2022 Lincoln Nautilus

Lincoln is Ford’s luxury brand, and most Lincoln models are fancier, quieter versions of existing Ford SUVs. The Lincoln Navigator, for example, is based on the Ford Expedition, and the Lincoln Corsair is based on the Ford Escape. Some models are available as hybrids. Lincoln SUVs tend to come with standard leather seating surfaces, large screens, and sound deadening. That interior quality paired with lively powertrains have earned some models Consumer Reports’ recommendation. Lincoln stopped building sedans when it discontinued the Continental and MKZ in 2020. As a brand, for new and used car reliability, road-test scores, and owner satisfaction ratings, Lincoln tends to be average.

The Nautilus is a refreshed version of the MKX SUV for 2019. Engine choices are either a powerful 2.7-liter V6 turbo or a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard. We found that the Nautilus with the more powerful engine delivers effortless power, a comfortable ride, a quiet cabin, and agile handling. The cabin is swanky, and the infotainment system is relatively easy to use. The only knock against this SUV is its unintuitive, fussy push-button gear selector. The unimpressive fuel economy of 18 mpg overall that we measured in the MKX should improve slightly, thanks to the new transmission. Lincoln has added new safety features, including a lane-centering feature and evasive steer assist that allows the SUV to steer around a vehicle stopped in front if the system determines a collision is likely and can't be avoided by braking alone. The Nautilus got an improved infotainment system called Sync 4 for 2021.