2022 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus was a visually appealing SUV, striking a balance between elegance and character without appearing overly plain. Its design was well-proportioned, and Lincoln's attention to detail ensured the Nautilus had a distinctive presence. At night, the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence added a touch of sophistication. Inside, the test vehicle featured light grey premium leather upholstery, with other interior colour options available, such as sandstone, dark brown, and black. However, the centre console design and some chrome-plated plastic elements detracted slightly from the overall luxurious feel.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe's exterior styling was more conservative compared to some of Hyundai's recent designs, yet it remained an attractive SUV. The Santa Fe maintained the same look as the 2022 model, with a wide upper and lower grille and thin LED headlights as its distinctive features. The test vehicle, an Ultimate Calligraphy trim, had a black interior with leather seats, which, while high-quality, appeared somewhat dark and monotone. The Nappa leather seats were comfortable and visually appealing, and the cabin offered a range of interior colour options to provide visual contrast.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive in Canada. An optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-litre V6 engine was available, producing 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The Nautilus offered Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, which adjusted powertrain behaviour, steering effort, and adaptive suspension. The V6 engine, combined with the adaptive suspension, provided a smooth and comfortable ride, although the steering lacked engagement. The Nautilus averaged 9.4 L/100 km over 1,400 kilometres, with a maximum range of 730 kilometres on the highway.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a 2.5-litre engine, with a choice between naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions. The naturally aspirated engine produced 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, while the turbocharged version delivered 281 hp and 311 pound-feet. The turbocharged engine, paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission, provided brisk acceleration and smooth handling. The Santa Fe featured four drive modes: Comfort, Sport, Snow, and Smart. The turbocharged version offered a significant performance boost, with immediate acceleration and passing power, while maintaining a quiet and smooth ride.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus featured a luxurious interior with smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive. The front seats were heated and ventilated, with optional 22-way power adjustments for added comfort. However, the rear seating was cramped for a midsize SUV, with limited legroom. The Nautilus offered 1,055 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,948 litres with the seats folded down. Storage space was adequate but not exceptional, with some compartments difficult to access.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided ample rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row, expanding to 2,041 litres with the seats folded. The Santa Fe offered comfortable seating, with standard heated front seats and dual-zone climate control. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included features like a hands-free smart liftgate, ventilated front seats, and a head-up display. However, the wide centre console slightly reduced driver leg and hip space.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus was equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Sync 4 software. It offered over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. The system was intuitive, with physical stereo and climate controls, and the Phone as a Key feature allowed smartphone access to the vehicle.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system in the Ultimate Calligraphy trim. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings and voice recognition capabilities. However, the voice-recognition system had mixed results, particularly with music and temperature commands. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim also included wireless device charging and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with the Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0 suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Black Label trim added adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assistance, and a surround-view camera system. The Nautilus received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and a rear-seat reminder system. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included Highway Driving Assist and adaptive cruise control. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.