Quick test | Lincoln Nautilus: getting lost in conjectures

The Nautilus is the first Lincoln brand model assembled in China. A historic milestone for this manufacturer rooted in American culture and named in honor of former President Abraham Lincoln. Despite this exceptional status and a competitive price range, the mid-size SUV is bogged down in an overflow of technology.

It is nevertheless thanks to this same technology that the first contact with the passenger compartment of this Nautilus is breathtaking. A top 48” digital strip then comes alive with the model name prominently bordered by swirls of purple smoke that dissipate after a few seconds. It's very immersive.

Except for the instrumentation broadcast on the driver's side of the strip, the system works much like the configurable active tiles (widgets) from your cell phone. In theory, this helps unclog the central control screen, but in practice it's a big source of distraction. Lincoln does, however, add physical touches to the center console, but they are labeled with logos that are too small.

The other ergonomic fault is located at the level of the rectangular steering wheel with rounded corners. This relies on unidentified haptic keys, so that you have to constantly refer to the upper screen to know what functionality you are accessing. This is far too complex for such large orders. Let us nevertheless note the beautiful richness of the materials and the flawless assembly.

An imperfect chassis

If the soundproofing is excellent, the mid-size SUV suffers from a faulty adjustment of the adaptive shock absorbers. The example tested, equipped with 22-inch rims, never seemed to properly negotiate the rough edges, amplifying their effect with slow and inconsistent movements. The front seats can be adjusted to 24 settings (optional) and offer impeccable comfort.

On the mechanical side, the standard 250 hp 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder is somewhat generic and lacks resources after great verve at low revs. The eight-speed automatic transmission complements it with consistency, but the horizontal buttons that control it remain not very intuitive. An imperfect vehicle, therefore, which does not yet measure up to the big names in its segment, despite an attractive price.