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dipulb3 · 4 years ago

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The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offers a uniquely American take on luxury

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The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offers a uniquely American take on luxury

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus is refreshingly honest. At a time when so many luxury vehicles emphasize record-setting lap times, in-your-face styling and overcomplicated tech, this updated SUV charts a different course. Cushy and quiet, the Nautilus is a rolling sanctuary, and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else.

All in the family

This utility vehicle received a not-insubstantial update for 2021, a remodeling that’s made a respectable vehicle even better, though you’d be hard-pressed to tell based on its exterior. The Nautilus’ styling is barely, and I mean barely tweaked. It gains a revised lower grille section with a cross-body chrome strip and reworked fog lights. Three new colors join the palette including Flight Blue, Green Gem and Asher Gray, which is the hue this example is wearing. My tester is also dressed up with the optional Monochromatic package. Among other things, it adds black-finished 20-inch wheels and a body-colored upper grille insert for a sportier look.

Exterior changes are minimal, but the 2021 Nautilus’ most significant updates are reserved for the interior. This SUV now features a cabin that looks almost exactly like what you get in Lincoln’s other SUVs, the Aviator, Corsair and Navigator. The new dashboard is much more horizontal than before, gently curving as it spans from pillar to pillar. The Nautilus also gains Lincoln’s signature piano-key gear selector, which is neatly mounted below the center air vents and, as with the other switches and controls, feels like high-quality stuff.

Intuitive tech

Sprouting from the dashboard is this SUV’s most eye-catching addition for 2021: a gigantic 13.2-inch touchscreen, the largest found in any Lincoln. This display is easy to reach and looks great, with vibrant colors, nice contrast and excellent viewing angles so it doesn’t get all washed-out if you’re not staring at it dead on. This is the perfect canvas for a Sync 4 infotainment system running a visual theme called Constellation, which was inspired by the evening sky and features subtle blue and orange accents. Most of the time this system responds promptly to pokes and swipes, plus the user interface is elegantly simple. I appreciate the little sparkle animation when you touch one of the primary icons on the bottom of the screen. Of course, wireless Apple CarPlay as well as Android Auto are supported.

The Nautilus’ infotainment system is super-intuitive, as are many other controls. It’s a snap to reconfigure the digital instrument cluster or search for a point of interest in the navigation system. Everything is simple to operate, something that reduces stress and makes piloting this SUV that much more relaxing.

A new 13.2-inch infotainment screen is the star of this Lincoln’s refreshed interior.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

Further enhancing the drive, certain Nautilus models can be fitted with a rockin’ 19-speaker Revel sound system. But even the standard 13-speaker Revel arrangement slays, offering distortion-free bass and crisp highs no matter how far you crank it.

The Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 suite of driver aids is standard across this vehicle’s three trim levels and includes automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and more. Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 Plus is optional on the midrange Reserve trim and standard on top-shelf Black Label models. Among other things, it gets you front parking sensors, evasive steering assist, a 360-degree camera system and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability as well as lane centering. Unfortunately, that camera array is laughably low-res, though the adaptive cruise control system works extremely well, keeping the Nautilus on its intended course and seamlessly matching the speed of surrounding traffic. It handles stop-and-go congestion with ease, smoothly rolling to a standstill and holding the vehicle there until you’re ready to go again. Just press the Reset button when traffic starts moving.

Other tech includes an available wireless charging pad and Lincoln’s handy phone-as-key system. This allows you to leave the fob at home and access your Nautilus from a mobile device; it also allows you to lock and unlock the vehicle, open the hatch or windows and start the engine, among other things.

The Nautilus offers plenty of tech, but some features are missing, things like a rear-camera mirror, night vision and a head-up display. These items are available on other vehicles including the Nautilus’ primary rival, the Cadillac XT5.

The Nautilus’ updated interior is way nicer than before, and this isn’t even a top-shelf Black Label model.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

The inner sanctum

This Reserve trim’s cabin is nicely done, comfortable and made of premium materials, though I could do with fewer chrome accents. There’s no shortage of soft leather, and the reddish wood trim on the dashboard really pops against the black background. Hands down, I prefer this interior to the XT5’s and Lexus RX’s, though the Volvo XC60 and Audi Q5 still have an edge.

They may not be as over the top as the 30-way Perfect Position seats you can get in other Lincolns, but the Nautilus’ available Ultra Comfort chairs are nearly as nice, adjusting in 22 directions. They feature heat and ventilation, power headrests and extendable thigh supports and can even give your butt and back a massage. Despite the excellent seats, this vehicle’s driving position is a little awkward for taller folks like me. You sit too high in the captain’s chair and the pedals are oddly angled and a bit too close. Shorter people, however, will likely find this setup just about perfect.

Passengers relegated to steerage are sure to enjoy the Nautilus’ spacious and comfortable backseat. When it’s time to haul cargo, this Lincoln offers far more space than an RX 350 and has a distinct advantage over the Q5, XC60 and XT5 with 37.2 cubic feet of room behind the rear backrests and 68.8 with them lowered.

The worst of both worlds

Behind the Nautilus’ reworked front end is one of two engines. A 2.0-liter turbo-four is the base powerplant, which can be paired with front- or all-wheel drive. Delivering far greater performance, however, is the available 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6. An absolute honey, it provides 335 horsepower and a stout 380 pound-feet of torque, all of which gets routed to the pavement through an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel-drive. Incredibly smooth and nearly silent, this engine feels luxurious, pulling with authority throughout the rev range, making this Lincoln feel plenty quick.

An unsettled ride is this SUV’s most-glaring weakness.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

Helping deliver that admirable performance, the eight-speed transmission is mostly agreeable, swapping gears quickly, though it can feel uneven. Upshift quality is sometimes irregular, and occasionally it’s a little clunky as you roll to a stop.

With that force-fed V6, expect 19 miles per gallon around town and 25 mpg on the highway. Combined, the Nautilus is rated at 21 mpg, though astonishingly, according to the trip computer, I’ve been beating that by about 2 mpg in real-world driving — and with a heavy foot, I might add.

The Nautilus’ steering is soft and light, but not as imprecise as you might imagine. Yes, road feel is lacking, but the wheel is tuned appropriately for a vehicle that favors refinement over sportiness. Surprisingly, body roll in corners is almost nil.

The 2021 Nautilus delivers excellent performance and remains hushed at speed, but one part of its dynamics leaves much to be desired: the ride. Somehow engineers have delivered the worst of both worlds as, paradoxically, this example is both soft and stiff at the same time. It can feel a little floaty over undulating surfaces, with slightly exaggerated body motions (there’s also a fair amount of squat and dive when accelerating or hitting the brakes), but this softness is tempered by way too much impact harshness from small roadway imperfections like expansion joints and frost heaves, which you feel in high fidelity. I don’t expect Mercedes-AMG levels of control here, but the ride should be both more supple and better buttoned-down than it is. Perhaps the available adaptive suspension, which this example is not fitted with, does a better job ironing things out.

With this update, Lincoln has done a commendable job keeping one of its older models fresh and appealing.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

All for Naut(ilus)

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus starts at a little less than $44,000 including $995 in delivery fees. The nicely optioned Reserve-trim specimen seen here is a good bit pricier, though it’s by no means outrageous, checking out for $66,890. That figure includes the Reserve I ($3,420) and Monochromatic ($1,695) packages, those 22-way seats ($1,500) and a couple of other items.

Aside from a few complaints about its transmission and ride quality, the Nautilus is an agreeable high-end SUV and a refreshing change of pace. Its focus on actual luxury — having intuitive controls, comfortable accommodations and a quiet interior — is almost a novelty these days as competitors push to deliver the most aggressive design and sharpest handling possible. In contrast, the Lincoln Nautilus knows what it is and doesn’t pretend to be anything else.

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dipulb3 · 4 years ago

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2021 Cadillac XT5 review: Ordinary but agreeable

New Post has been published on https://appradab.com/2021-cadillac-xt5-review-ordinary-but-agreeable/

2021 Cadillac XT5 review: Ordinary but agreeable

The Cadillac XT5 is attractive… at least from this angle.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

The XT5 is Cadillac’s midsize luxury utility vehicle, a versatile and cushy hauler that competes with rivals like the Lexus RX 350 and Lincoln Nautilus. To keep pace with these foes, and others, the XT5 was mildly enhanced last year, gaining a new turbocharged base engine, some updated tech and mildly tweaked styling, changes that continue forward for 2021. But while the XT5 is pleasant enough to drive and has a neatly trimmed cabin, the whole package feels a bit middle of the road in a segment where excellence is expected.

Excellent infotainment system

Over-the-road refinement

Upscale interior

Don’t Like

Real-world fuel economy could be better

Sluggish climate controls

Frumpy proportions

This Sport-trim model features a fetching five-sided grille outlined in satin chrome and filled in with a black mesh texture. This prominent opening is flanked by LED headlamps, which are standard across the XT5 range. When viewed head-on, this vehicle is elegant, though, regrettably, the rest of its body is less attractive. If the XT5’s styling were one of the seven dwarves in Snow White, it’d be Dopey. The proportions seem off, which makes the whole thing look dull. With an oddly elevated hood and body that seems too tall and narrow, this Cadillac is a bit ungainly, reminding me of a smaller vehicle dressed in a fat suit.

But there is good news: None of that awkwardness carries through to the cabin. The XT5’s interior is beautifully designed and more comfortable than you might expect. With plenty of soft, semi-aniline leather along with a wrapped-and-stitched instrument panel, microfiber-suede headliner and fetching bronze-hued carbon-fiber trim, it’s attractive and upscale. These upgrades are all included in the $3,650 Platinum Package. The front bucket seats are supportive enough to maintain good posture yet they’re still supple, so your ass doesn’t fall asleep on longer drives. This Caddy’s backseat is great as well, with plenty of room for taller adults, plus the lower cushion is a good height above the floor and nicely angled for a natural seating position.

2021 Cadillac XT5 Sport AWD: Enjoyable if not exceptional

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Mounted up high where it’s easy to see and reach is the 8-inch multimedia screen. Not only does it look small on that big ol’ dashboard, it feels a bit cramped, too. You can practically get television-sized displays in some vehicles these days — including Cadillac’s own Escalade — which makes this screen seem all the more inadequate. Despite that size deficiency, the XT5’s infotainment system is a dream, being both intuitive and highly responsive. Embedded navigation is available for an extra cost, though Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both supported on even the most basic model. Both of these smartphone-mirroring technologies can connect wirelessly for greater convenience, which is especially nice if you’re running a bunch of errands, getting into and out of the vehicle frequently.

Aside from the screen itself, there’s a rotary dial on the center console right next to the volume knob. You can use this to cycle through the infotainment system’s menus if you want, though I never really do. For me, it’s easier to just use the touchscreen. Next to that control is the XT5’s silly electronic shifter, which can be fiddly and reminds me of an ancient Nokia cell phone. Pushbuttons or a rotary control would be preferable and likely free up more storage space on the console.

Arguably, the XT5’s greatest asset is its upscale, comfortable interior.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

One annoying aspect of this vehicle’s interior is the physical climate controls. The system is super slow to respond when adjusting the temperature. You can rapidly click the buttons or even hold them down, but the numbers still change at an agonizingly slow pace, 72… 73… 74… Luckily, there’s a redundant set of climate controls in the infotainment system, and these respond immediately.

When it comes to tech, this Cadillac has plenty of standard kit. Front and rear parking sensors, remote start and an ineffective lane-keeping system are a few of the items included free of charge. You also get heated front seats for no extra outlay, ditto for a high-definition backup camera. Along with a color head-up display, automatic parking assist and a handy rear-camera mirror, which provides a much broader field of view behind the vehicle, the $2,275 Enhanced Visibility and Technology Package includes an HD surround-vision camera system, which gives you a 360-degree view of the XT5, something that’s super helpful when squeezing into narrow parking spaces. Disappointingly, adaptive cruise control, a feature that’s standard on many much-more-affordable vehicles these days also costs extra, bundled with the $1,300 Driver Assist Package.

Speaking of driving, two engines are offered in the 2021 XT5. A 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder is standard on Luxury and Premium Luxury trims, but Sport models come exclusively with a 3.6-liter V6 that’s rated at 310 horsepower and 271 pound-feet of twist. Smooth and unexpectedly snarly, this powerplant has no trouble motivating the XT5. A responsive and refined nine-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment, routing torque to either the front tires or all four if you opt for the available all-wheel-drive system, which is standard on Sport models. As for efficiency, I averaged around 20 miles per gallon in testing, a somewhat disappointing figure. It seems this Cadillac should do better since it’s not that big or heavy, plus it’s fitted with standard engine stop-start and the V6 has cylinder deactivation (fortunately, both technologies are pretty much seamless). But hey, at least that real-world fuel-economy figure is close to the XT5’s combined rating of 21 mpg. Around town, expect 18 mpg, on the highway it should return 26 mpg.

Yep, the proportions of this vehicle’s body are a little strange.

Craig Cole/Roadshow

Separating Sport models from lesser XT5s, they come with an adaptive suspension with continuous damping control, a quicker steering ratio and 20-inch wheels. Despite those generously sized rollers, this Cadillac’s ride is firm and well controlled, but never harsh. The steering ratio is also reasonably quick, which makes the XT5 feel nimbler than you might expect, though as per usual, more road feel through the wheel would be appreciated.

Eschew all options and you can drive home in a 2021 Cadillac XT5 for just about $45,000, including $995 in delivery fees. That makes it a couple grand richer than an entry-level Lincoln Nautilus, or around $1,000 less than a base Lexus RX 350. Of course, the nicely optioned Sport model seen here is a good bit pricier than 45 grand, but its window sticker isn’t that crazy. Including the Platinum Package, night vision, optional 12-spoke wheels and a few other goodies it checks out for $68,765.

The XT5 Sport is refined and comfortable, pleasant to drive and versatile. Indeed, there’s a lot to like about this vehicle, even if some things about it are a bit annoying and the exterior styling is too frumpy. Hopefully Cadillac tries just a little harder when it redesigns this luxury utility vehicle in the future, so it can live up to its full potential.

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