Compare the2023 Mercedes AMG GLAVS 2023 Lincoln Nautilus

The AMG GLA’s 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.

The AMG GLA’s standard pretensioning seatbelts also sense rear collisions and remove slack from the seatbelts to help protect the occupants from whiplash and other injuries. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

Both the AMG GLA and Nautilus have rear cross-traffic warning, but the AMG GLA has Active Brake Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Nautilus’ Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The AMG GLA’s 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 AMG GLA 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

The AMG GLA 35’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 52 more horsepower (302 vs. 250) and 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 280) than the Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The AMG GLA 45’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (382 vs. 335) than the Nautilus’ optional 2.7 turbo V6.

On the EPA test cycle the AMG GLA gets better mileage than the Nautilus:

The AMG GLA offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Nautilus doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The AMG GLA 45’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Nautilus doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the AMG GLA 45’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Nautilus:

The AMG GLA’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 AMG GLA’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Nautilus’ standard 60 series tires. The AMG GLA’s optional tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Nautilus’ optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the AMG GLA has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Nautilus.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the AMG GLA can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Nautilus doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The AMG GLA’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Nautilus doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the AMG GLA 35’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (37.9 feet vs. 39.3 feet). The AMG GLA 45’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (38.1 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

The Mercedes AMG GLA may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 700 pounds less than the Lincoln Nautilus.

The AMG GLA is 1 foot, 3.4 inches shorter than the Nautilus, making the AMG GLA easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The AMG GLA has .9 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front hip room and 1.7 inches more rear hip room than the Nautilus.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the AMG GLA easier. The AMG GLA’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.2 inches, while the Nautilus’ liftover is 30 inches.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Nautilus, the AMG GLA has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The AMG GLA offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer 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 AMG GLA and the Nautilus have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the AMG GLA 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 AMG GLA 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.

The AMG GLA’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Nautilus’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer fluid is standard on the AMG GLA to defrost the washer nozzles and quickly clear ice and frost from the windshield without scraping. The Nautilus doesn’t offer heated windshield washer fluid.

When the AMG GLA is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Nautilus’ mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The AMG GLA’s optional Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Nautilus (except Standard)’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The AMG GLA will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the AMG GLA will retain 45.85% to 45.95% of its original price after five years, while the Nautilus only retains 45.16% to 45.45%.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the AMG GLA first among small 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 in its category.