2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was a standout in the luxury SUV segment, distinguished by its chrome accents and unique styling elements that set it apart from its Ford Expedition roots. The Navigator featured a lattice-type grille with an illuminated Lincoln star, fender vents, and full-width taillights, all contributing to its distinct appearance. The Reserve Monochromatic Package added a custom touch with body-color enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels. Inside, the Navigator offered a luxurious experience with Dark Slate leather, 30-way Perfect Position front seats, and a panoramic glass roof, creating an upscale and comfortable environment.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, originally the second-generation MKX, embraced a more modern design with a facelift in 2019. The exterior remained largely unchanged for 2021, but the interior received significant updates. The cabin featured a new dash design with clean lines, soft materials, and a large 13.2-inch touchscreen. The Nautilus also incorporated Lincoln's "Piano Key" shifter-button layout, which was intuitive and easy to use. The infotainment system was user-friendly, and the overall design emphasized comfort and convenience, making it a compelling choice for luxury SUV buyers.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a robust twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine outperformed the Ford Expedition's most powerful version by 50 horsepower and 30 lb-ft of torque. The Navigator's 10-speed automatic transmission efficiently transferred power to the rear wheels, with an optional four-wheel drive available. The SUV offered multiple drive modes, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, and Slippery, catering to various driving conditions. With a maximum towing capacity of 8,700 pounds for rear-wheel drive and 8,300 pounds for four-wheel drive, the Navigator was a capable towing vehicle. However, its fuel economy averaged 16.4 mpg, slightly below the EPA's combined estimate of 18 mpg.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine, generating 355 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The twin-turbo V6 provided smooth and controlled acceleration, complemented by an adaptive suspension that minimized road imperfections. The Nautilus also featured an engine stop-start system to conserve fuel, although it introduced a slight delay in response. Overall, the Nautilus delivered a pleasant driving experience in various scenarios.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with ample room for passengers in all three rows. The test vehicle featured 30-way Perfect Position front seats, allowing for extensive customization to achieve optimal comfort. The second row could be configured with either a bench or captain's chairs, and the third row provided generous legroom and thigh support. Cargo space was class-leading, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 103.3 cubic feet. The longer Navigator L variant offered even more cargo capacity.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus prioritized two-row comfort, providing 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in use and up to 68.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The rear seats offered ample head- and legroom, while the front seats, especially the available 22-way multi-contour units, provided exceptional comfort. The Nautilus featured a spacious center console bin and deep in-door pockets for storage. The floating center controls design allowed for additional storage space, enhancing the vehicle's practicality.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was a notable drawback, as it took time to load content. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system also included "Phone As A Key" technology, allowing smartphone-based vehicle access. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system delivered an impressive audio experience, and additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a user-friendly menu layout. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons for easy navigation. The test model included a wireless charging pad and a Revel 19-speaker premium audio system, providing excellent sound quality. The Nautilus's infotainment system was intuitive and straightforward, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came equipped with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The adaptive cruise control operated smoothly, and the lane-keeping assistance system was effective. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, although the rollover resistance rating for rear-wheel drive was three stars.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus also featured the CoPilot360 package, offering automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Additional driver assistance features included adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera's low quality was a drawback, making it challenging to see in low-light conditions.