Used 2021 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2021 Nautilus is a 2-row/5-passenger midsize-luxury SUV that slots between the larger Aviator and smaller Corsair in Lincoln’s lineup. As such, the Nautilus competes with other premium SUVs like the Lexus RX and Cadillac XT5. For 2021, this midsize Lincoln has been refined with a dramatically improved interior that features the latest form of Sync4 infotainment and a 13.2-inch horizontal touchscreen.

On the outside, the Nautilus looks much the same as before, which is to say handsome, but it now benefits from full-width chrome trim on the front fascia that helps give the vehicle a wider and more planted appearance.

As before, the Lincoln Nautilus represents a lot of metal for the money, and it also boasts the Co-Pilot360 safety system and a healthy dose of technology. A turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 250 horsepower is the base engine, but even when this midsize luxury SUV is equipped with the optional twin-turbo V6, it still isn’t quite as sporty as the pricier BMW X5 or Mercedes-Benz GLE.

This Lincoln continues to be more about comfort and refinement, and in those areas, the 2021 Nautilus shines. It’s also much more contemporary inside, what with its Sync4 connectivity and large 13.2-inch horizontal touchscreen.

To get a proper take on this significantly updated midsize Lincoln SUV, KBB took a Nautilus on an overnight trip to Death Valley National Park. In this roughly 600-mile driving tour, our 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, a Reserve model powered by the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, impressed us not just with its stout chassis and quiet refinement, but also its impressive trip fuel economy of 24.8 mpg.

Also notable: The turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, with 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, is a great engine. It was smooth and never at a loss for power, even feeling relaxed as the Nautilus climbed the Cajon Pass and crossed a snowy Panamint range into Death Valley.

Power ramps up quickly with this twin-turbocharged V6, and it reaches all four wheels via a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The shifts are almost imperceptibly smooth, but in Sport mode, they get much crisper. The Nautilus also downshifts more readily in Sport, giving it a decidedly livelier feel.

In Sport, the adaptive suspension of the Nautilus Reserve also gets firmer, but not uncomfortably so. Similarly, in Comfort mode, the softest of the three available settings, Lincoln’s midsize crossover SUV feels plush without being floaty.

Most often, we found ourselves crossing California’s High Desert in Comfort, enjoying the quietness of the leather-laden 5-seat interior while using wireless Apple CarPlay to play our road trip mix on the Nautilus’ outstanding Revel sound system.

Indeed, this Lincoln gobbles up the miles with ease, making 75 mph feel like about 60. Adaptive cruise control (with active lane-centering) was handy on long desert stretches, serving as a safeguard for those times when you’re perhaps paying too much attention to the snow-covered Joshua Trees and not enough to the road ahead.

We’re not as pleased with the Nautilus’ standard lane-keeping assist, whose automatic steering corrections are too abrupt. To save you a bit of time, the shut-off switch is a simple push-button on the end of the turn signal stalk.

On a more positive note, the leather-upholstered Ultra Comfort seats — heated and 22-way adjustable — proved comfortable for long hours in the saddle. While our front-seat passenger luxuriated in the seat heat and various massaging functions, our 6-foot-4 driver had two requests: He wished his seat would go down an extra half-inch (to get his head out of the well for the Nautilus’ massive panoramic sunroof), and that the power tilt/telescoping steering wheel would extend a half-inch closer to the driver’s seat.

Small quibbles, these, on a refined vehicle that profits not just from the large touchscreen and the latest Sync4 infotainment, but also an easy-to-use piano-style electronic push-button gear selector and lots of onboard storage. This includes a neat little cubby integrated into the open lower level of the center console, which served as a perfect spot for our Covid masks.

Still a 5-seater, the new Lincoln Nautilus is perhaps best appreciated with four adults aboard, perhaps for a pair of couples on the way to a concert or a show. Even though it’s a reasonably compact midsize SUV, it offers good leg and shoulder room in the back, with plenty of room in the rear for cargo. We think the Nautilus will shine when it’s being used as a sedan, something Lincoln sadly no longer makes.

At one point in Death Valley, when we saw that our hiking trailhead was about a mile down a relatively smooth dirt road, we didn’t hesitate in the Nautilus. While this Lincoln is by no means an off-road-focused SUV, it has the AWD and clearance to master most dirt roads (and snowy driveways) with ease.

With its high level of refinement, its upscale luxury, and its optional blacked-out Monochromatic package, the Infinite Black 2021 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve tested by KBB carries a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $66,890. While that may seem a bit steep, there’s not much in the way of comfort, technology, safety, and amenities that this luxurious Lincoln SUV does not have.

The all-new 5-seat interior of the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus has a horizontal theme highlighted by a massive 13.2-inch touchscreen at the top of the center stack. It’s the largest screen available in a Lincoln, and it serves as an interface for Sync 4, the latest infotainment system from Ford that is now better at understanding vocal commands and profits from regular over-the-air (OTA) updates.

Lincoln continually stresses that the Nautilus boasts Quiet Flight DNA, the company’s way of stating that it’s super calm and tranquil inside this luxurious midsize SUV, which has a piano key shifter and top-quality interior materials. What’s more, there are two new interior colors for 2021: Sandstone, a neutral hue, and Black Ebony, which has Roast accents.

If you order a Nautilus Black Label, it’s available in two themes: Chalet, which evokes mountain slopes and a comfortable lodge, or Flight, whose rich leathers and other materials are designed to create the sensation of taking to the skies.

Even if you struggle to see that, both themes look refined and attractive. Also, there’s no denying that the Lincoln Nautilus has a super roomy back seat and large cargo compartment. The new 2021 models also are available with Phone As A Key. Via their smartphone (and the Lincoln Way app), Nautilus owners unlock, start and drive their Nautilus with no key needed.  Also new: The Sync4 infotainment system has a blue and orange Constellation theme inspired by the night sky.

Because no third row has been squeezed in, the Nautilus has a generous 37.2 cubic feet of cargo room behind its rear seat, or 68.8 cubic feet when the back seat is folded. Four USB ports and three power points are standard in the Nautilus.

Very little has changed with the look of the Lincoln Nautilus for 2021. It looks much like it did last year, with one exception: The front fascia now has a full-width strip of chrome that adds a touch of elegance.

CO-PILOT360
Similar to the Co-Pilot360 system used in Ford vehicles, this suite bundles safety and driver-assist features such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring. It is standard on all Lincoln Nautilus models.

MASSIVE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN
The new 13.2-inch infotainment screen, the largest in Lincoln’s lineup, makes for easy interaction with the latest Sync4 connectivity system. Many people find its horizontal orientation much easier to use than the vertical screens we’re seeing in other vehicles.

In addition to the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and 8-speed automatic transmission with torque vectoring control, the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus is well equipped. In addition to a power liftgate, a capless fuel filler, and chrome exhaust tips, the Nautilus has bodycolor door handles, tinted privacy glass, a 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster, dual-zone climate control, and a 2-tone steering wheel.

Also standard is the 13.2-inch Sync4 touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a pushbutton starter, and the Co-Pilot360 safety suite. Alo notable: All versions of the 2021 Nautilus have a digital owner’s manual, so no glovebox space will be taken up by a book.

For about $7,500 more, the Nautilus Reserve is a better value. It adds a hands-free tailgate, leather upholstery, and wood trim, plus a panoramic roof, windshield-wiper de-icer, navigation, wireless phone charging pad, heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, and a great-sounding 13-speaker Revel audio system.

At $65,090, the Lincoln Nautilus Black Label comes very well equipped with the twin-turbo V6 that is optional on the Reserve model, plus a 19-speaker Revel sound system, 21-inch wheels, an evasive-steering assist system, adaptive suspension, 360-degree camera, and an Alcantara headliner. It also includes the upgraded Co-Pilot360 Plus safety system that adds adaptive cruise control with lane-centering, a surround-view camera, and an active parking assistant.

Lincoln Black Label vehicles also come with complimentary Pickup & Delivery, which has proven to be popular during the current COVID pandemic. The service is used for vehicle maintenance, free car washes, concierge service, and even to access restaurants.

The Lincoln Nautilus offers a choice of two powerful engines. Standard is a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder good for 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Optional is a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 good for 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. These figures are generated using premium unleaded gasoline. Both engines share the same 8-speed automatic. Both versions of the Nautilus are rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The base Nautilus is a front-wheel-drive (FWD) model with the 2.0-liter. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional with the 4-cylinder engine. The V6 comes standard with AWD. Both engines employ a start/stop system that cuts power at idle to save fuel. The system can be disabled.

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

2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6
335 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
380 lb-ft of torque @ 3,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/26 mpg (AWD)