2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Chrysler Pacifica

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica underwent a mid-generation refresh that included a revised exterior. New standard LED headlights flanked the Pacifica’s new hexagonal grille, giving the front end a more muscular aesthetic compared to the elegance of previous years. The rear featured a new all-LED taillamp running the width of the model, with the Chrysler wing badge at its center. Six new wheel designs and the S Appearance Package, which added darkened features and black accents, were also available.

Inside, the Pacifica differentiated itself from competitors like the Toyota Sienna and Kia Sedona. While the Sienna emphasized spaciousness and the Sedona opted for a utility-vehicle-like design, the Pacifica balanced practicality with premium touches, especially in the Pinnacle trim. The Pinnacle featured a flat dashboard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, Piano Black plastic trim with wood accents, and real metal surrounds. Quilted leather seats, suede center row pillows, and Beber floor mats added to the upscale feel. The Pacifica also boasted well-weighted doors and advanced sound deadening technology for a quieter ride.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, originally the second-generation Lincoln MKX, carried over its exterior from the 2019 facelift but featured an updated cabin. The new dash design included clean lines, soft materials, and a large, crisp touchscreen. The “Piano Key” shifter-button layout was unconventional but easy to use. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was user-friendly and similar to Ford’s SYNC 3, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen's glossiness, however, could cause reflections.

Trims for the Nautilus included Standard, Reserve, and Black Label. The Standard trim came with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, a power rear liftgate, and more. The Reserve trim added features like a hands-free power liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The Black Label trim included a twin-turbo V6, AWD, 21-inch wheels, and a 19-speaker premium stereo. Our Black Label test vehicle featured 22-way Multi-Contour front seats, a cargo utility package, and an Alcantara headliner, contributing to the SUV's upscale feel.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica offered two powertrain options: a traditional 3.6-liter V6 engine with 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and a V6 hybrid engine paired with a dual-motor electrically variable transmission and a 16-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 260 horsepower from the engine and 198 horsepower from its motors. The base Touring and Touring L trims came standard with the V6 engine, while the Limited and Pinnacle trims offered AWD or the hybrid powertrain. The AWD system, new for 2021, activated on-demand based on various driving conditions and deactivated to improve fuel efficiency when not needed. The Pacifica Hybrid had an all-electric range of over 30 miles and a total range of over 500 miles, delivering 82 MPGe and 30 mpg combined. The traditional V6 Pacifica achieved 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined, with slightly lower numbers for the AWD version.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine had standard FWD or optional AWD, while the twin-turbo V6 came standard with AWD. The V6 provided smooth and controlled power delivery, especially at highway speeds, complemented by the adaptive suspension that minimized road bumps. The engine stop-start feature conserved fuel but caused a slight delay in response. Overall, the Nautilus offered a pleasant driving experience in various scenarios.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica was designed with family life in mind, from the powertrain to the cabin. The front seats were spacious and allowed for a feeling of togetherness, with ample storage space, including a handy under-stack area. Standard features included power-sliding rear doors, three-zone climate control, power first- and second-row windows, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, Stow ’n Go bucket seats with in-floor storage bins, and a Stow ’n Go third-row bench seat. The second- and third-row seats provided plenty of legroom, and the Stow ’n Go seats tumbled into the floor for easy loading. The Pacifica Pinnacle offered best-in-class total storage of 227.6 liters.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus provided up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Lexus RX 350 and Cadillac XT5. With the rear seats in use, it offered 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The rear seats were comfortable for adults, but the front seats, especially the 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units, were the optimal places to sit. The center console and door handles featured soft-touch materials, and the floating center controls design allowed for additional storage.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica featured advanced technology, including hands-free sliding doors on mid-grade and above models. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system was modern, customizable, and user-friendly, with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The second-row in-seat entertainment system remained an option, with new games added. Audio options included a six-speaker system, a 13-speaker Alpine system, and 19- and 20-speaker Harman Kardon systems. The Pinnacle model included FamCam, an interior monitoring camera with advanced features like rear-facing child seat view and zoom-to-seat.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came with a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the available wireless charging pad made phone integration seamless. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system provided excellent sound quality. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with a helpful home button for easy navigation.

The 2021 Chrysler Pacifica came standard with 97 safety features, increasing to 100 in the Pinnacle trim. Key safety technologies included forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, lane-departure warning with lane-keep assist, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, advanced brake assist, third-row lockout, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. The Pacifica received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus included the CoPilot360 package with standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional available features included adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera was of low quality, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions.