Compare the2023 Lincoln NautilusVS 2023 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Lincoln Nautilus have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lincoln Nautilus are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Lincoln Nautilus has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Nautilus has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Enclave doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Nautilus and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Nautilus is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Nautilus	Enclave
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	212	216
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	77 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	282	333
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.9 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35.2%	35.2%
Neck Compression	44 lbs.	51 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	145/201 lbs.	258/133 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lincoln Nautilus is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Nautilus	Enclave
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	192 lbs.	204 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	134
Hip Force	635 lbs.	716 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	425 lbs.	554 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Lincoln Nautilus is safer than the Enclave:

	Nautilus	Enclave
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	402 lbs.	446 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	45 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	1.3 in
Shoulder Force	268 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	6 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	201 lbs.
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	535 lbs.	848 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Nautilus the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Enclave has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Nautilus comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Enclave’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Nautilus 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Enclave. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Enclave ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Nautilus’ corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Enclave’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Nautilus’ reliability 21 points higher than the Enclave.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Nautilus first among midsize premium suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Enclave isn’t in the top three in its category.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 1 place higher in reliability than Buick.

Engine

The Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The Nautilus’ optional 2.7 turbo V6 produces 25 more horsepower (335 vs. 310) and 114 lbs.-ft. more torque (380 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Nautilus turbo V6 is faster than the Buick Enclave:

	Nautilus	Enclave
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.8 MPH	84.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Nautilus gets better mileage than the Enclave:

			MPG
Nautilus
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/26 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/25 hwy
		2.7 turbo V6	19 city/25 hwy
Enclave
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	17 city/25 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Nautilus’ brake rotors are larger than those on the Enclave:

	Nautilus	Enclave
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	12.6 inches

The Nautilus stops much shorter than the Enclave:

	Nautilus	Enclave
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Nautilus’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Enclave (265/40R21 vs. 255/65R18).

The Nautilus’ standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s standard 65 series tires. The Nautilus’ optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Nautilus offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Enclave’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The Nautilus Reserve AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Enclave Avenir pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Nautilus Reserve AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Enclave Avenir (27.1 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Chassis

The Nautilus is 1 foot, 2.8 inches shorter than the Enclave, making the Nautilus easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Nautilus has 1.6 inches more front legroom and 1.3 inches more rear legroom than the Enclave.

Cargo Capacity

The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume than the Enclave with its rear seat up (37.2 vs. 23.6 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Nautilus. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Nautilus 2.7 Turbo can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Nautilus can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Enclave can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Optional Trailer Sway Control on the Nautilus uses the AdvanceTrac™ sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Nautilus’ front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Nautilus offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Enclave doesn’t offer cornering lights. The Nautilus (except Standard) also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The Nautilus (except Standard)’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Enclave doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Nautilus will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Nautilus will retain 45.16% to 45.45% of its original price after five years, while the Enclave only retains 43.19% to 43.97%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Nautilus is less expensive to operate than the Enclave because it costs $454 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Nautilus than the Enclave, including $197 less for a water pump, $95 less for front brake pads, $244 less for a starter, $219 less for fuel injection, $225 less for a fuel pump and $228 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lincoln Nautilus and the Buick Enclave, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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