2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a typical SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The base Traverse L had 18-inch wheels, while higher trims offered 20-inch wheels. Sharing a platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6, the Traverse aimed for a more blue-collar feel compared to its premium siblings. Inside, the Traverse featured a restrained design with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof. Materials in the RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 price tag.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus had its roots in the second-generation Lincoln MKX, which was based on the Ford Edge platform. The MKX was facelifted and renamed the Nautilus in 2019, moving away from alphanumeric naming and adopting more attractive styling. For 2021, the exterior remained the same, but the cabin received a significant update with a new dash design, clean lines, soft materials, and a large touchscreen. The "Piano Key" shifter-button layout was unconventional but easy to use. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was user-friendly and similar to Ford's SYNC 3, with almost no learning curve. The screen's glossiness reflected the bright work in the center console, so sunglasses were recommended. The Nautilus came in Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, each offering a range of features from synthetic leather upholstery to a 19-speaker premium stereo system. The Black Label trim included a twin-turbo V6, AWD, and a comprehensive list of driver assistance features.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided ample power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic performed well overall, though it occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and a comfortable ride. However, it lacked agility on twisty roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation and could send torque to individual wheels. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 355 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine had standard FWD or optional AWD, while the V6 came with standard AWD. The twin-turbo V6 provided smooth and controlled power delivery, especially at highway speeds. The adaptive suspension nearly eliminated road bumps, and the Nautilus felt firm and planted through corners. The engine stop-start feature had a slight delay, but overall, the driving experience was pleasant.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, while higher trims offered ventilated front seats and heated rear seats. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, with 23.0 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate available on the Premier and High Country models. Despite its size, the Traverse had limited interior storage options.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus provided up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space, more than the Lexus RX 350 and Cadillac XT5. With the rear seats in use, it offered 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with plenty of head- and legroom in the rear seats. The front seats were especially comfortable, with available 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units. The center console and door handles featured soft-touch materials, making them comfortable for resting arms. The Nautilus also had a large center console bin and deep in-door pockets for storage.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen was easy to use, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse's analog instruments, supplemented by a small LCD screen, were functional but might seem dated to tech-savvy buyers. The rearview camera mirror and optional HD surround-view camera system improved visibility and maneuverability. All trim levels had 2 USB ports per row, but wireless phone charging was only standard on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto displayed well on the large screen, with no unnecessary repackaging of icons. The available wireless charging pad made phone integration seamless. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system provided excellent sound quality. The Nautilus's infotainment system was user-friendly, with a helpful home button to navigate back to the main screen if needed.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS, along with a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings, and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests, and five stars in side-impact crash tests. The Traverse offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist available only on higher trims.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came with the CoPilot360 package, which included standard automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional driver assistance features were available, such as adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, a surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. Despite the extensive tech, the standard backup camera was low-quality, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions.