Prior to the 2017 Los Angeles Auto Show, Lincoln invited us to attend the official launch of a newcomer to their lineup, the shiny new Nautilus.
What we got to see on the stage wasn’t exactly an entirely new vehicles. It was, in fact, a rebranded and redesigned MKX.
The new moniker cemented Lincoln’s new nautical-inspired nomenclature and wrapped the former MKX into a new design language previously introduced on the Continental and the Navigator.
This year, the compact MKC follows in the footsteps — or tracks — by receiving the Quiet Luxury treatment along with a new nameplate — the Corsair.
I have to admit that I love Lincoln’s new image; I don’t miss the winged grille at all. The lines are more masculine and muscular on this new generation of vehicles which create an elegant ensemble.
A look befitting of the famous “Alright, alright, alright” spokesman. Without being a stand out design, the Nautilus definitely is a handsome vehicle — perfectly in line with the brand’s new “Quiet Luxury” approach to design.
Trust me, it looks even better in person than it does in pictures. Interestingly, I find that the vehicle looks smaller from the outside than it does from the inside.
The proportions are well-balanced, complete with a set of appropriately-sized, 21-inch wheels, and the gently sloping roofline doesn’t take away from the cabin space.
Speaking of inside, I can’t say that I’m as excited about the interior look. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the layout and choice of materials — it’s only very, very sober, verging on boring.
The central stack is bland and the cascading console is streamlined by the absence of a gear selector knob, replaced by a strip of push buttons framing the display. The two-tone colour scheme could have been exploited in a slightly more creative way.
I can only imagine that beige seats are a nightmare to live with on a daily basis, but then again, not everyone is as clumsy as I am.
That being said, despite a lacklustre appearance, you are treated to all the functionalities your heart desires and then some. Listed among the redeeming qualities is the intuitive and efficient SYNC 3 infotainment system equipped with one of the best voice-recognition technologies in the industry.
Sound is projected out of a Harman Revel 13-speaker audio system in the version I drove — the standard set up reducing the number of speakers to 10.
The front seats also offer an impressive number of functionalities to ensure comfort. In the Reserve version I drove, both seats are heated and ventilated and, of course, massaging — though, in the Nautilus, you only get a lower back massage, there’s no mechanism in the bottom portion.
First-world problem you say? The 22-way driver seat — eight settings short from Lincoln’s high-end 30-way system — gets you pretty darn close to a perfect driving position. Passengers at the back receive comfortable leg and headroom and the model I drove was also equipped with heated seats at the back, offered as an option.
Cargo volume behind the second row of seats is a functional 1,054 litres and the hatch is equipped with convenient switches to lower the seats and extend the volume to up to 1,948 litres. Boring doesn’t mean bad and in that regards, the Nautilus has a lot to offer.
Under the hood is a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbo engine (read: an EcoBoost) rated at a decent 250 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque. The delivery is more efficient when you ask the turbo to do what it does best: give a boost. At cruising speeds, I find the eight-speed gearbox tends to get in the way and makes subtle speed adjustments laggy.
On the other hand, the brakes are a bit bitey and successfully applying gradual force can be a challenge. Nobody will hit their nose on the dashboard, but it’s just enough to look like a newly licensed driver rather than an experienced one.
As for fuel economy, I finished the week with a combined 11.3L/100km average which is within the bracket advertised by the manufacturer.
The Nautilus handles exactly the way you expect a luxury SUV to handle — nothing more, nothing less. The ride is smooth and comfortable and the vehicle’s on-road behaviour is predictable.
Other models will provide a more exciting drive — this is not what you’re looking at a Lincoln for.
All and all, the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus gets you pretty much everything you want from the segment. A flock of comfort and convenience accessories, quality materials, a sober appearance, and just enough performance to get you where you need to be.
At a starting price of $48,950, the Nautilus doesn’t come in cheap and ranks at the top of its segment in terms of price tag. Be careful with those yummy options, they will make the price go up at an alarming rate.
Looking at the specs I was given for the Reserve I drove, I counted more than $12,000 in options alone, added to the trim’s base price of $55,350.
Something to keep in mind once you step into the dealership.
The specs
Model: 2019 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve AWD
Engine: 2.0L I-4 turbocharged, 250 horsepower, 275 lb.-ft. of torque
Transmission: eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive
NRCan rating (Le/100km city/highway): 12.6 / 9.2
Length: 4,827 mm
Width: 2,188 mm
Wheelbase: 2,849 mm
Weight: 1,953 kg
Price: $48,950 base, $70,150 as tested, including freight
Competition: Audi Q5, BMW X3, Cadillac XT5, Mercedes-Benz GLC, Lexus RX, Infiniti QX50
Standard equipment: hill-start assist, intelligent all-wheel drive, AdvanceTrac with roll stability control, adaptive suspension, torque vectoring control, lane keeping system, dual-zone electronic automatic temperature control, BLIS (blind spot information system) with cross-traffic alert, leather-wrapped steering wheel with cruise and secondary audio controls, 12.3-inch LCD instrument cluster display screen, cruise control, remote keyless entry with integrated keyfob, intelligent access with push-button start, remote start, active noise control, rear view camera with camera wash, wireless charging pad, premium AM/FM with single-cd player and 10 speakers including subwoofer, two smart charging USB ports, Lincoln connect with embedded modem, SiriusXM satellite radio, Sync 3, Bridge of Weir deepsoft leather-trimmed seats, heated, 10-way power front seats with power lumbar and driver-side memory
