Today we were planning to take the drive out to Chilliwack to experience Dine Chilliwack. Similar to Dine Out Vancouver, but the Chilliwack version running from April 11-27th, 2025.
Considering the distance to drive out and back I figured I wanted the comfort for both myself and to chauffeur my friend in. So booked a week with the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve as the ideal dress to impress ride.
Incredibly sleek inside and out the Nautilus is a heavy duty SUV with asthetics at the forefront. A crimson red paint job with metallic flecks that matches the maroon glow of the interior. I liked the elevated height of the door handle that followed with the door trim, although found it not as comfortable to grip and pull open.
Once inside the standout is the dash, it wraps around extending from the driver’s view through to the passenger, end to end. It reminded me of a magazine stand with shoulder to shoulder images between your regular speed, fuel tank, directional map, odometer, temperature, and coolant on half. With digital clock, media centre and full weather report on the second half of the screen, in front of the passenger. You also have the ability to curate this view, much like how you can customize everything else with Lincoln’s luxury line.
Like an Imax screen of sorts, there are digital visuals that greet you when you start. A starry sky scene at dusk. It beckons you to the outdoors and this was the right vehicle to do it with.
The handful of creature comforts available makes it perfect for longer distance driving. You can customize your seat with micro adjustments either using all the electric paddles on the side of the seat or by deploying the touch screen for an easier representation of the functions.
Right at the centre of all the lumbar adjustments is a button for the massaging chairs. An easy push press to start with the option to choose your style and strength from pulsing to rolling, healing recovery to enerizing strength; for both driver and front seat passenger. This is still one of the stronger massaging mechanisms I have encountered, where you can really feel the pressure at work. The massage also lasts for a longer duration, leaving you not needing to restart it. Not once during our 1 hour and 15 minute drive from Central Surrey through to Chilliwack’s Distirict 1881 did I need to push to restart. Thus allowing the drive out to seem less arduous.
You can hear the hydraulics pumping within the seats. Similarly, you can also hear the air flowing when using the cooling seat function. It is a noisier drive overall, where you can hear the road under your tires. But the multitude of quality brush metal speakers that surround the front cabin help to drown most of this. I did however love the rhythmic tick of the turn signals and the melody that chimes when you turn off the vehicle. All designed to soothe and enhance the ride.
It was a narrow cabin, made spacious from the rounded dash that encircles like colluseum seats. The wheel had a similar oblong shape and an ergonomic grip that goes with it. Wide enough for one handed driving without the need to hunch your shoulders forward. The wheel had minimal buttons and was a welcomed piece of peace, especially after taking in all the media just behind it.
We were both in awe of the ambiance lighting, your choice of colour to enhance the experience. The dusty rose seemed to suit it best given the exterior and the warmer tone of the dash screen. Instead of just LED lights lining the trim the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus had a wind swept design flanking either ends of the dash, furthering the artistic design. It was whimsical like ethereal fairies dancing over a moon lit, bathed pool.
And then there is a digital scent, a built-in perfumed diffuser offering three choices: “mystic forest”, “ozonic azure”, and “violet cashmere”, each designer and a wonderful cherry on the top. An especially useful function while we were passing through the well fertilized farm lands of the Fraser Valley A first for any car brand that I know of.
As for the way it drives, there is no hiding the power behind the engine, even in eco mode. Touch sensitive a little gusto on the acceleration gave it great gas and I was pressed fast and hard against the seat. Heavier on the turns, but it doesn’t slow you down. I did note the slight learning curve and felt more reassured on day two.
I appreciated the gentle handed lane guidance system. It was very intuitive, whenever I even slightly departed from the lane it offered a gentle nudge in the right direction. Nothing that startled or had me feeling like it was taking over.
Despite the long drive, we were not left fatigued. The SUV certainly made this commute a toleratable and almost enjoyable one. Especially with the 30 minute drive between our two planned destinations then the drive to drop my friend off before taking care of myself.
I had been suffering a allergic reaction to an unknown allergen. I hadn’t changed my routine or introduced anything to it food or detergent wise. I did not feel especially stressed. In fact more healthier with more regular workouts, better eating, less drinking overall, and no more recreational smoking.
However it continued to get progressively worse as the week wore on and then climaxed during this trip. It was to the point that my face was all red, puffy and swollen, tender to touch, and painful to scratch or rub. I eventually got scared enough to drive myself to the hospital to get things sorted. Given my facial reaction, the nurses fast tracked me and I was seen quicker than those who had checked in before me.
The result was a clean blood test, no idea as to what this all could be from. I got my first dose of steroid medication to help with the inflammation coupled with Benadryl to help with the pain and itching. I stayed at the hospital for monitoring, the total time there was 9:30pm to 1:30pm. I managed to nap on their reclining patient seats as I waited for a perscription, doctor’s note excusing me from classes, and an allergist’s referral.
I managed to get home safely with the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve. A vehicle that I will remember and associate with comfort ans kindness during this difficult situation. It is a really well designed vehicle that you are proud to be seen in and want people to know you are driving. I felt like a VIP each time I got in and climbed out.
