Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
The Lincoln Nautilus was once known as the Lincoln MKX. It is a luxury SUV that is also considered a crossover. It is actually the first crossover SUV offered by Lincoln. The Nautilus is slotted between the Aviator and the Corsair. Lincoln decided to phase out its use of “MK” model names, as a part of a mid-cycle update for the 2019 model year. The MKX is now known as the Lincoln Nautilus. The name ‘Nautilus’ is derived from the ancient Greek word nautes, meaning “sailor,” as in nautical or astronaut. This second generation of the Nautilus was unveiled on April 17, 2023, and went on sale in early 2024.
The exterior of the Nautilus is pretty slick. The model that we tested came in a Chroma Caviar dark grey metallic hue. The front grille features an illuminated Lincoln star, and the wordmark is also illuminated on the liftgate. Full LED multi-projector headlamps are exclusive to the Black Label trim and for added convenience, the hands-free power liftgate is added. I really enjoyed the look of the integrated door handles: The door handles are sleek and integrated into the window frame, giving the vehicle a clean look. The Lincoln Nautilus that we reviewed came with the Jet Appearance Package that adds a bold, blacked-out and sporty look to the SUV, sitting on 22-inch wheels, a black grille, a black-painted roof, and various gloss black exterior accents on the mirrors, roof rails, and lower body trim. This vehicle definitely gives off an upscale vibe.
The Lincoln Nautilus has a luxurious interior. Inside the cabin are comfortable Redwood Venetian leather seats with a diamond design on the headrests. The front seats are 22 way power adjustable, multi-contour massaging seats. In total, the Nautilus seats five people. Both rows of seats offer enough room for adults, whereas in other SUV’s the back rows often are just enough for children. Adding to the luxury standard, the Nautilus Black Label comes with sought after features such as heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seat, panoramic power moon roof and rear-seat entertainment system.
The interior has a stunning 48-inch display, which integrates both the instrument cluster and forms part of the infotainment system along with a 11.1-inch touchscreen display. The upper display consists of two 24-inch displays mounted directly next to each other. This generation Nautilus is the first model to feature the new Ford/Lincoln Digital Experience. This is a direct replacement of the Ford SYNC 4/4a system and is based on the Android Automotive OS.
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label includes the Revel Ultima 3D Audio System with 28 speakers. This system features HD Radio and three listening modes: Stereo, Audience, and Onstage. There is also satellite radio, Bluetooth, a 4G Wi-Fi hot spot, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless device charging, navigation and a total of eight USB ports, consisting of USB-A and USB-C ports located in the front and two USB-C ports on the back of each front seat for rear passengers.
The Nautilus that we tested comes with a 2.0 L turbocharged 4-cylinder making 250 hp and 280 lb. ft of torque which is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Being that we have a hybrid version it is paired with a 140 kW (190 hp) electric motor. It is paired with an eight-speed automatic and available with all-wheel drive. The Nautilus is responsive around town and quick to accelerate on the highway. The suspension consists of a MacPherson strut setup for the front wheels and a independent multilink suspension for the rear, with optional adaptive dampers. Overall, the Nautilus handles well, sporty steering and delivers a nice and cushioned ride. Fuel Economy comes in at 30 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway and 30 mpg combined.
Lincoln considers safety a top priority and the Black Label Nautilus came with a lot of safety features in the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Vision 2.2 safety system. It includes standard safety technologies like Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross-Traffic Alert, and a 360-degree camera, along with available Lincoln BlueCruise for hands-free highway driving. Lincoln BlueCruise is a really cool feature having the car drive itself but I still kept my hands near and ready to take over if needed. The Nautilus also features advanced protection, including a safety cage and a multitude of airbags.
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label is a top-safety pick with strong performance in IIHS crash tests. The 2025 Nautilus earned the highest designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It received “Good” ratings in a variety of IIHS tests, including small overlap front (driver and passenger), updated side, and moderate overlap front (including rear passenger protection).
Lincoln did well in the warranty and maintenance coverage department. The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label comes with a standard 4-year/50,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty, a 6-year/70,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, and special Black Label benefits like 4 years/ 50,000-mile of premium maintenance, complimentary car washes, and Lincoln Pickup & Delivery service in which Lincoln will deliver your vehicle to you, pick it up and return to you when it is time for servicing. The premium maintenance includes four years or 50,000 miles of required scheduled maintenance, covering wear items like shock absorbers, belts, and brake pads. Those are some pretty good perks.
Coming in at $83,545.00, the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label is a quality vehicle that offers a lot to like in the luxury midsize SUV rankings. It has some stiff competition, going up against the Cadillac XT5, Lexus RX 350, Volvo XC60, Acura MDX, BMW X5, and Genesis GV80. The Nautilus attracted onlookers to inquire about the vehicle and show excitement about it. Not to be confused with Captain Nemo’s submarine, the Nautilus continues to ring bells across the industry. Please enjoy the photo gallery.
