It’s a new name and a face-lift for Lincoln’s midsize utility vehicle
Flying in the face of its history, Ford’s premium brand has been aggressively abandoning the use of three capital letters to name its vehicles. Yes, Lincoln is going back to real names.
The latest recipient is the Lincoln MKX that will henceforth be known as the Nautilus.
That’s a cool-sounding handle, even though technically it applies to clams, octopuses, squids and the U.S. Navy’s first nuclear-powered submarine. But it’s a far sight better than the anonymous MKX appellation that could be easily confused with the MKZ sedan.
In Lincoln’s utility vehicle lineup, the Nautilus is slotted between the compact MKC and below the upcoming sevenpassenger Aviator that is scheduled to arrive for the 2020 model year.
Although not entirely new when compared to the MKZ, the refresh for the Nautilus replaces the previous winged-grille design with a chromemesh-style nose, variations of which are attached to a number of other Lincolns. There’s also a new hood, front fenders, taillights and rear bumper. The net effect constitutes a beautification process that should help pique the interest of prospective buyers.
Since the Ford Edge-based platform is essentially unaltered, the Nautilus’s overall dimensions are similar to the MKX’s. They closely mirror those of its most immediate rival, the Cadillac XT5, plus other import-based fivepassenger luxury wagons such as the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Lexus RX.
Beneath the sheetmetal, Lincoln upgraded the suspension with available adaptive shock absorbers to help soak up uneven road surfaces. With this option, drivers can select from Comfort, Normal and Sport settings that alter both ride firmness and steering feedback.
The Nautilus’s interior has been mostly lifted from the MKX, however the previously optional customizable 12.3-inch digital gauge display is now standard. As before, the easy-to-use transmission shift controls are stacked vertically alongside the 8.0-inch touchscreen, which frees up space for a decent-sized storage bin and wireless phone charging.
For 2019, the MKX’s 303-horsepower V6 is not in the lineup. Instead, a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder— rated at 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque— is the base engine.
Carrying over from 2018 as an option is the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 with 335 horsepower and 380 poundfeet of torque. A new eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is standard for both engines.
For best fuel economy, the four-cylinder achieves 21 mpg in city driving and 25 mpg on the highway. That’s four mpg better than the previous V6, although the highway economy is the same.
The all-wheel-drive system that’s available with either engine directs 100 percent of the engine torque to the front wheels in normal traction/driving
conditions. When traction is reduced, or when aggressive launches are desired, it can shift up to 100 percent to the rear.
Nautilus pricing for the Standard trim begins at $41,350 (with destination charges). This gets you a number of basic luxury touches — including a hands-free power liftgate — plus an array of active-safety technologies.
The mid-level Select trim level has leather-covered seats, navigation system, power tilt/telescoping steering column and wood interior trim.
The Nautilus Reserve gets the adaptive-suspension package plus heated and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers and 20-inch wheels (18s are standard).
At this point, buyers can select from a plethora of options and packages, or they can simply head for the Nautilus Black Label with its $58,400 worth of premium gear ($63,000 with the turbo 2.7 and AWD). This includes, among other features, premium leather seats with embroidered headrests, panoramic roof, 19-speaker Revel-brand audio system, and 21-inch wheels.
Since interest in luxury-class utility models of all sizes and stripes shows no signs of slackening, Lincoln’s muchimproved and rebadged mid-sizer is worthy of your consideration amongst a slew of foreign- and domestic-based alternatives.