I am always excited to see a Lincoln on my loan list, and then sad when it is time to drop it off after a week. There is just something about the brand that excites. The badge represents luxury, the build always puts comfort for the driver first, and the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve was no exception.
Climbing into it your eyes are immediately drawn to the two screens, one more than most. The first is your standard infotainment system with touch screen navigation. The second a complete wrap around dash. It definitely has a wow factor. However, in terms of practicality, it mostly doubles up on what everything the first screen is already showing.
This reminded me of an IMAX movie screen, how it went from edge to edge. Running left to right, right across the entirety of the dash, from driver to passenger view. Then even more like a movie screen when you turn the vehicle on and off, and each act comes with its own cinematic visuals. Sparks of light come to life from opposite ends of the top screen, then converge at the secondary screen to form the Lincoln logo. I appreciated the pageantry and the extra showman. Much like having the Nautilus’ grill pattern projected right before the driver’s side door.
You are seated on soft cream leather with aerating dimples. The two seats up front are equipped with over 8 ways to customize to your seating preferences. Choose how leaned back or protruding you want the lower and upper portion of the seat to be, with consideration for each hip and leg, individually. There is plenty of lumbar support that does not go away, just because you have the massage featuring on. This means a deeper pulsing and/or circulating motion, for those like me, who like to feel the knead of the electric motor really push and prod at you.
The cabin is stylish with a mix of material media. A two toned light on dark grey leather wheel with a slimmer hold, polished chrome logo, and discreet button control pad. Brushed chrome speaker covers, wood panel detailing on the centre console, and a crystal navigation knob. Like the wrap around dash screen, this was the first time I have seen the latter featured in any Lincoln model.
The SUV looks like it could seat 8 across three rows, but it is max 5, with plenty of cargo space instead. The back seats also easily fold down with a push of a button. Then are just as easy to push back up and click into place.
There is more storage room up front with a slanted charging mat and binning for wireless charging. A deep centre compartment and more rubber mats to securely hold smalls.
As for handling, the Lincoln Nautilus is equipped with several drive modes to choose from. Conserve for eco green driving, excite for power and sport, slippery for Vancouver’s rainy fall, and deep conditions for would-be snow and sleet.
As for the way it drives, despite its girth, the is Lincoln surprisingly agile. Quick on pedal response and easy to speed up. At times, I felt my body and head get glued to the seat from the pressure. By comparison, the brakes felt soft, like you really had to stomp on it to activate.
All the camera views and angles meant no blind spots and a safer ride with proximity recognition and lane assist. Then minimal roll back when stopped on a hill.
At first I did not like the hollow knocking on tin sound that the Nautilus made, when signalling for turns. The tick-tocks felt cheap and hollow, made more irritating because the cabin was so silent and shielded from nose of the outside world. Although eventually they faded into the background with great speakers to drown out the noise. I was however still able to hear the hydraulics of the massaging motors taking in and expelling air like a lung.
