Compare the2024 Dodge DurangoVS 2023 Lincoln Nautilus

The Durango has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Both the Durango and the Nautilus have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems and front and rear parking sensors.

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 Dodge Durango is safer than the Lincoln Nautilus:

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

There are almost 4 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Durango’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge first in initial quality, above the industry average. With 68 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 28th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Dodge above average in long-term dependability. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lincoln is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Dodge vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Dodge 2 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

The Durango has more powerful engines than the Nautilus:

As tested in Motor Trend the Dodge Durango V8 is faster than the Lincoln Nautilus turbo 4 cyl.:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Durango V8’s fuel efficiency. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Dodge Durango uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The Nautilus requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

The Durango has 6.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Nautilus (24.6 vs. 18 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Durango has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Nautilus. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

For better stopping power the Durango R/T Tow N Go’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Nautilus:

The Durango’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.

For better traction, the Durango has larger standard tires than the Nautilus (265/60R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Durango R/T Tow N Go’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Nautilus (295/45R20 vs. 265/40R21).

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the Durango 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 Durango offers an optional 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.

The Durango offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Durango’s wheelbase is 7.6 inches longer than on the Nautilus (119.8 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Durango offers optional seating for 7 passengers; the Nautilus can only carry 5.

The Durango has 33.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Nautilus (141.4 vs. 108.3).

The Durango has .6 inches more front hip room and .6 inches more rear headroom than the Nautilus.

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

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

The Durango’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (6200 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln Nautilus is only 3500 pounds. The Durango 4x4 offers up to a 8700 lbs. towing capacity.

A Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Durango, using the Electronic Stability Control 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.

The engine in the Durango 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.

The Durango’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 power windows standard on both the Durango and the Nautilus have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Durango 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 Durango’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 Durango’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 Durango 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 Durango with available tilt-down mirrors 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 Durango has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Nautilus Reserve/Black Label.

The Durango will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Durango will retain 51.68% to 56.07% 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 Durango is less expensive to operate than the Nautilus because typical repairs cost much less on the Durango than the Nautilus, including $192 less for a water pump, $169 less for a muffler, $61 less for a timing belt/chain and $310 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Dodge Durango will be $3816 to $5611 less than for the Lincoln Nautilus.

The Dodge Durango outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by almost three to one during 2023.