2023 Lincoln Nautilus Redesign, Hybrid, Black Label

Known in the past as the MKX, the Nautilus has been around for about four years. It came with the mid-cycle refresh of the crossover that was earlier knowns as the MKX and it looks like its production cycle won’t last for too long. The latest reports suggest that the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus will be the final model year, as the Oakville plant, in which the Nautilus is produced, will start producing electric cars soon after. That’s also a clear indicator that the next year’s model won’t bring any notable changes.

We expect to see a familiar design, with familiar design characteristics. Therefore, you may count on a crossover that offers a high-quality cabin, a smooth and comfortable ride. Furthermore, we like the long list of standard equipment, as well as a pretty capable optional powertrain. On the other hand, the biggest complaint goes to handling, as it isn’t particularly engaging.

As there are no significant changes to come, we believe that the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year.

2023 Lincoln Nautilus Design

As we’ve just mentioned, the 2023 Lincoln Nautilus will probably represent the final production year and therefore, we don’t believe we could see bigger changes regarding design and features. The next year’s model will continue with the same design, which was introduced for the 2019 model year. That year, the MKX changed the name and came with a completely new styling, which follows the brand’s latest design language, established by models like Navigator and Continental.

However, the base layout and mechanics remained largely the same as in the MKX, so some aspects of the vehicle do feel a little bit outdated. That particularly refers to the chassis and suspension setup, which result in not particularly engaging handling. Most rivals are more fun to drive.

Interior

The interior design is the freshest thing on this car. The 2021 model came with a completely redesigned dashboard design, which utilizes high-quality materials and comes with a pretty impressive overall quality. We particularly like the style of the new dashboard, which is simple and elegant, like most other Lincoln models in the lineup.

Besides great quality, this crossover offers pretty nice seats at the front, with very good support. Furthermore, we like the driving position very much, both in terms of ergonomics and visibility. The second row is as spacious and accommodates adults with ease.

When it comes to the cargo area, you may count on about 37 cubic feet behind the second row and 69 cubic feet of the total cargo volume, which is above-average for the segment.

Features

We don’t expect bigger changes in this aspect, so all models should come equipped with goodies like remote start, dual-zone climate control, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13.2-inch touch screen, a 10-speaker stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Furthermore, we expect to see a lot of available features. Some of the highlights should be goodies like a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, navigation, wireless device charging, a 13- or 19-speaker Revel stereo, HD Radio, and a rear-seat entertainment system.

The same is with safety and driver-assistance features. So, we expect that base models will come equipped with goodies like a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors etc. Also, expect to find a couple of upgrades, such as front parking sensors, parallel and perpendicular park assist, surround-view camera and adaptive cruise control, which will be available.

2023 Lincoln Nautilus Engines

Things under the hood will carry on the same way and you may count on two familiar powertrain options. Therefore, base models will come with a familiar 2.0-liter turbo-four, which puts out 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, which is more than enough to satisfy an average driver. It’s a great pick for daily commuting as well, considering that the average fuel economy goes around 21 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, which is decent for this segment.

If you prefer something more powerful, there is the well-known 2.7-liter V6, which puts out 335 horsepower. Driving dynamics are great, though you may expect slightly lower mpg ratings. Equipped with this engine, the Nautilus can tow around 3.500 pounds.