Yahoo Autos 2021 Lincoln Nautilus First Drive Review | Middle child gets modest attention
In Lincoln’s current all-SUV family, the mid-sized Nautilus occupies what might be thought of as the middle-child position: a vague middle ground where it’s overshadowed by its higher-wattage siblings. The Navigator is the style-setting headline act, the Aviator is its much-ballyhooed follow-up, and the fresh-faced baby Corsair fits in with the luxury realm’s most popular segment. The Nautilus, meanwhile, has been hanging out since 2019, when it debuted not as a new model but as a rework of the former MKX. That means it dates back to 2016. This year, Lincoln gives some more attention to its mid-size, two-row entry, but in classic middle-child fashion, that attention doesn't extend beyond what was truly necessary.
To that end, the 2021 update focuses almost wholly on the interior. (Outside, there are new paint colors and a redesigned front bumper. Mechanicals are unchanged.) A redesigned dash adopts the horizontal architectural theme used elsewhere in the lineup, although this interior still trails far behind the Navigator and the Aviator for wow factor. Nor are the design and materials equal to the latest from Mercedes-Benz or Volvo. At least Lincoln continues to be more adventurous than the norm with colors, though that’s primarily on the top-spec Black Label with its two themed interiors: Chalet and Flight. Buyers who shy away from vibrant hues and prefer the cold embrace of a Germanic grayscale palette are not ignored, however, as evidenced by my Asher Gray-on-Ebony Nautilus Reserve test vehicle.
In this digital world, no self-respecting luxury car can be without a big screen, and for 2021 the Nautilus gets one. The centerpiece of the redesigned dashboard is a new horizontally oriented touchscreen that measures 13.2 inches, which is half-again as large as the mere 8-incher it replaces. It’s the biggest in the Lincoln lineup and is standard on all trims.
The system runs SYNC 4 and has the ability to accept over-the-air updates. The bright, crisp screen can display two functions at once, such as showing the map in the larger field and music info in the smaller one. Impressively, it can simultaneously display info from two different sources. For instance, the audio can be from car’s satellite radio while the map is the Waze app on a paired smartphone. Smartphone mirroring, by the way, is wireless, and wireless charging is included on the two upper trims.
A row of shortcut keys at the bottom of the screen allows you to jump to major functions, and there’s a padded ledge at its base that provides a perch on which to rest your hand. Thankfully, Lincoln has not banished physical controls in a quest for modernity. A pair of knurled knobs control volume and tuning, with buttons in between for audio source, seek up/down, and screen on/off. A bank of buttons below that operates the climate control system, with a big knob for fan speed. Touch the middle of that knob to call up further climate controls on the screen.
Somewhat surprisingly, Lincoln did not take this opportunity to make the “Perfect Position” seats found in all its other models available in the Nautilus. While those seats have an impressive range of adjustability including separate under-thigh support for the left and right legs, they’re also thinly and firmly padded. Every body is different, but I found the optional 22-way driver’s seat in this Nautilus to be more comfortable. Its range of adjustments includes three lumbar sections, extendable under-thigh support, and an articulating backrest. There are also multiple massage programs. The upgraded seats come with heating and cooling; standard is a 10-way power driver’s seat with heating only.
Moving to the rear seat, one finds plenty of knee- and legroom, but the panoramic sunroof reduces headroom slightly, which may be an issue for passengers much over six feet. A nearly flat floor makes the bench viable for three-across seating. A mixed pair of USB ports is on hand, and heated rear seats are available.
