The Lincoln Nautilus is a brand new name within the SUV sector but the actual styling of it may be familiar to you. That’s because the Nautilus replaces the Lincoln MKZ which has been a popular vehicle since it started production in 2007. The 2019 Lincoln Nautilus has been updated to feature the corporate face of Lincoln and is overall a sharper, more competitive offering than it has ever been before.
SLEEK EXTERIOR
Those with a keen eye will quickly notice some changes to the outside of the 2019 Nautilus which have made a massive difference to the overall appearance. The main differences are to the front end, as from the windshield back, the Nautilus is essentially the old MKZ, with a few subtle changes to the rear, but not really enough to notice immediately.
New badging and grille to the front make it quite stylish and futuristic, while optional 21 inch wheels can make the Nautilus a very powerful looking SUV. New LED highlights are featured along with a long chrome name badge to the side of the car giving it the appearance of a retro style door handle.
ELEGANT INTERIOR
As expected, inside the 2019 Nautilus you’ll find high quality materials with extremely comfortable seating all around and a decently spacious rear. The cockpit is simple, yet effective. A digital dash replaces any old style analog dials and buttons on the steering wheel allow you to scrolls numerous menus to adjust the vehicles settings and safety features. Buttons for the drive replace the traditional gear selector and are in east reach on the side of the centre column.
The touch screen display sits sunken into the center dash and while effective, some may consider it small compared to modern standards. The specs for the interior are decided through a number of models and the top end Black Label Nautilus has an interior that would impress even the most discerning drivers. Lower end models may suffer from a lack of contrast and will certainly be less interesting to sit in, but by all standards are still considered a luxurious interior.
It’s worth remembering the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus is a mid-size SUV, so it would be difficult to say space is plentiful, but depending on your needs, it’s certainly big enough for the regular commuter or small family.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
Two engine choices are available on the 2019 Nautilus – a 2.0L inline four cylinder or a punchier 2.7L twin turbocharged V6 engine delivering a pleasing 335hp. A new eight speed automatic transmission has been introduced to offer a smoother ride and is quite effective at selecting the right gear to keep power close at hand, while still delivering a smooth ride.
An Adaptive Cruise Control System now works with cameras and radar on the vehicle to sense and adjust to the pace of the car in front of you, while stop-and-go functionality allows the vehicle to come to a complete stop and restart when traffic begins to move. Lane Centering Assist uses data from the forward-looking radar and camera to provide continuous steering support to help keep the vehicle centred in the lane. Put all these driving technology features together and you essentially have a vehicle that drives itself!
Overall, the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus delivers a smooth and comfortable ride, with plenty of performance on hand when the feeling strikes. Comfortable steering with precise handling makes the 2019 Nautilus a pleasure to drive and also pleasure to be driven around in.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Starting at $47,163, the 2019 Lincoln Nautius has a number of cecent competitors in this price range including the 2019 Infiniti QX50 or the Acura RDX. Although the vehicle was launched to start eating into the sales of German manufacturers such as Audi and BMW, but that is a long road ahead for them. In the meantime, it’s obvious when you look at the features list of this vehicle, Lincoln has worked hard in making sure the 2019 Nautilus is a consideration for those looking for a comfortable, capable, well-equipped SUV with a great pedigree behind it.
