Compare the2023 Lincoln NautilusVS 2023 Lexus RX

Both the Nautilus and the RX 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, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, 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.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Nautilus its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 126 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RX has not been fully tested, yet.

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.

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

The Nautilus has more powerful engines than the RX:

Both the Nautilus and the RX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Nautiluses have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The RX 350h/500h doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Nautilus uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The RX 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 RX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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

For better traction, the Nautilus has larger standard tires than the RX (245/60R18 vs. 235/60R19). The Nautilus’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RX (265/40R21 vs. 235/60R19).

The Nautilus’ optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RX’s optional 50 series tires.

The Nautilus has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The RX base model’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

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

The Nautilus has .4 inches more front headroom, 1.7 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 2.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (37.2 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (68.8 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

The Nautilus’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’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 RX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

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 RX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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 RX.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Lincoln Nautilus, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lexus RX isn't recommended.