisper-quiet ride, and unintimidating technology. This is a practical choice in upscale SUVs because of its spacious interior and affordable pricing. The most direct rivals to the Nautilus are the Cadillac XT5 and Lexus RX.

The Lincoln Nautilus glides down the road in quiet comfort, with a ride that’s soft and plush. We count it among the segment’s most stress-reducing SUVs.

The lower cost of entry and better fuel economy makes the base turbocharged 4-cylinder engine the most sensible choice for most luxury SUV shoppers. In our testing, the base engine provides plenty of power for daily commuting and never feels out of breath on the highway.

That said, the enthusiast in us loves the optional twin-turbo V6 available in the Reserve trim and standard in Black Label models. It gives this Lincoln more authoritative acceleration, but the chassis is still tuned for comfort more than performance. The adaptive suspension system in the Black Label trim makes this SUV more agile, but even with the V6, this is an SUV that prioritizes comfort and value over rip-roaring performance.

The interior of the Lincoln Nautilus got a lovely update in 2021 that still looks and feels like a modern luxury SUV. The seats are roomy and comfortable, and the rear-seat passengers are treated to plenty of legroom and headroom. Plus, it has above-average cargo space for an SUV this size, adding to its practicality.

One of our favorite aspects of this interior is how easy everything is to use. The standard SYNC infotainment system with its 13.2-inch touchscreen is user-friendly and never feels overwhelming. The shift buttons take a little getting used to, but they contribute to a clean center stack design with no intrusive shifter.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t shed some spotlight on the particularly luxurious interior in the Black Label trim. It’s available in two distinct themes: the Chalet Theme with Alpine White quilted leather and the Flight Theme with Luggage Tan perforated leather. On top of the fancy Venetian leather seats, Black Label models have a Revel Ultima 19-speaker audio system, an Alcantara headliner, a wireless charging pad, and much more.

The Lincoln Nautilus has a nicely sculpted body, stylish LED lighting, and a grille design that looks decidedly premium. In terms of size, it’s slotted between the compact Corsair and 3-row Aviator in the Lincoln lineup.

SYNC 4
The standard SYNC 4 infotainment system is user-friendly and packed with features. It has a rich 13.2-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio.

Lincoln Co-Pilot360
The Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 safety tech suite includes a generous list of standard driver assistance tech features, including blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keep assist, and more. Additional optional features include adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous parking assist.

Ultra Comfort seats
The optional Ultra Comfort seats deliver what their name implies. They come with a wide range of adjustability with 11 independent air cushions, power thigh extenders, and the Active Motion Massage feature.

Luxurious Black Label trim
The loaded Black Label trim comes standard with the turbocharged V6 engine, an adaptive suspension system, and a gorgeous interior available in the Chalet Theme or Flight Theme so you can personalize your SUV to your liking.

Vista Roof
The available Vista Roof is a panoramic moonroof with a power sunshade. It opens up the roomy interior of the Nautilus for an airy experience for the passengers.

Revel audio systems
Multiple Revel premium audio systems are available, enriching the audible experience in the Nautilus. It’s hard to find fault in the available 13-speaker system, but the 19-speaker Revel Ultima audio system adds new depth to your audio with three unique listening modes: Stereo, Audience, and Onstage.

Popular Engine

The most popular engine in the Nautilus is a turbocharged 4-cylinder. This engine is a good fit for this SUV, delivering plenty of power and torque for most driving scenarios while returning pretty good fuel economy using regular gas.

This engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission that delivers smooth shifts. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional.

2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
280 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/26 (FWD), 20/25 mpg (AWD)

Gutsy V6

The available twin-turbo V6 makes the Nautilus a more muscular SUV with only a slight fuel economy penalty compared to the standard 4-cylinder. It significantly increases the power and torque rating for quicker acceleration and a more satisfying exhaust note.

Like the base engine, the V6 uses an 8-speed automatic transmission. Every V6-equipped Nautilus comes standard with all-wheel drive.

2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6
335 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
380 lb-ft @ 3,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/25 mpg

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

The 2023 Lincoln Nautilus is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty and a 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. This coverage is typical for its class.