The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV marketed and sold by the Lincoln brand of Ford Motor Company. As Lincoln is phasing out its use of “MK” model names, the MKX adopted the Lincoln Nautilus nameplate as part of a mid-cycle update for the 2019 model year. In production since 2007, the MKX (“X” stands for “crossover”) is the first crossover SUV offered by the Lincoln brand; it is currently in its second generation. Initially the smallest Lincoln SUV, it is now slotted between the Lincoln Corsair and the Lincoln Aviator. Both generations of the MKX (and Nautilus) were manufactured at Oakville Assembly in Oakville, Ontario, Canada alongside the Ford Edge, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKT.
The 2022 Nautilus conjures the spirit of that floaty land barge but modernizes the experience with touchscreen infotainment and driver-assistance technologies. It received a more thorough interior redesign last year, so for 2022 the Nautilus gets just a few changes. A new Premium package is available and includes 18-inch wheels, a power-adjustable steering column, a universal garage-door remote, and in-dash navigation. The Reserve trim can now be ordered with a Luxury package that adds a hands-free power liftgate, a 13-speaker Revel stereo system, and the ability to use a smartphone app to lock and unlock the SUV. Lincoln has also swapped out some colors, adding Artisan Blue, Green Gem, Iced Mocha, Red Carpet, and Chroma Elite Copper to the palette.
The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that serves up 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Lincoln’s optional engine is a 2.7-liter twin-turbo V6 that pumps out 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Once again, it comes with an eight-speed automatic, but Lincoln makes all-wheel drive standard. Fuel economy takes another tick downward to 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. Shifting duties are handled by an eight-speed automatic transmission, and the base engine can be had with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Maximum fuel economy comes with the front-drive option at 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 23 mpg combined. Upgrade to all-wheel drive, and you lose 1 mpg in every category. The SUVs in this segment are all closely grouped when it comes to EPA fuel-efficiency estimates, but it’s no surprise that the four-cylinder Nautilus with front-wheel drive leads the way for the Lincoln entrants.
The entry-level engine in the Nautilus lineup is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that pumps out 250 horsepower. It’s hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission and can be had with front- or all-wheel drive. Reserve test vehicle with all-wheel drive managed a 6.8-second zero-to-60-mph time, edging out the V-6-powered Lexus RX350 by 0.1 second but falling behind the Cadillac XT5 by 0.2. We also tested the optional 335-hp 2.7-liter turbocharged V-6, and it delivered a brisk 5.9-second zero-to-60-mph time. Neither engine felt underpowered in city driving, but the V-6’s extra power is handy during highway merging and passing maneuvers. Its available adaptive suspension helps smooth impacts from potholes. Reserve and Black Label models, along with the all-wheel-drive Select, come with three driving modes (Comfort, Normal, and Sport) for an extra layer of personalization.
Elevated technology for uplifting journeys. Auto Hold offers relief when you come to stop signs, long traffic signals and other braking situations. When you stop the vehicle using the brake pedal, the system will hold and then release the brakes when the accelerator is pushed. Move with the flow. Available Adaptive Cruise Control in the Lincoln Nautilus does much more than keep the vehicle traveling at a set speed. Stop-and-Go marries camera and radar, so the Lincoln Nautilus SUV can sense and adjust to the pace of cars ahead.61 Stop-and-Go allows the vehicle to come to a complete stop and resume when traffic begins to move. Plus, Lane Centering uses data from the forward-looking radar and camera to provide continuous steering support to help keep the vehicle centered in the lane.
