2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2021 BMW X5 was a testament to BMW's renowned craftsmanship, fitting seamlessly into the brand's SUV lineup. Its design, from the iconic kidney grille to the body shape, was unmistakably BMW, offering a sense of familiarity and luxury. The X5's exterior featured full adaptive LED headlights and a choice between matte aluminum or high-gloss black finishes, depending on the trim. The M Sport models added a sporty flair with body-coloured trims and larger wheels, ranging from 20 to 22 inches. Inside, the X5 maintained the brand's signature style, with a mix of leather and soft-touch materials, though the interior design felt somewhat repetitive across BMW's range. The M Sport models offered unique interior styling, enhancing the sporty feel with specific steering wheels, pedals, and trim strips.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus presented an attractive and balanced design, with enough detailing to give it character without appearing plain. The SUV featured a welcoming Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence and offered a range of interior colours, including light grey premium leather. While the overall interior was luxurious, some elements like the centre console design and chrome-plated plastic pieces appeared less refined. The Nautilus Reserve model in Canada was priced at $59,800, excluding destination charges, and offered optional Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, making long drives exceptionally comfortable.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a variety of powertrains, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base xDrive40i model featured a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque, with all-wheel drive as standard in Canada. The X5 M50i boasted a twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8, producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the X5 M reached 600 hp, or 617 hp with the Competition Package. The new xDrive45e plug-in hybrid model combined a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, and offered up to 50 kilometres of all-electric range. Despite its power, the X5's steering dynamics were less engaging than expected, especially at higher speeds, though the cabin remained quiet and comfortable.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive in Canada. An optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-litre V6 engine offered 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The Nautilus featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, with the adaptive suspension included with the V6. While Comfort mode felt too soft, Sport mode made the steering heavy, and Normal mode provided a balanced drive. The Nautilus excelled as a road-tripper, offering a quiet and comfortable ride, though the steering lacked engagement. The twin-turbo V6 delivered impressive performance, especially on mountain roads, despite sharing its engineering with the Ford Edge.

The 2021 BMW X5 made efficient use of space, with well-placed cupholders and a wireless phone charging pad. The seating was spacious and comfortable for short trips, though the front seats felt hard after extended periods. The rear seats accommodated two adults comfortably, with an optional third row available. The X5's climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with power functionality and vehicle height adjustment made loading cargo convenient. Without the third row, the cargo area was spacious, though the xDrive45e offered slightly less space. However, the rear doors did not open very wide, making access to the second row less convenient.

Inside the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, the cabin featured smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive due to Active Noise Control. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with a heated steering wheel. The optional 22-way power front seats offered exceptional comfort, even on long drives. The rear seats were heated, but legroom was tight for a midsize SUV. Storage space was adequate, though some areas were hard to access. The hands-free power liftgate revealed a well-finished luggage compartment, offering 1,055 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,948 litres with the back seat folded down.

The 2021 BMW X5 came equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system included a digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and remote start. Optional features included a head-up display, quad-zone climate control, a wireless charger, ventilated and massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and premium audio systems. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was user-friendly once familiar.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software, offering over-the-air updates, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. The test vehicle included connected navigation, wireless charging, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. The system's user interface was intuitive, with separate physical controls for stereo and climate functions. The natural voice recognition worked well, and the Revel speakers provided excellent sound quality. The Phone as a Key feature allowed smartphones to unlock and start the Nautilus.

The 2021 BMW X5 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety and driver assistance features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the Driving Assistance Professional Package's adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems had issues with responsiveness and visibility, particularly in bright sunlight or rain. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus included the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 suite, featuring forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Black Label added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, with adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera, and rear parking sensors. The safety systems were effective and unobtrusive during testing. The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was rated as a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.