2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus, available exclusively in Reserve trim in Canada, showcased a sophisticated and streamlined exterior design. Its grille, reminiscent of a bifurcated Mercedes-Benz design, featured LED lighting that extended through the grille, illuminating the Lincoln star logo. This horizontal aesthetic continued at the rear with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. The interior was the highlight, with a full-width screen as its crown jewel. The materials used were of excellent quality, featuring polished metal, open-pore wood, and fine leather. The piano key shifter style, a traditional Lincoln design element, was a notable feature. An optional Jet Appearance Package added two-tone paint, black exterior trim, and 22-inch wheels for an additional $3,750.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered as a rental, was a black-on-black-on-black model with dark grey wheels. Despite the heat-sink colour combination being less than ideal for a tropical climate, the Wrangler's design remained fundamentally appealing. It was rooted in a World War II military vehicle, offering a capability to go almost anywhere. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon X, with prices ranging from $42,995 to $80,085 in Canada. The interior was functional, with grey fabric dashboard trim, metallic accents, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Wrangler's design emphasized function over form, making it popular despite its lack of sophistication compared to most new cars.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid option, available for an additional $3,500, offered 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with a fuel economy of 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The gas-only engine consumed 9.8 L/100 km combined. The hybrid version provided a range of over 950 kilometres. All Nautilus models featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with the adaptive suspension enhancing the driving experience. The hybrid's continuously variable transmission (CVT) was smooth, avoiding the typical droning associated with CVTs.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a standard 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission, or an optional turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with a rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it capable off-road. However, its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. The ride was rough, with slow steering and sloppy handling traits, but the Wrangler's off-road capabilities remained impressive.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus offered power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats, with the 24-way Perfect Position front seats providing exceptional comfort. The rear seats, while not as luxurious, offered 1,095 millimetres of legroom. The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create different moods. Cargo space was generous, with 997 litres behind the second row and 1,947 litres with the seats folded down. The Nautilus was available only with seating for five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated front seats and steering wheel. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatback panels. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Cargo space was reasonable, with 897 litres in the four-door model, expandable to 2,050 litres by folding the back seat down. Accessing the cargo area was cumbersome due to the tailgate and rear window design.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for various information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen on the centre console handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The inclusion of Google Maps, Alexa Built-in, and over-the-air updates enhanced the technology offering. However, the unlabelled steering wheel controls and menu-driven vent adjustments were distractions.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system included a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display between the analog gauges, passive entry, and a remote engine starting system. Rear parking sensors were part of the optional Safety Group package, aiding in reversing.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came equipped with the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, including lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. The Blue Cruise 1.2 technology offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, with features like automatic lane-change assist and In-Lane Repositioning. The 2023 Nautilus received five stars for frontal and side crash protection from the NHTSA, while the 2024 model received a "Good" rating from the IIHS for crashworthiness.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included side curtain airbags as standard equipment. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was limited to the Wrangler Sahara. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler "Good" for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact test, but "Marginal" for the small overlap frontal-impact test.