Lexus NX Hybrid vs Lincoln Nautilus

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus had a stately and commanding presence. Its grille, reminiscent of a horse collar, featured a black mesh with Lincoln star trim elements available in chrome, copper, or black, depending on the trim level or appearance package. A prominent Lincoln logo was centrally placed, flanked by squinting eye-slit headlights with winged LED light signatures. The body sat wide and proud, with a contrasting black roof and pillars. Integrated door handles were hidden within the shoulder line, while a spear-shaped design element along the upper doors added a touch of elegance. The rear boasted a spoiler and a full-width taillight within a black trim piece, complemented by standard 19-inch alloy wheels, with options for larger sizes. The interior featured a unique, high-end look with a 48-inch screen at the base of the windshield, requiring a lowered steering wheel with a flat top. The cockpit had a stepped design, starting with a low-set centre console and culminating in the wide display screen. The base Premiere trim offered synthetic leather upholstery, while the Reserve trim upgraded to leather with additional colour options.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, specifically the NX 350h F Sport 3, exhibited an over-stylized design typical of modern Lexus models. Its front showcased a large, dark, intricately patterned spindle grille, flanked by squinting LED headlights and blacked-out air intakes. The aggressive and complex face divided opinions. The profile was sporty yet less extroverted, with smooth, rounded edges and body-coloured fender flares. F Sport elements included dark trim on mirrors, window surrounds, rocker panels, and roof rails, along with dark 20-inch wheels. The fastback roof shape echoed coupe-like crossovers. Inside, the NX combined a sporty look with modern technology, featuring a digital instrument cluster and a large touchscreen angled toward the driver. The F Sport 3 model's interior was especially sporty, with dark graphite aluminum trim, metal pedals, and optional two-tone Circuit Red synthetic leather upholstery. Lexus’s NuLuxe textile convincingly mimicked real leather, adding to the upscale feel.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus offered modest power for its price. Its standard turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine produced 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, adequate for a typical midsize SUV but lacking for a luxury vehicle weighing over 2,000 kilograms. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The hybrid variant, which was tested, used the same engine with a larger turbo and an electric motor, boosting output to 310 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It employed a continuously variable transmission, focusing on quiet, serene comfort rather than sportiness. The hybrid's 0-96 km/h time improved to about 7 seconds. The Nautilus prioritized a smooth ride with a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension, with adaptive dampers available on the Reserve trim. Various drive modes were offered, but the handling remained soft and spongy, with slow but direct steering. The ride was buttery smooth, even with 22-inch wheels, though rippled surfaces caused some jiggling.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid, specifically the NX 350h F Sport 3, wasn't as sporty as its name suggested. It rode on adaptive dampers with Normal and Sport settings and had a firmer suspension, but it wasn't built for aggressive cornering. With 18.5 centimetres of ground clearance, it leaned in bends and lacked agility. Handling was controlled rather than sporty, with weighty steering that firmed up in Sport S and Sport S+ modes but offered little feedback. The ride was firm yet comfortable, with the Sport damper setting providing a busy ride on broken surfaces. The hybrid powertrain combined a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with three electric motors for standard all-wheel drive, producing 240 horsepower. The 0-96 km/h time was quoted at 7.2 seconds. Power delivery was unexciting, with a slushy drivetrain and droning engine under hard acceleration. Steering wheel paddles allowed for simulated downshifts, but they didn't mimic regular automatic transmission gear ratios. The NX 450h plug-in hybrid offered more power at 340 hp.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus prioritized comfort for both front and rear passengers. It came standard with power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, active noise cancellation, ambient lighting, and a power tilt/telescoping steering column. Optional features included ventilated front seats, 24-way power front seats with massage, and heated rear seats. The second row offered excellent space, with 1,095 millimetres of legroom and sculpted seats. Cargo space was generous, with 1,030 litres behind the rear seats and 2,020 litres with them folded flat. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free version available.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid's F Sport 3 model featured well-bolstered front seats with ample room for tall adults. Power seat and steering wheel adjustments ensured a comfortable seating position, complemented by heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Heated rear seats were standard on the Executive and F Sport 3 packages. A wireless phone charger was available, and the centre console offered cupholders and a large bin for small items. The rear seat accommodated two average-sized adults comfortably, with 950 millimetres of headroom and 917 millimetres of legroom. The rear cushion was comfortable for long trips, aided by a fold-down centre armrest with cupholders. Cargo space was relatively low for its class, with 643 litres behind the rear seats and 1,328 litres with them folded down. The coupe-like roof shape limited cargo capacity compared to competitors.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus featured a unique approach to technology with a full-width, 48-inch screen at the base of the windshield. It displayed essential information such as maps, weather, fuel level, and media, with some information always visible and others selectable via a traditional touchscreen below. The 11.1-inch lower touchscreen handled typical infotainment controls, including navigation, climate settings, and phone mirroring via standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, digital key, satellite radio, remote start, and wireless smartphone charger were standard. Audio options included a 10-speaker system, a 14-speaker Revel system, and a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D unit. Lincoln Rejuvenate offered relaxation programs using scent, seating position, lighting, and temperature, with calming images displayed on the 48-inch screen. The steering wheel featured five-way controllers for cruise control and voice controls, with a central volume dial on the centre console.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid came standard with a 9.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with SiriusXM satellite radio compatibility. Optional features included a programmable head-up display, a wireless phone charger, and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system. A three-year Remote Connect subscription provided a 4G connection and an app for remote starting, door lock/unlock, and vehicle status alerts. Touch-sensitive controllers on the steering wheel allowed drivers to choose information displayed in the instrument cluster, including trip fuel economy and audio details. The right-hand controller managed adaptive cruise control settings. The touchscreen was angled toward the driver for easy access, with quick response to inputs. A volume dial and embedded temperature controls were conveniently located.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, lane centring steering, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, high beam assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and intersection assist, and automatic emergency braking. Lincoln BlueCruise, a hands-free driving system, was also standard for four years. BlueCruise performed well, even executing automatic lane changes, but had some quirks, such as disengaging due to sun reflections on glasses. The Nautilus scored well in crash tests, earning five stars from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The 2026 Lexus NX Hybrid excelled in crash tests, earning the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It received four out of five stars in the frontal crash test and five stars in the side crash test from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The NX 350h came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 suite, which included blind spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection assist, and emergency steering assist. Optional features included automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, and a surround-view camera system. All systems performed well during testing, though the adaptive cruise control was somewhat complicated to operate.