Compare the2024 Ford ExplorerVS 2023 Lincoln Nautilus

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

Safety

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Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Explorer (except Base/XLT/Limited/Timberline) offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist 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.

Both the Explorer and Nautilus have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Explorer offers optional Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Nautilus’ Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Explorer’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 Explorer and the Nautilus 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.

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

	Explorer	Nautilus
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	212
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	229 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/210 lbs.	165/596 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	35.2%
Neck Stress	187 lbs.	197 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 Ford Explorer is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

	Explorer	Nautilus
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	84
Chest Movement	.9 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	161 lbs.	190 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	103
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	604 lbs.	635 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.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Nautilus:

	Explorer	Nautilus
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	86	208
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	402 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.1 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	168	260
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	89 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.5 in
Shoulder Force	379 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	1.57 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Ford Explorer has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Nautilus has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Warranty

There are over 5 times as many Ford dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

Reliability

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than Lincoln.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Ford 1 place higher in reliability than Lincoln.

Engine

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 more horsepower (300 vs. 250) and 30 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 280) than the Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Explorer ST/King Ranch/Platinum’s standard 3.0 turbo V6 produces 65 more horsepower (400 vs. 335) and 35 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 380) than the Nautilus’ optional 2.7 turbo V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Lincoln Nautilus turbo 4 cyl.:

	Explorer	Nautilus
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	88.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Explorer
	RWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 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

The Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Nautilus (20.2 vs. 18 gallons).

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Nautilus.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Explorer ST’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Nautilus:

	Explorer ST	Nautilus
Front Rotors	14.3 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12.4 inches
Opt Rear Rotors		13.6 inches

The Explorer ST’s optional 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 Explorer stops shorter than the Nautilus:

	Explorer	Nautilus
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	117 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the Nautilus (255/65R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Nautilus (275/45R21 vs. 265/40R21).

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Nautilus doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Explorer’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 a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the Nautilus (119.1 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Explorer is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 2.2 inches wider in the rear than on the Nautilus.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .85 G’s, while the Nautilus Reserve AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Nautilus Reserve AWD (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Explorer’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Nautilus’ (38.4 feet vs. 39.3 feet).

Chassis

The front grille of the Explorer 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.

Passenger Space

The Explorer has standard seating for 7 passengers; the Nautilus can only carry 5.

The Explorer has 44.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Nautilus (152.7 vs. 108.3).

The Explorer has .8 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front legroom, 2.8 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 3.5 inches more rear hip room and 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Nautilus.

Cargo Capacity

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the Nautilus.

	Explorer	Nautilus
Third Seat Folded	47.9 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	37.2 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	87.8 cubic feet	68.8 cubic feet

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

	Explorer	Nautilus
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.8”/49.8”/83.9”	n.a./41.5”/75”
Max Width	59”	45”
Min Width	48.1”	45”
Height	33.7”	31”

Towing

The Explorer’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (3000 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln Nautilus is only 3500 pounds. The Explorer 4WD offers up to a 5600 lbs. towing capacity.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Explorer, using the AdvanceTrac® 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

The engine in the Explorer 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 power windows standard on both the Explorer and the Nautilus have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Explorer 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 Explorer’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Nautilus’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Explorer 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 Explorer to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Nautilus doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Explorer ST/Platinum’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 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.

Economic Advantages

The Explorer will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Explorer will retain 49.94% to 56.18% of its original price after five years, while the Nautilus only retains 46% to 49.16%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Explorer is less expensive to operate than the Nautilus because typical repairs cost less on the Explorer than the Nautilus, including $5 less for a water pump, $45 less for front brake pads, $110 less for front struts and $152 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Explorer will be $7063 to $8591 less than for the Lincoln Nautilus.

Recommendations

The Ford Explorer outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by almost 8 to one during 2023.