Compare the2023 Subaru OutbackVS 2023 Lincoln Nautilus

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Outback has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Outback (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that use rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. The Nautilus doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the Nautilus.

The Outback’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Outback and the Nautilus have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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

	Outback	Nautilus
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	158	212
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/249 lbs.	165/596 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 Subaru Outback is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

	Outback	Nautilus
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	28	84
Chest Movement	.5 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	101 lbs.	190 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	16 inches
HIC	146	257

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Nautilus is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 3 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

Engine

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (260 vs. 250) than the Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Lincoln Nautilus turbo 4 cyl.:

	Outback	Nautilus
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.9 MPH	88.8 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Nautilus doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Outback
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/32 hwy
		XT 2.4 turbo flat-4	22 city/29 hwy
		Wilderness 2.4 turbo flat-4	21 city/26 hwy
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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Nautilus requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Transmission

The Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Outback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Nautilus are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx XT has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Nautilus; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

Suspension and Handling

The Outback Wilderness executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Nautilus Reserve AWD (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 3.2 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (36.1 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

Chassis

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 600 pounds less than the Lincoln Nautilus.

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Nautilus doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Cargo Capacity

The Outback has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Nautilus with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 68.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Outback easier. The Outback’s trunk lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the Nautilus’ liftover is 30 inches.

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the Nautilus’ in almost every dimension:

	Outback	Nautilus
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42”/75”	41.5”/75”
Max Width	51”	45”
Min Width	43.3”	45”
Height	32.1”	31”

Towing

The Outback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (2700 vs. 1500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Outback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Nautilus. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Outback’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Nautilus’ cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Outback has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Outback has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Nautilus only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Outback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Nautilus doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Outback Limited/Touring is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Nautilus’ mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Outback will cost $390 to $2420 less than the Nautilus over a five-year period.

The Outback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Outback will retain 52.14% to 55.07% of its original price after five years, while the Nautilus only retains 45.16% to 45.45%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Outback is less expensive to operate than the Nautilus because typical repairs cost much less on the Outback than the Nautilus, including $127 less for a water pump, $437 less for a muffler, $31 less for front brake pads, $389 less for a timing belt/chain and $686 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Subaru Outback will be $16723 to $23601 less than for the Lincoln Nautilus.

Recommendations

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

The Subaru Outback outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by over seven to one during 2022.

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