Updates to the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus include refinements to the front end, which lend it a smoother, sleeker look and, on higher-end trims, improved headlights. Lincoln

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus may seem familiar for a couple of reasons. First, the luxury brand’s style is well defined enough to make the family resemblance to the crossovers’ siblings, the smaller Corsair and larger Aviator, uncannily close. Second, the Nautilus used to have a different name. When the current generation was launched in 2016, it was called the MKX. When it got a major overhaul in 2019, Lincoln ditched that anonymous name for the much more evocative Nautilus.

The Nautilus isn’t as wild as Captain Nemo’s famous submarine, but it is luxurious and distinctive. It’s style, comfort and reasonable turn of speed serve it well against some formidable premium midsize crossovers, among them the Audi Q5, Cadillac XT5, and Lexus RX. 

While the competition offer contemporary, driver-focused takes on the genre, Lincoln delivers a more traditional luxury experience which appeals to more mature sensibilities. This crossover wafts and cossets in a junior-league Rolls-Royce way rather than hustling like a BMW. The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus comes in Standard ($43,595), Reserve ($50,645) and Black Label ($66,185) trim levels. All prices include a $1,095 destination fee, up $100 from last year.

While the 2019 model year saw the name change along with significant styling improvements and the addition of an 8-speed transmission, 2021 focuses a bit more on inner beauty. The front end is facelifted with a simpler bumper and grille treatment, but the big news is a major interior update. Cabin materials are upgraded and the entire dashboard, center stack and console are redesigned for a more contemporary look, and topped by a pretty new 13.2-inch infotainment screen, the largest in Lincolns lineup and among the biggest in the Nautilus’ segment.

The 2021 Nautilus’s new interior features a horizontal theme that extends to most passenger-facing surfaces, including a new 13.2-inch touchscreen that’s the largest in the Lincoln lineup. Lincoln

2021 Lincoln Nautilus Performance

A turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque comes on the Standard model, and both it and the Reserve model can be upgraded with all-wheel drive (AWD) for $2,500. A twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque is optional on the Reserve and comes bundled with all-wheel drive. The Black Label gets standard V6 power and AWD.

The Nautilus’s standard four-cylinder engine is no slouch, producing decent acceleration that puts it on par with Lexus’ V6-powered RX350. However, the V6 takes Nautilus to the next level, making it far more entertaining to drive. 

Between the four and six-cylinder engines, fuel economy numbers are surprisingly similar. The front-wheel drive Nautilus yields 21 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 mpg combined; the all-wheel drive version drops a single mpg for each figure. Paired with all-wheel drive, the V6 achieves 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The Nautilus is about at the class average, which is to say a bit head of the 2022 Acura MDX, even with the XT5 and shy of Volvo’s slightly smaller XC60. None come close to Lexus’ hybrid RX.

The Lincoln Nautilus is graced with a smooth ride that’s enhanced with an available adaptive suspension system. However, what it gains in comfort it loses in handling tightness: Unlike the majority of premium luxury SUVs which focus on sharp vehicle dynamics, Nautilus is biased towards soaking up potholes and road irregularities, often at the expense of handling. The tradeoff is noticeable on corners and twisty roads, where the Nautilus can feel—well, nautical.

The Nautilus is a comfortable machine up front and the back. It’s slightly on the smaller end of the midsize crossover spectrum, but boasts more rear-seat legroom than rivals like the BMW X5. Lincoln

2021 Lincoln Nautilus Comfort & Convenience

The cabin experience is similarly luxurious, with a decent amount of standard equipment and the top-level model featuring soft touch materials everywhere, from the supple leather on the seats to the velvety dashboard surfaces and the available Alcantara headliner. 2021 brings an entirely new dashboard, console, and center stack highlighted by the big 13.2-inch screen and a design which makes most of the elements, such as the shifter and control area, appear to float separately from any supports. It’s a definite improvement, visually.

Optional 22-way heated, cooled and massaging seats, a $1,500 extra but standard on the Black Label, are truly a revelation, and offer a seating experience that is hard to match at any price point. Black Label models also get special interior colors and style themes like “Chalet” and “Flight,” along with a stellar 19-speaker audio system.

The spacious interior accommodates large passengers comfortably in both first and second rows, and the relatively tall roofline and large rear door apertures makes it easy to load children or large adults. The Nautilus boasts a touch more rear legroom than most competitors, including the Q5, XT5, XC60 and BMW X5. 

The Nautilus is as generous in cargo room as it is in passenger space, with up to 68.8 cubic-feet of cargo space when the seats are folded and 37.2 behind them. Both are very good figures for the class. Lincoln

There’s also a generous amount of cargo capacity, with 37.2 cubic-feet behind the rear seats, and 68.8 cubic-feet when folded. That’s more space than the Lexus, Cadillac or Volvo alternatives but less than the three-row Acura.

The big new screen runs the latest SYNC 4 system, which is comprehensive and easy to use. The Nautilus enables cell phones to act as keys which lock, unlock, and remotely control the vehicle. SYNC 4 uses over-the-air updates to continually improve the software, and integrates cloud-based computing along with SiriusXM’s 360L feature to integrate parking and fuel price data, AccuWeather forecasts, and Yelp information.

The Nautiulus comes well equipped, but there are lots of options to upgrade it, at least on the lower trims. The Standard model can be ordered with a $2,065 package that upgrades the 18-inch wheels, adds leather upholstery navigation. Reserve models can be ordered with a Reserve I package ($3,420) that adds 20-inch wheels and Lincoln’s Pilot360 Plus with adaptive cruise and active lane keep assist, or the Reserve II ($8,445) which adds 21-inch wheels, a cargo utility package, and a Class II tow package. 

With the towing package, the Nautilus can tow up to 3,500 pounds. Without it the rating is limited to 2,000, and towing isn’t really this crossover’s strong suit.

 The Nautilus’ new dashboard and infotainment system are a big visual improvement, and Lincoln leaves enough physical controls in place to make operation easy and intuitive. Lincoln

2021 Lincoln Nautilus Safety Systems

All Lincoln Nautilus models come standard with Co-Pilot360, which includes automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warning with lane keep assist and drive alertness monitoring, and forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection. Reserve models make Co-Pilot Plus available as part of the Reserve I package, which adds not only adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go but also a following distance indicator, enhanced active park assist, a 360-degree surround-view camera and evasive steering assist. Black Label models come with these features standard.

Additionally, the Nautilus The Nautilus earns a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). That latter designation is new this year and has to do with changes made to the front end and headlights, though base models still earn a Poor rating from IIHS on their lights.

 Nautilus styling is smooth and cohesive, tying the front and rear of the vehicle together with a tall, graceful roofline. The Black Label model, seen here, is visually differentiated by its 21-inch painted ultra-bright machined wheels. Lincoln