2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Volvo XC90

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling to a more characterful yet distinctly Volvo appearance. The XC90 retained classic Volvo elements like a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but introduced softer lines, increased chrome detailing, and distinctive LED headlights with "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights. The Inscription trim, with its extra chrome and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the most visually striking, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more understated looks, respectively. Inside, the XC90 embraced Swedish minimalism with high-quality materials like matte-finish wood and optional wool upholstery, creating a refined and thoughtfully arranged interior.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus presented an attractive and balanced design, with enough detailing to give it character without appearing plain. The Nautilus 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 premium. The Nautilus Reserve model, priced at $59,800 CAD, offered optional Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, making it ideal for long drives. Despite some design shortcomings, the Nautilus provided a comfortable and inviting cabin experience.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all centred around a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 model featured a turbocharged engine producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 variant added a supercharger, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid, or Recharge, combined the T6 engine with electric motors, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft. While the XC90's power was sufficient, the small engine struggled with flexibility compared to competitors' six-cylinder or V8 options. The XC90's drive modes—Pure, Hybrid, and Power—offered varying levels of efficiency and power, but the Pure mode was limited to low speeds. Despite these limitations, the XC90 excelled in ride quality and quietness, with an optional air-suspension system enhancing comfort. The XC90's towing capacity was 2,250 kilograms, which was respectable but less than the Lincoln Aviator's 3,040 kilograms.

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. An optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-litre V6 engine offered 335 hp and 380 lb-ft for an additional $4,000. The Nautilus featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behaviour, steering effort, and adaptive suspension. While Comfort mode felt too soft and Sport mode too heavy, Normal mode provided a balanced driving experience. The Nautilus excelled in comfort during long drives, with features like massaging and heated seats and a 19-speaker Revel audio system enhancing the journey. The twin-turbo V6 delivered impressive performance, especially in Sport mode, although the steering lacked engagement. The Nautilus shared its engineering with the Ford Edge, hinting at its underlying sporty potential.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with headroom and legroom in all three rows being average for the segment. The third row was tight for adults, and the seats lacked support. An optional power sunroof and the XC90's upright roof profile contributed to a spacious feel. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with massage, but lacked a power-adjustable steering wheel. Storage space was limited, with a shallow centre console and minimal storage options. Cargo capacity was 317 litres with all seats in place, 965 litres with the rear seats folded, and 1,815 litres with the second and third rows folded, placing it near the bottom of the segment.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a luxurious interior with heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and ambient lighting. The optional 22-way power front seats offered exceptional comfort with massage programs and adjustable features. Rear passengers enjoyed heated seats and air conditioning vents, though legroom was tight for a midsize SUV. Storage space was adequate, with some hard-to-access areas. 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.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. The system was intuitive, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen that was easy to use. However, the text and typeface made reading menus difficult while driving, and the wireless charging pad was too small for most phones. The XC90 also offered a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins audio system and a head-up display.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Sync 4 software, offering over-the-air updates, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system included a connected navigation system, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. The user interface was intuitive, with physical stereo and climate controls. The Nautilus also featured Phone as a Key, allowing smartphones to unlock and start the vehicle.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top scores in crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered extensive standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus included the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 suite of driver-assist features, with additional features in the Black Label trim. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, and the IIHS rated it as a Top Safety Pick. The Nautilus's safety tech proved effective during testing, with features like adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist enhancing the driving experience.