For buyers of luxury crossover SUVs looking to transition from an aging Lexus RX, Lincoln offers a compelling option. My mother is considering this change, and you might want to do the same.
Having owned a 2013 Lexus RX, my mother believes that Lexus has strayed from its roots in design and refinement. She is rarely mistaken in her assessments.
Enter the 2024 Nautilus hybrid, a surprising candidate from Lincoln. With its reimagined, subtle yet chic design, along with a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain and intuitive controls, it has made its way onto my mother’s list as a potential RX substitute.
However, there are some drawbacks, particularly with the BlueCruise hands-free system, which can be unreliable and has steering controls that verge on intolerable, despite its future-forward design.
Here are the advantages and disadvantages of the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus hybrid as seen through my mother’s and my perspective.
Pro: Lincoln Nautilus exudes elegance without being ostentatious
At one point, my mother was really enthusiastic about the Cadillac Lyriq. The appeal of going electric aligns with her desire to “Let’s save the planet for my grandchildren.” Thank you, Mother, from your grandchildren. However, aside from the charging infrastructure, she found the Lyriq to be “too visually loud.” In contrast, the Nautilus is classic and understated, not offensive in any way and certainly not unattractive—qualities she feels describe the current RX, especially when viewed head-on.
The same holds true for the Nautilus’s interior, which features a striking 48.0-inch screen stretching from A-pillar to A-pillar. My mother discovered the interior to be visually pleasing and unobtrusive, adorned with details like sleek metal speaker grilles and wave-like LED panel lighting on the doors that would fit right in with a Lexus’s aesthetic. This stands in stark contrast to the RX, where she remarked, “Why is there cloth on the dashboard and door panels?”
Con: BlueCruise technology still not quite there
Although improvements have been made, BlueCruise still falls short compared to GM’s Super Cruise available in Cadillacs. The difference is significant. In the Nautilus (and even in a more recent 2024 Ford F-150 hybrid), I found the system struggled to detect my eyes behind polarized sunglasses to confirm my attention to the road. I was indeed paying attention, whereas Super Cruise does not have similar issues. This led to incessant alerts as the system urged me to remain attentive, which I was already doing. Consequently, phantom braking occurred, where the car would brake abruptly to engage me, which it already had. My wife asked me to deactivate the system before it caused her motion sickness. My father, who believes Super Cruise is superior, was disappointed when he witnessed BlueCruise in action.
Pro: Smooth, efficient performance from Lincoln Nautilus hybrid
The standard powertrain in the Nautilus is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder delivering 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. However, it’s not the optimal choice. My test vehicle came with the hybrid powertrain, which combines that turbocharged engine with electric power, yielding a more refined and efficient driving experience.
with a 134-hp electric motor for a total system output of 310 hp (Lincoln has not revealed the torque specifications). The vehicle operates smoothly, remaining quiet at low speeds and delivering power transitions smoothly. Achieving the EPA fuel economy figures of 30 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and a combined 30 mpg is quite feasible. During my testing, I recorded an average of 30.6 mpg over 193 miles of mixed suburban driving. On a 207-mile road trip where I maintained speeds above 70 mph, I averaged 30.1 mpg. Notably, this figure is significantly lower than the Lexus RX hybrid’s ratings of 36/37/34 mpg.
Con: Technical Issues in the Lincoln Nautilus
During my week with the Nautilus, not all systems functioned as intended, and this included more than just the BlueCruise feature. At times, the seat belt warning indicator remained active even when occupants were properly buckled. There were also multiple instances of Wireless Apple CarPlay freezing and becoming unresponsive. Additionally, BlueCruise occasionally failed to detect my eyes. For a luxury vehicle that relies heavily on technology, these issues were quite frustrating. This is just a portion of the problems; Lincoln does not fully utilize the 48.0-inch screen, often duplicating content from the 11.1-inch touchscreen, which is unnecessary as it leads to redundancy in displaying maps or audio information on two screens at once.
Pro: Lincoln Maintains Tangible Controls
In spite of the prominent 48.0-inch screen that stretches across the dashboard and the 11.1-inch touchscreen, the Nautilus retains traditional buttons, toggles, and switches. These physical controls facilitate straightforward gear selections, volume adjustments, and drive mode changes. There are also dedicated buttons for defrosting, camera views, and the parking assistance system. Plus, the presence of actual stalks for the windshield wipers and turn signals is a welcome touch.
Con: Touch-Based Controls on the Nautilus’ Squircle Steering Wheel
The squircle steering wheel requires some adjustment, as it incorporates touch-sensitive controls for audio and cruise control functions. Unfortunately, these controls are not labeled and can change according to the situation. When the driver’s fingers touch these controls, the corresponding settings appear on the 48.0-inch dashboard display. This solution is only marginally better than the similar configuration in the Lexus RX, which uses a head-up display that can be obscured by polarized sunglasses. Lincoln implemented this system allowing for future updates to enhance functionality over time; however, currently, the capabilities are limited to infotainment and cruise control, leading to a somewhat confusing user experience.
Lincoln has evolved the Nautilus into a strong contender against what has typically been viewed as the segment leader, the Lexus RX. With recent missteps in design from Lexus, it would be unwise for consumers to overlook their local Lincoln dealership. My mother, who is rarely mistaken in her judgments, will certainly be taking a Nautilus for a test drive.
Image Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock
