It takes a lot to stand out in the ultra-competitive midsize luxury SUV segment, but the Lincoln Nautilus has managed to garner its fair share of attention since first hitting the market in 2019. Lincoln doubled down on everything there is to love about the Nautilus with the debut of the second-generation model in 2023 and the latest iteration proves that they’re not done refining it just yet. The Nautilus offers AWD as a standard feature and excels in both performance and efficiency with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four that can be optioned with a 100-kW electric motor to give the hybrid model an impressive 310 hp. The SUV’s Excite mode gives drivers the opportunity to unleash each and every one of those ponies, stiffening the suspension to reduce body roll and allow the Nautilus to conquer the corners.
These performance-related features might inject some much-appreciated fun into the luxury-focused SUV, but it’s the Nautilus’ arsenal of cutting-edge tech that really sets it apart from the competition. Integrating the latest and greatest in automotive tech is a surefire way to stay relevant in the luxury market, a lesson that Lincoln has clearly taken to heart when designing the Nautilus. The two-row SUV isn’t just packed with a full suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), it also serves as the perfect showcase for Lincoln’s new infotainment software, a 48-inch display and some unconventional comfort and convenience features that give the Nautilus an immediate edge. Let’s climb into the cabin and see what sort of surprises the 2025 Nautilus has to offer.
Best-In-Class Panoramic Display
While other brands measure their displays in inches, Lincoln measures in feet. The Nautilus’ four-foot panoramic display stretches clear across the SUV’s dashboard, turning into a data-rich command center that gives drivers an easy way to track everything from GPS directions and weather to fuel economy speed and media. The expansive display is both the largest in its class and offers the highest resolution of any Lincoln to date, offering a crystal clear view and lending the SUV’s dashboard a decidedly futuristic look.
Of course, there is such a thing as having too much data. A clogged display can not only impact convenience but can almost present some real safety challenges as drivers struggle to pick out relevant details amid a messy torrent of information. Lincoln has engineered around this issue with a unique design that separates the 48-inch display into three sections: Critical, Supportive, and Glanceable. The Critical section, located where one would normally find the gauge cluster, displays the information that’s most relevant to the safe operation of the vehicle, such as speed and RPMs. Drivers can also check the current status of Lincoln’s BlueCruise hands-free driving system, which can be used on over 130,000 miles of “Blue Zone” highways across the US and Canada.
The Supportive area, located just to the right of the Critical section, provides drivers with quick access to GPS navigation while the Glanceable area is where you’ll be able to monitor weather conditions and tire pressure or stream your favorite tunes. While all three sections can be subtly customized to a driver’s liking, it’s the Glanceable section that holds the most potential for personalization. Nautilus owners can drag and drop different widgets into three distinct slots, tailoring their feed to the data they find most useful. These widgets are currently limited to the weather, tire pressure, and media apps, but Lincoln has indicated that video content and even interactive games could make their way onto the four-foot display before too long.
For those seeking a less cluttered dashboard experience, there’s Calm view. Simply press a button and the ultra-wide display will limit itself to displaying only the most critical information. This is perfect for drivers who prefer a more traditional driving experience, reducing distractions while still keeping you plugged into what’s going on under the hood.
Premium Cabin Details
While the Nautilus’ luxury credentials are on display the moment you get a look at the artistically crafted exterior, it’s the cabin where the SUV really gets a chance to show off. Lincoln has long prioritized the interior with modern, upscale designs and a liberal dose of premium materials like real wood, leather, and metal, and the 2025 Nautilus is no exception.
Take the seats for example. Lincoln’s Perfect Position leather-trimmed front seats don’t just come standard with both heating and ventilation; they also offer 24-way power adjustment and an Active Motion massage function that’ll allow you to kickstart your post-work decompression process. The second-row seats also gain a heating feature and are designed with a 60/40-split Easyfold function that allows drivers to easily increase the cargo room from 36.4 to 71.3 cu.ft.
An available Revel Ultima 3D audio system with 28 speakers and QuantumLogic surround sound provides a concert-level audio experience while wireless charging pad allows drivers to top off their smartphones without digging through a nest of power cables, but it’s the Nautilus’ more novel features that really set the SUV apart in the luxury segment.
From sight and sound to touch and even smell, Lincoln has catered to all the senses in designing the new Nautilus. An Active Noise Control feature filters out unwanted road and cabin noise for a more serene driving experience, though the real standout has a more olfactory focus. The SUV’s Digital Scent feature can turn the cabin into a rich, earthy Mystic Forest, provide a crisp, cool atmosphere with Ozonic Azure, or fill the interior with floral notes thanks to Violet Cashmere. These three fragrances come standard as part of the Digital Scent system, though drivers can also choose from four additional options including Sunlight Retreat and Cloud Blossom.
The Digital Scent system certainly represents a premium touch, but it isn’t even the only feature designed to improve cabin air quality. Lincoln has also packed the Nautilus with an Auto Air Refresh feature that both filters actively monitor interior air quality. The system’s Purge function can quickly rid the cabin of unwanted smells or clear the air to allow a new Digital Scent to be a little more noticeable. We were also surprisingly charmed by the Nautilus’ Lincoln Embrace, which provides a dazzling light show as soon as you approach the vehicle. The headlights and tail lights both flash in greeting, but it’s the LED light projecting a Lincoln-branded welcome mat earns the nod as the most futuristic feature. The Nautilus provides just as warm of a greeting in the interior with a startup graphic that leverages the full width of the 48-inch panoramic display.
Lincoln Digital Experience
The Lincoln Digital Experience (LDE) is the new infotainment software that replaced the Sync 4 system found on pre-2023 models. Said to be the fastest system ever offered by Lincoln or Ford, the LDE has the numbers to back it up. The new LDE software is able to process graphics 14 times faster than its predecessor, is five times faster when it comes to main processing, and boasts four times the memory and eight times the storage. This represents a massive improvement over the Sync 4 system, allowing the FDE to run data- and -graphics-heavy apps without missing a beat.
The Android Automotive-based LDE system offers a seamless connection to users’ favorite features, from Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to Google Assistant and a wide range of apps from the Google Play store like Spotify, Waze, SiriusXM, and Amazon Music. Drivers can even control the system through their preferred digital voice assistant, with the LDE offering both Google Assistant, Siri, and Amazon Alexa. With so much customization on offer, Lincoln has wisely included a driver profile feature that sees each Nautilus driver greeted with their own bespoke suite of apps, widgets, and settings, not to mention personalized seating and mirror positioning.
The 2025 Nautilus also comes packed with 5G wireless connectivity and an available Wi-Fi hotspot that can be used by up to 10 passengers at a time. While this should go a long way towards improving passenger contentment on longer rides, it’s the Nautilus’ ability to provide some stationary distractions that really sets it apart from the crowd. When the SUV is parked, users can stream their favorite videos, browse the internet or even play games on the LDE’s 11.1-inch touchscreen display. Want to catch up on last night’s game while you’re waiting for your takeout order, or try to log a new best lap time in exclusive racing games like Asphalt Nitro 2? The LDE has you covered. The system also includes a built-in Vivaldi web browser and will soon support Google Chrome, with an available Bluetooth keyboard and controller enabling improved wireless access for web surfing and gaming.
The Nautilus Is on Its Way to Becoming a Standout Luxury SUV
There’s no doubting the Lincoln Nautilus’ resume when it comes to state-of-the-art interior tech. From a best-in-class, high-definition panoramic display that makes other infotainment systems look like a child’s toy to premium comfort and convenience features like massaging seats, Digital Scent and the new Lincoln Digital Experience, the 2025 Nautilus can go toe-to-toe with any other luxury model in terms of innovation.
Most importantly, Lincoln has deployed the SUV’s tech in a way that makes sense, prioritizing the user experience instead of simply packing in a bunch of features and letting drivers wade through an unkempt interface. Lincoln’s two-row luxury SUV has already become a quick favorite, and the 2025 model has us predicting a bright future for the Nautilus. Lincoln might have its work cut out for it when it comes to dethroning some of the mainstays of the luxury segment, but it certainly looks like it’s on the right path.
