Exterior It took a keen eye to tell the MKC and MKX apart, but the MKC refresh brought a sliver of hope that Lincoln might differentiate the two SUVs a bit more. No such luck for the most part: The Nautilus trades the MKX’s split-wing grille for the brand’s new design, which now graces everything but the MKT.
The tail is thematically unchanged from that of the MKX, but the width-spanning taillights now have a lighter finish. Gone is the old MKX insignia, obviously, but “Nautilus” doesn’t replace it. Instead, Lincoln prints the new nameplate on a character-line decal below the side mirror.
Interior The Nautilus gets a redesigned steering wheel with controls similar to those in the Continental, but other differences are slight. The dashboard’s waterfall design carries over, with a prominent center console that stretches down from a central touchscreen with Ford’s Sync 3 multimedia system.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, while a 12.3-inch virtual gauge display has configurable information. Options include two Revel premium audio systems, a panoramic moonroof, and heated and cooled seats with 22-way adjustments.
Under the Hood Gone is last year’s standard V-6 — a 303-horsepower, 3.7-liter engine — replaced by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 245 hp. A turbo 2.7-liter V-6, which makes 335 hp, remains optional. Both engines now pair with eight-speed automatic transmissions instead of last year’s six-speed automatics. Front-wheel drive is standard; all-wheel drive is optional.
Safety Available technologies include lane-centering steering, full-speed adaptive cruise control and an evasive steering assist system that can help the driver steer around an impending collision.
