Lincoln Nautilus vs Hyundai Palisade Hybrid

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus exuded a stately presence with its distinctive grille, reminiscent of a horse collar, adorned with the Lincoln star trim elements in chrome, copper, or black, depending on the trim level. The large Lincoln logo was prominently displayed at the centre, flanked by sleek, eye-slit headlights with winged LED light signatures. The body of the Nautilus sat wide and proud, featuring a contrasting black roof and pillars, with integrated door handles that blended seamlessly into the shoulder line. The design was further accentuated by a spear-shaped element along the upper doors, which included Nautilus lettering, and a trim strip above the rocker panels. 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. Inside, the Nautilus offered 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 interior layout, though functional, was unconventional, featuring a stepped design from the low-set centre console to the wide display screen. The base Premiere trim provided synthetic leather upholstery, while the Reserve trim upgraded to leather with additional colour options.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid, available in Luxury and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, integrated seamlessly into the gas-only Palisade lineup. The base Luxury trim came standard with 20-inch alloy wheels and a massive grille framed by LED projector headlights and five large LED daytime running lights. The profile featured body-colour, heated side mirrors with power-folding capabilities on the Luxury Hybrid. Acoustic side glass on the front and rear windows was standard across all trims. The rear view was equally striking, with wide-spaced letters spelling the vehicle's name below a large Hyundai emblem and stacks of five LED taillights wrapping around the rear corners. The exhaust was discreetly tucked away, emphasizing the Palisade's focus on peaceful, efficient driving. Inside, the Palisade impressed with its organic and natural shapes, offering a richer feeling of craftsmanship compared to other non-luxury crossovers. The base gas-only trims featured H-Tex synthetic leatherette upholstery, eight-way power adjustment for the driver's seat, and three-stage heating elements for the front seats. Higher trims added features like seat ventilation, integrated driver's seat memory settings, and Nappa leather upholstery on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus offered modest power for its price, with a standard turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This was adequate for a typical midsize SUV, but luxury buyers often expected more, especially given the vehicle's weight of over 2,000 kilograms. The engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and came standard with all-wheel drive. The hybrid variant, which was tested, featured the same engine with a larger turbo and an electric motor, boosting output to 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It utilized a continuously variable transmission, which kept the powertrain in the background, focusing on quiet, serene comfort rather than sportiness. The Nautilus offered various drive modes, including Normal, Conserve, Excite, Slippery, and Deep Conditions, with the latter two for adverse weather. The ride was smooth, even with the largest 22-inch wheels, though the handling was described as spongy, with slow but direct steering.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid defied the stereotype of slow hybrids, offering a fun-to-drive experience for a family car. It featured a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery. The turbo-four engine alone produced 258 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, but with the electric motors, the total output reached 329 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque. This ensured the Palisade never lagged, whether in town or on the highway. The advanced eight-speed automatic transmission and propulsion systems contributed to its impressive performance. The hybrid system eliminated the old platform's starter motor and auxiliary belts, relying on a more capable electric motor connected directly to the engine. This optimized powertrain produced more power while consuming less fuel. Inside, the Palisade was remarkably quiet, with noise-absorbing carpet and acoustic glass keeping road and tire noise at bay. The steering was sharp, with nice weight and balance, though the pedals felt a bit squishy, creating a slight disconnect between steering and pedal feel.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus prioritized comfort for both first- and second-row 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 a massage function, and heated rear seats. The second row offered excellent space, with 1,095 millimetres of legroom, and the seats were almost as sculpted as those in the front. The rear seats folded down via power releases in the cargo area, providing 1,030 litres of cargo space with the seats upright and 2,020 litres when folded flat. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free version available.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid offered 2,455 litres of total cargo capacity, trailing some competitors but surpassing others like the Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, and Mazda CX-90. The second-row legroom was slightly compromised due to the battery's position, but it still offered more space than most competitors. The third row, however, had less legroom and headroom compared to rivals like the Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot. Despite this, the Palisade's cabin was more comfortable, with dual-zone climate control, second-row HVAC controls, and seven USB-C power outlets. The Palisade Hybrid came standard with a second-row bench seat and seating for eight, with captain's chairs available on higher trims. The interior was filled with cubbies for smaller items, including a centre console with a rubberized cargo space and a small shelf ahead of the front passenger seat.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus featured a unique approach to technology with a full-width, 48-inch screen at the base of the windshield, displaying essential information like maps, weather, and media. An 11.1-inch lower touchscreen handled typical infotainment controls, including navigation, climate settings, and phone mirroring via standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other standard features included a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, a digital key, satellite radio, remote start, and a wireless smartphone charger. The audio system ranged from a standard 10-speaker setup to a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D unit. Lincoln Rejuvenate offered relaxation programs using scent, seating position, and calming images on the 48-inch screen.

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came well-equipped with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen and a matching digital instrument cluster. It supported HD and Sirius XM satellite radio, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. A standard Driver Talk intercom system facilitated communication between rows. Most trims featured a 14-speaker Bose stereo, and a 15-watt wireless charging pad was standard, though it tended to overheat phones. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a built-in dashcam, recording front and rear views. The Palisade also introduced "Stay Mode," allowing the climate control and infotainment system to run while the gas engine was off.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus was loaded with 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 automatic emergency braking. Lincoln BlueCruise, a hands-free driving system, was also standard for four years. The Nautilus scored well in crash tests, earning a perfect 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 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid came standard with a suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic assist, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection. The blind-view monitor was standard on higher trims, and the rear doors featured a safe-exit alert indicator. The Palisade's ADAS tech performed flawlessly during testing. At the time of writing, crash test ratings for the 2026 model were not available, but the 2025 Palisade received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.