Ditching dry alphanumeric names is a crucial move for a brand looking to extend the new Navigator's momentum down to a segment Lexus owns with the RX, but Lincoln will need more than just a new name to elevate the game of a two-row crossover formerly known as the MKX. We drove the new Nautilus to determine where the updated model fits in a very competitive segment.
The Ford Edge based luxury crossover starts with a four-cylinder base engine that wasn't initially part of Lincoln's plans for this 2019-model-year refresh. The 2.0-liter turbo-four replaces the MKX's 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V-6 and is good for 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Don't be dissuaded by the fact that the 2019 Nautilus' base engine has two fewer cylinders than what you're used to—the engine moves the Nautilus with enough authority around town that it doesn't feel like a slug. And thanks to the new engine, fuel economy and driving range see meaningful improvements compared to that old 3.7-liter V-6. It's just a shame that sticking with the Nautilus' 2.0-liter base engine doesn't translate to a jump in fuel economy compared to the V-6 option; EPA-anticipated fuel economy for the Lincoln's base engine is 20-21/25-26 mpg city/highway, compared to the much more powerful V-6's 19-20/26-27 mpg. For comparison, the 295-hp 2019 Lexus RX 350 is EPA-rated at 19-20/26-27 mpg.
Where the 2019 Nautilus earns back some points is with its decently spacious rear seat and rear-seat backrest recline controls conveniently placed at the passenger's thigh—this isn't as universal a feature as you'd think. Neither is the Lincoln's helpful addition of rear-seat headrests that can fold down, increasing rear visibility, or the one-touch buttons in the cargo area that fold down the rear seats.
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