Compare the2023 Lincoln NautilusVS 2022 Lexus RXL

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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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Nautilus are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RXL doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 RXL 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 RXL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 Lexus RXL:

	Nautilus	RXL
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	3 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22.4%	33.2%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	412 lbs.
Neck Compression	21 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	165/596 lbs.	433/719 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	282	305
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.7 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35.2%	40.1%
Neck Stress	197 lbs.	267 lbs.
Neck Compression	44 lbs.	70 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	145/201 lbs.	403/457 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 Lexus RXL:

	Nautilus	RXL
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	192 lbs.	214 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	103	165
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	44 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	257	275
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	44 G’s
Hip Force	425 lbs.	685 lbs.

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Nautilus is 1.2% less likely to roll over than the RXL.

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 RXL last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Nautilus’ warranty.

Reliability

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

Engine

The Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 263) than the RX 350L’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Nautilus’ optional 2.7 turbo V6 produces 27 more horsepower (335 vs. 308) than the RX 450hL’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Nautilus turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the RX 350L 3.5 DOHC V6:

	Nautilus	RXL
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	15.8 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			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
RXL
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy

Regardless of its engine, the Nautilus’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the RXL Hybrid.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Nautilus uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The RX 450hL requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Nautilus has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The RXL doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Nautilus	RXL
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	12.9 inches

The Nautilus stops much shorter than the RXL:

	Nautilus	RXL
60 to 0 MPH	117 feet	133 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Nautilus has larger standard tires than the RXL (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Nautilus’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RXL (265/40R21 vs. 235/65R18).

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 RXL’s standard 65 series tires. The Nautilus’ optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the RXL’s optional 55 series tires.

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

Suspension and Handling

The Nautilus offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The RXL’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Nautilus’ wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the RXL (112.2 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

The Nautilus Reserve AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the RX 350L AWD 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 1.4 seconds quicker than the RX 350L (27.1 seconds @ .68 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

Chassis

The Lincoln Nautilus may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Lexus RXL.

The Nautilus is 6.9 inches shorter than the RXL, making the Nautilus easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Nautilus uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RXL doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Nautilus has .1 inches more front headroom, 1.4 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 8.7 inches more rear legroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the RXL.

The front step up height for the Nautilus is 3 inches lower than the RXL (17.5” vs. 20.5”). The Nautilus’ rear step up height is 2.8 inches lower than the RXL’s (18” vs. 20.8”).

Cargo Capacity

The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RXL with its rear seat up (37.2 vs. 7.5 cubic feet). The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RXL with its rear seat folded (68.8 vs. 58.5 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Nautilus easier. The Nautilus’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 30 inches, while the RXL’s liftover is 31.9 inches.

Towing

The Nautilus’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

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 RXL can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Nautilus’ exterior PIN entry system. The RXL doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Nautilus’ headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the RXL’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

The Nautilus Reserve/Black Label offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RXL.

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 RXL doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Nautilus owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Nautilus will cost $265 to $3430 less than the RXL over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Nautilus is less expensive to operate than the RXL because it costs $145 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Nautilus than the RXL, including $658 less for a water pump, $27 less for front brake pads, $582 less for a starter, $108 less for fuel injection, $100 less for a fuel pump, $1027 less for a timing belt/chain and $1143 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

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