Compare the2023 Cadillac XT5VS 2023 Lincoln Nautilus

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

Safety

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The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Nautilus doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Nautilus doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the XT5 and the Nautilus have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors 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 Cadillac XT5 is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

	XT5	Nautilus
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	147	212
Neck Stress	188 lbs.	229 lbs.
Neck Compression	11 lbs.	21 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	213/542 lbs.	165/596 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	155 lbs.	197 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	22/17 lbs.	145/201 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 Cadillac XT5 is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

	XT5	Nautilus
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	151 lbs.	190 lbs.
Hip Force	184 lbs.	192 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	16 inches

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

Warranty

The XT5’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Nautilus’ (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Cadillac vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac above average in long-term dependability. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lincoln is rated lower.

Engine

The XT5’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 60 more horsepower (310 vs. 250) than the Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Cadillac XT5 V6 is faster than the Lincoln Nautilus turbo 4 cyl.:

	XT5	Nautilus
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.4 MPH	88.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the XT5 gets better mileage than the Nautilus:

			MPG
XT5
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the XT5’s fuel efficiency. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The XT5 FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Nautilus (19.4 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The XT5 AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Nautilus (21.7 vs. 18 gallons).

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Cadillac XT5, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Nautilus.

Brakes and Stopping

The XT5’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.

The XT5 stops shorter than the Nautilus:

	XT5	Nautilus
60 to 0 MPH	111 feet	117 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Cadillac XT5’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Lincoln Nautilus only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The XT5 AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Nautilus Reserve AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The XT5 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Nautilus Reserve AWD (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the XT5’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (38.7 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The XT5 w/20” wheels’ turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (39 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

Chassis

The Cadillac XT5 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 200 to 250 pounds less than the Lincoln Nautilus.

The front grille of the XT5 2.0 Turbo 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.

Towing

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the XT5, using the StabiliTrak® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the Nautilus.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Cadillac service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Cadillac second in service department satisfaction. With a 26% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 12th.

Ergonomics

The XT5’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Nautilus does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the XT5 and the Nautilus have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the XT5 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Nautilus prevents the driver from operating the rear windows just as it does the other passengers.

The XT5’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.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the XT5 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.

When the XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport 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.

The XT5 Premium Luxury/Sport’s optional Automatic Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The Nautilus (except Standard)’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the XT5 owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the XT5 will cost $225 less than the Nautilus over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the XT5 is less expensive to operate than the Nautilus because typical repairs cost less on the XT5 than the Nautilus, including $5 less for a fuel pump, $83 less for front struts and $200 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Cadillac XT5 and the Lincoln Nautilus, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the XT5 second among midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Nautilus isn’t in the top three.

The Cadillac XT5 outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by 32% during 2022.