Used 2022 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus is one of the most affordable new premium midsize SUV/crossovers. It has a luxurious ride quality and plenty of features at a price below the class king, the Lexus RX.

That’s really where the appeal of the Lincoln Nautilus lies. Safety features and space are also among its prime attributes, both of which are found at the lowest trim level.

It would be even better if there was a hybrid version. And if it was built on a platform that doesn’t date back to 2015, even though the Nautilus launched for the 2019 model year.

There’s an aspirational air to the Nautilus. It could be someone’s first luxury vehicle after years of buying Fords. Compared with something like Genesis, Lincoln at least has a bit of heritage.

There’s nothing particularly sporty about the 2022 Nautilus SUV. To Lincoln’s credit, it hasn’t applied the Sport name to any trim level. There’s the basic Nautilus, Reserve, and Black Label — each plusher than the last.

It wouldn’t have been unreasonable to expect a little poise, since the parent company makes the closely related Ford Edge. But the Nautilus is committed to cosseting, which is an extremely Lincoln thing to do.

The turbocharged 4-cylinder engine is adequate, but the optional V6 adds more authority. Part of the general luxury experience is to have a powerful engine, after all.

Although the Nautilus offers all-wheel drive and already comes with a decent amount of ground clearance, it’s not a rough-and-ready SUV. But it can handle dirt roads and slippery surfaces.

The “piano key” gear shifter comes in for some criticism. Don’t worry — it doesn’t require the chops of Elton John to get into Park. A line of PRND buttons takes the place of a traditional shift lever and the action is to press down on the desired setting, rather than press it in. Like a piano key, kind of.

The first couple of 3-point turns will require some concentration, but it eventually becomes familiar. And this arrangement helps keep the center console tidy.

By keeping the Nautilus as a 5-seater and not attempting to squeeze in a third seating row, Lincoln has created a spacious midsize SUV. However, the panoramic sunroof encroaches upon headroom, so taller types will want to check out this aspect on a test drive.

The standard seats are comfortable, while Lincoln offers 22-way power-adjustable front seats with a massaging function. Rear legroom measures 39.6 inches; that’s an inch and a half more than the Lexus RX. Behind those 60/40 folding rear seats is 37.2 cubic feet of luggage space, which expands to 68.8 cubic feet when they are folded. Again, more than the Lexus RX.

A high-tech flavor comes in with a standard-issue 12.3-inch driver’s digital instrument cluster and the 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen standing proud on an otherwise minimal dashboard.

The range-topping Black Label offers a choice of interior themes. Chalet has predominantly light colors. Flight is warmer, with tan or dark brown leather upholstery.

Buyers who can just about afford a Lexus RX but can’t imagine themselves driving around with that huge grille on the nose might find something more attractive in the 2022 Nautilus SUV. It certainly has an upscale air, with a bit of imposing presence thrown in.

Arguably not the most cohesive of exterior designs but pleasant enough, the size of the Nautilus is dictated by its roomy interior. It also has some cool alloy wheel designs.

Changes in the paint department this year see the departure of five colors — including Artisan Blue, Red Carpet, and Chroma Elite Copper — and the arrival of Bronze Smoke Metallic and Gilded Green Metallic. The Black Label trim also gains Chroma Caviar (a dark grey metallic finish).

INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
Based around a relatively large 13.2-inch touchscreen (set horizontally), this system is easy to use, recognizes voice commands spoken in a normal voice, and receives over-the-air updates. We also recommend one of the excellent Revel audio systems as a complement.

RESERVE TRIM
The high price of the top Black Label model opens up the choices to more desirable German rivals like the excellent Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class. With the Reserve trim, buyers can still option out their ride with the V6 engine, adaptive suspension and several other extras, while keeping expenditure under control.

The base 2022 Nautilus SUV comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, heated side mirrors (self-dimming on the driver’s side), powered tailgate, keyless entry/ignition, heated/power-adjustable front seats with driver’s-side memory settings, simulated leather upholstery, 12.3-inch digital driver information display, leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a frameless self-dimming rearview mirror.

A generously sized 13.2-inch touchscreen is the hub of an infotainment system that includes Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, four USB ports (two A-types, two C-types), satellite radio, and a 10-speaker audio setup.

Among the standard safety features are forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, automatic high beams, lane-keeping assistance, and rear parking sensors.

A new Premium package for the base 2022 Nautilus SUV brings a power-adjustable steering column, voice-activated navigation, and a garage door opener. These are all standard in the mid-range Reserve trim, which also gains a panoramic roof (with a shade), heated/ventilated front seats, and wireless charging.

For 2022, Reserve trim is eligible for a Luxury package with hands-free tailgate operation, the Phone As A Key feature, and a 13-speaker Revel audio system. It also qualifies for the V6 engine with all-wheel drive. These features become standard in the top Black Label model.

Black Label comes with 21-inch alloy wheels, leather seating surfaces, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system.

Other extras for the 2022 Nautilus range include rain-sensing wipers, heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, 110-volt domestic outlet, larger alloy wheels, adaptive/bending LED headlights, LED fog lights, more driver assistance features (see our Safety Technology section below), and a rear-seat entertainment system.

At its entry level, the 2022 Nautilus SUV runs with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine generating 250 horsepower. An 8-speed automatic transmission sends this to the front wheels in standard form (FWD), or to an optional all-wheel drive (AWD) system.

Alternatively, buyers can choose one of the two higher trims and a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with all-wheel drive as standard, deploying the same 8-speed automatic transmission. It makes 355 horsepower.

Both engines use regular gasoline and both save a few drops of it with a stop/restart function while idling. If the restart action is annoying, this feature may be turned off. Maximum towing is 3,500 pounds, regardless of engine.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4
250 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
280 lb-ft @ 3,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/26 (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: 19/25 mpg