2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Hyundai Tucson

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson had a more conventional styling compared to its futuristic successor. It featured an upright layout that provided a commanding view of the road. Inside, the Tucson boasted a modern and attractive dash design, seamlessly integrating tech features into the overall aesthetic. Every button and dial was easy to find, making the interior user-friendly and visually appealing.

Trim levels for the 2021 Tucson included SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. The base SE trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, a digital driver information display, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, power-adjustable seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus, originally the second-generation Lincoln MKX, underwent a significant facelift in 2019, embracing more attractive styling and moving away from the alphanumeric naming convention. For 2021, the exterior remained largely unchanged, but the cabin received a sharp new dash design with clean lines, soft materials, and a large, crisp 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 visually impressive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Trims for the Nautilus included Standard, Reserve, and Black Label. The Standard trim featured 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, a power rear liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, synthetic leather upholstery, and heated front seats. The Reserve trim added genuine leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and a Revel 13-speaker premium stereo system. The Black Label trim included a twin-turbo V6 engine, standard all-wheel drive, 21-inch wheels, adaptive suspension, and a 19-speaker premium stereo.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 181 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and had standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at highway speeds, while the 2.4-liter engine provided a livelier performance around town. The Tucson had a comfortable and refined ride, with a towing capacity of up to 1,500 pounds for the base engine and 2,000 pounds for the 2.4-liter engine.

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 an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine making 355 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine had standard FWD or available AWD, while the twin-turbo V6 came with standard AWD. The twin-turbo V6 provided smooth and controlled acceleration, complemented by an adaptive suspension that nearly eliminated road bumps. The Nautilus also featured an engine stop-start feature to conserve fuel, though it had a slight delay in response.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it offered adequate space for weekend bags or large boxes. The Tucson's front seats provided solid headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seating even on long trips. The rear seats were accommodating enough for adults on road trips. The Tucson also featured plenty of cubbies and compartments for storage, with helpful trays for the driver.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered 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 provided 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space. A power liftgate was standard, with an available hands-free option. The Nautilus emphasized two-row comfort, with spacious and comfortable rear seats for adults on long trips. The front seats were particularly luxurious, especially with the available 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units. The Nautilus also featured a large center console bin, deep in-door pockets, and storage below the floating center controls.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim featured an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was easy to use, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons and no unnecessary repackaging of CarPlay. The available wireless charging pad made phone integration seamless. The Nautilus also offered a Revel 19-speaker premium audio system, providing excellent sound quality for music and talk radio.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Upper-tier trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

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