Gurgeh

After having my Nautilus for a week, I'm thrilled with it so far. Sumptuous (Black Label) interior, astonishingly great twin turbo 2.7 V6 engine that really gets up and goes, smooth 8-speed transmission, wonderfully smart adaptive suspension that both holds the road (in S mode) and smooths out the awful roadways we have around here, even with these big 21" wheels (I almost swapped down to 20" through my dealer, but decided to take a chance on them because they look so great), intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system, cornering lights that actually work, etc. The main things I've had to get used involve physics and the space/time continuum. The former in that it is a little heavier than my old 2016 Q5, so I'm still learning cornering physics. It takes corners fine in S mode (which is pretty much all I use for around town driving), but differently. The latter in that it is both wider and longer, so I am taking my time maneuvering parking lots and narrow streets until I get an instinctive feel for the car's dimensions. Now, the (minor) nits. No side mirror blinkers? First time I've notice that. The other vehicles I cross-shopped (Audi Q5, Acura RDX, Range Rover Velar, Volvo XC60) had them as did the older Q5 I traded in. Since my preferred steering wheel position is low it can obscure the dash blinkers and I miss not seeing them on the side mirrors in my peripheral vision. But OTOH, the blinker sound is substantial, so I don't see myself forgetting and leaving them on after a lane change. No way to easily surf SiriusXM stations to see what else is playing without changing stations? Yes, I know you can pull up stations lists to show either artist or song name (but not both), but you have to dig down into three sub-menus in Audio to find it, which is not real practical when driving. Those blinding visor lights at night! Honestly, Lincoln, what were you thinking? I don't really use the visor mirrors at night (or during the day), but my wife does and she hates them as she finds they make it pretty difficult to actually see anything in the mirror. Well, as those are my only nits so far so, well, so good...

I wish there were more options for dash setup. I would put just the speedo in the middle, but I don't like that it has no numbers on the outside like you find with the speedo/tach combo, and the dash doesn't give any particularly good options for using the two open spaces on each side of the center speedo. I alternate between showing Trip 1 and the graphic showing where wheel power distribution. The latter looks cool, though it doesn't provide any particularly good info -- I use it sometimes instead of the trip info because there's no way of not showing trip mpg (see dash setup options above) and, well, in S mode with the 2.7's 380 ft-lb torque one gets just so darned tempted to stomp on that accelerator! Honestly, though, on non-congested highway driving I can get 28mpg easy in D mode driving, well, easy. In more normal (for me) S mode driving I haven't gotten above the mid-teens, though I'm still in the break-in period. I'm fine with the gas mileage, as I knew I wasn't buying a Toyota Corolla, but I wish I could replace it in Trip 1 with other stats I care about more. Nag!

With Nautilus you can get the amazing twin turbo 2.7 V6 without having to get the (to me) uncomfortable sport seats in the Edge ST. But there are lots of differences. Adaptive steering, adaptive suspension, quieter ride, exterior looks, to name just a few. I find it well worth the extra 10k. I know the MKX/Nautilus get lots of hits on the interior, but I actually find it quite nice. The only two things I had hoped we'd get inside with the refresh (and rename) was HUD and a little bigger touch screen. But when the redesign comes in a couple years or so I expect we'll see a very Aviator-style interior.

Nautilus redesign is probably only a couple of years away, three at most. But I too found the standard seats more comfortable than the "ultra" seats, especially with the softer leather that comes with BL.

I think you are right on the highway mpg, but I was comparing the 2.0 and 3.7. The 2.7 is indeed amazing. One thing to note, however, if you are getting the 2.7 you really, really need to get AWD as well to avoid torque steer and avoid slower acceleration off the line (as the power and torque of the 2.7 will lift weight off the front wheels on a fast standing start).

I love the twin turbo V6 2.7. It is an amazing engine and, in my view, well worth the $3k. But different people are after different things with their upgrade dollars and most reviewers find the turbo charged I4 2.0 to be a better engine overall than the normally aspirated V6 3.7, so the numbers don't surprise me. Lighter, more fuel efficient, nearly the HP and better (and lower in the power band) torque.

Thanks, I did. Which is why I need to head back to the dealer today. They had prepped the original (delayed) Nautilus but I opted for the more recent build. They did prep work on the newer one while I was deciding whether to lease or purchase and then while they were doing the paper work (it took a little while, but they managed to brow-beat Lincoln into honoring an expired $3000 incentive because of the shipping delay). But they forgot to take it out of transport mode. (And the pictures are actually of the one I didn't buy, as the other was taken back for the prep.)

Headed out to East West Lincoln (Lincoln-only dealership in the Maryland 'burbs of DC) yesterday and picked up my Choroma Copper Black Label Thoroughbred Nautilus. I originally ordered it in November and it was built in December, but the ordered vehicle got caught up in a batch that was pulled aside for extra inspection. So in January (unbeknownst to me) the dealer ordered a second Nautilus to my exact same specifications hoping to get one here quicker. The irony, of course, is that both arrived at the same time. The BL copper exterior is so distinctive (personally, I think it looks great) I expect I'll see it driving around the Washington DC metro area at some point. Ended up going with a one-payment lease -- first time in a long time I didn't just write the Big Check. Thanks to everyone on this great site for all the advice and useful information posted since I first started my search last spring to replace my Audi Q5.

Adam, based on what I've read about the Aviator, even from typically anti-Lincoln and anti-SUV sites like Jalopnik, it looks like Lincoln hit a home run on the Aviator with a clear best in class. With that budget you can go full Reserve or Black Label Grand Touring and enjoy 450 hp and 600 off-the-line ft-lb torque, an airglide suspension, a seductive exterior and Lincoln's best cabin to date, eclipsing even the Navigator. Like Shoeguy, I was sorely tempted to wait and consider the Aviator, but it is just a little big for my needs or wants, so I put in an order for the Nautilus. Just got a call from my dealer yesterday, and it has finally arrived, after a considerable delay and a re-order by my dealership -- I pick it up on Thursday.

Yes, two months from ordering to delivery is about what it currently takes, unless you can find a dealer with a car already ordered for lot sales and can convince them to modify it to your specifications. If you luck out it could then shorten the time to 4-6 weeks.

Thanks for sharing, Timmer. Ironically, my final decision was between the Velar and Nautilus. I had a factory order for the Velar, but then when I test drove the Nautilus I changed my mind. The Velar is a beautiful crossover, inside and out, and it can go off-road in ways the Nautilus can only dream about. But like 98% of all Range Rover owners I would never actually use those exceptional off-road capabilities and the Velar's interior beauty comes in part from the removal of almost all physical controls and their movement to the touch screen. I ended up going with the Nautilus because: 1) I like physical controls, 2) the Velar was over $10k more expensive, 3) the engine in the Lincoln is more advanced and, while having a little less hp it has more torque (despite being 2.7 v. 3.0) and, most of all, 4) Jaguar Land Rover consistently ranks as the least reliable of all automakers, with the new electronics being particularly glitchy.

I don't think we'll see HUD or larger screen until the redesign in a couple or three years.

Good point. It might be better to say that sales are back up to the peak level they were at about a year after most recent redesign of the MKX. Last year they started easing downward as a lot of folks put off purchases, I expect, in anticipation of the refreshed and renamed Nautilus. For much of 2018 the MKC overtook the MKX as Lincoln's volume leader. But similar models by other competitors sell better, like the XT5, Q5, RDX, etc. They are not necessarily superior vehicles, but they do sell better for a variety of reasons. I expect we'll see a couple of significant step ups in Lincoln sales this year with the Aviator and Corsair, as the new models get a lot of attention and Lincoln's reputation continues its revival. By the end of the year one or both of those might well be selling better than the Nautilus, and I don't expect Nautilus sales to really break out until the redesign in a couple of years. And who knows what Lincoln's version of the electric performance vehicle based on the Mustang (cousin to Ford's Mach E) will do? Will it be nothing more than a halo car when it comes out next year or will it turn into another hot seller?

He give shout-outs to three Lincoln models in particular: the Navigator, the Nautilus and the upcoming Aviator. I was a little surprised how much he focused on the Naut, but its sales have really surged since the refresh and rename. https://www.autonews.com/dealers/lincoln-remaking-products-and-showrooms?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+autonews%2FRetailNews+(Automotive+News+Retail+News+Feed)&ito=792&itq=89fcbff0-6d32-49d1-8dee-2a4d0272bb7c&itx[idio]=5876139&fbclid=IwAR2eFdF-b57ckL-Mrc2bYzOgEOC_pc41G-i3dCPjjlyjs7KqycFoqhpA62I

Walkabout, that might be a bizarre combo, but it is what I ordered. Now that I think of it I'm sure it is a very unusual combo as my dealer said that he did a quick look at what other Black Label dealers then had in stock (looking to see if a swap might be quicker) and all dealer stock then had the 22-ways in their BLs. But to me, the stock seats were more comfortable. Again, seat comfort is very particular to the individual.

Cosmo, some good comments here. I too found the MKX seats a little too narrow (esp. the 22-way), but found the bottom seat bolsters on the Nautilus a little more flattened out to make the standard seats, to me, more comfortable. As Walkabout notes, seat comfort is very specific to the individual. I expect we'll see Aviator-type improvements in the Naut's interior when it gets redesigned in a couple or three years. Agree on the Aviator. I'm going out on a limb here and predicting that for the second half of the year (assuming no delays in launch) the Aviator will become Lincoln's top volume seller, despite the higher price point, though it won't necessarily stay that way in 2020, with the late 2019 launch of the all-new Corsair at a much more affordable price in the very hot compact crossover segment.

https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/2019/01/16/2019-lincoln-nautilus-steering-control-technology-recall/2591725002/?fbclid=IwAR3HHcyMS5MU5NV4FUhBCEYI6YCiHdtKyqRGZG34qnBscGLWW8BmRrJI9kc

It is important to remember, as Bad Tone notes, that you really have the best of both worlds in the MKX/Nautilus. You can use it in default off mode by using the very configurable S, or you can use it as default on by using D (which still allows you to turn it off during your drive time if you want).

Thanks, finally found my way back here. My bookmark was broken but discovered that Google was my friend.

Congratulations, Shoeguy! I placed my Nautilus order in mid/late November and instead of having to wait for late January (or possibly even early February), my dealer succeeded in doing exactly what you hope yours can do. They managed to modify an existing order they had made for lot sales to my specification. It was built a week and a half ago and is supposed to show up at the dealership any day now. And yeah, while I went for the tried-and-true 2.7tt, the 2.0t has been getting great reviews. Most reviewers noted the same thing you did, that one wouldn't know it was a 4-cylinder from its sound and feel. Plus, while you might not have quite the hp you had in your 3.7 you actually get more torque (which is what you feel anyway when you stomp on the accelerator), and with the lighter engine you'll get a superior power-to-weight ratio and more nimble handling. Welcome to the forum.

...and with the new 8-speed transmission. They made real improvements to the drive train, already the MKX's strongest suit. But the interior, yes you have to look closely to see any differences.

There's a rumor going around (I heard it from someone who works at Ford) that Lincoln made a last minute decision to change the name. We'll find out soon if the rumor is true.

In my view, you shouldn't have to go all the way to Black Label to get materials like better quality leather and headliner. But honestly, the only real downside of the interior, in my opinion, is the hard plastic on the center stack and that cheap-feeling lid to the center stack cubby. I've had Q5s for loaners (I currently drive a '16 Q5 S-Line, which has better interior materials than anything you can get in the current Q5, which doesn't yet have an S-Line trim), and while the knobs and such have a better tactile feel, the dash is made of a pretty uninteresting and not-great-to-the-touch plastic. It feels to me that Audi has been doing some economizing on some interior materials these days on their high volume vehicles, probably trying to make up some of their massive expenses from dieselgate. But I too had hoped for a few more interior changes, other than fairly minor things like the wireless charger, all-electronic instrument panel, rimless mirror and back seats that now fold down nearly flat. If they had just been able to add a head-up display, I would have been thrilled. Still, it is a comfortable and (in Black Label) quite nice interior, not busy and confusing like in some like the RDX. There will undoubtedly be a radically new look with the redesign (which we'll probably see a preview of in the Corsair), pulling in many of the themes we see these days in the Navigator and Aviator. In the end, the main selling points for me were: 1) the comfortable seating (I'm going with the standard seats), 2) the great infotainment system that actually has useful physical controls, and 3) the unmatched power train. The powerful and nearly bullet-proof 2.7 with the new 8-speed transmission is impressive. It is almost impossible to find V6 engines these days in mid-sized crossovers.

...and I'm coming from the smaller Audi Q5, which these days is starting to feel a little cramped, so am looking forward to moving on to the roomier Nautilus. And while I'd love to get that Grand Trouring Aviator (600+ freaking lb-ft of torque!), I'll have to move before I can get a plug-in, as where I live now I can't do home charging. But I do plan to move in the next 2-3 years.

I considered waiting for it. It looks to be an astonishing vehicle and class leader for those wanting a 3-row mid-sized luxury crossover. I expect it will come in 10K-15K more than the Nautilus, but that isn't the reason I didn't wait (as a couple of months ago before I switched and put in a Nautilus factory order I had an order in for the Range Rover Velar, which is about that much more expensive). The problem is that for me it is just a little too big, and I don't need or want that 3rd row. I'm good with what the Nautilus is right now, but expect when the redesign comes in MY2022 or MY2023 the vehicle well get the kind of wow treatment that the Aviator and Navigator have gotten and at that point I'll probably switch over to the new version. I would dearly love to see Lincoln move the Nautilus over to a RWD/AWD architecture at that time (as with the Mustang and Aviator), but don't necessarily expect it.