Lincoln Nautilus

The Lincoln Nautilus is a mid-size luxury SUV under Changan Lincoln, positioned between the Corsair and the Aviator. As a core volume driver for the Lincoln brand in China, the Nautilus commenced local production via Changan Lincoln in 2021. As of June 2026, the latest offering on sale is the 2026 model year, available in both petrol and petrol-electric hybrid powertrains, with official price tags ranging from RM239,900 to RM347,800. Among these, the Nautilus Dark Knight Edition, unveiled at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026, is a limited-run flagship priced at RM347,800; the Qihang Edition, introduced in September 2025, further lowered the entry barrier with a straight full-payment price of RM245,900. Key rivals to the Nautilus include premium mid-size SUVs such as the Audi Q5L, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC.

Design Language

The Lincoln Nautilus adopts the Quiet Flight 2.0 design language. Up front, it features an imposing star dot-matrix radiator grille flanked by a full-width LED light bar and an illuminated brand emblem, delivering strong visual presence. The smoked headlight clusters blend seamlessly into the grille, highlighting the signature Lincoln star logo. In terms of dimensions, the SUV measures 4,908 mm in length, 1,952 mm in width, and 1,717 mm in height, with a 2,900 mm wheelbase. Along the sides, a floating roof profile and flush pop-out door handles are paired with a continuous waistline to evoke yacht-inspired styling. At the rear, the angular full-width LED taillights deliver a striking light signature when illuminated. On top of this, the Dark Knight Edition adds an exclusive Night Black Sports Package—comprising a Night Star waterfall grille, gloss black lower body cladding, a blacked-out roof with matching roof rails, and 20-inch gloss black alloy rims housing fiery red brake calipers, sharpening its athletic stance. Inside, the cabin is extensively wrapped in premium leather with intricate stitching, while range-topping variants gain Semi-Aniline leather upholstery. The Dark Knight Edition receives an exclusive Pearl Black interior accented with fiery red contrast stitching, offering a tactile and multi-layered feel.

Drivetrain and Performance

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus is offered with two powertrain options: pure petrol and a self-charging petrol-electric hybrid. The petrol range is powered across the board by a 2.0-litre dual-injection turbocharged four-cylinder engine (coded CAF484WQC4), pushing out 192 kW (261 PS) and 390 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The petrol-electric hybrid variant combines a 2.0T engine with a front-mounted electric motor, generating an engine output of 207 kW and a motor output of 140 kW, for a total system output of 227 kW (around 309 PS). This setup is paired with an electronic continuously variable transmission (E-CVT). The hybrid model returns a WLTC combined fuel consumption of roughly 6.7 to 6.98 L/100 km, providing a total cruising range exceeding 1,100 km on a full tank. Top speed across all variants is capped at 200 km/h.

Chassis and Handling

Underneath, the Nautilus rides on front MacPherson struts and a rear multi-link independent suspension setup. Higher-spec variants benefit from the Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD) adaptive suspension system (marketed as the "American Eagle" CCD electromagnetic suspension), which monitors vehicle dynamics via 12 onboard sensors, scanning road conditions 500 times per second to constantly adjust damper firmness. The chassis setup is tuned decisively towards ride comfort, doing a stellar job of soaking up road imperfections. An on-demand all-wheel-drive (AWD) system comes standard across the range, working alongside five selectable drive modes to handle urban commutes, highway cruising, and slippery road conditions with ease. The steering weighting is light and direct, making the SUV effortless to pilot.

Cabin and Equipment

The interior remains one of the Nautilus’ strongest selling points. Standard across all trims is an expansive 48-inch pillar-to-pillar wrap-around display (comprising twin 23.6-inch 4K curved screens) paired with an 11.1-inch floating central touchscreen infotainment unit. The infotainment setup runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), acoustic laminated glass, and 38 sound-deadening packages are standard-fit across the range, creating an exceptionally serene cabin. Seat-wise, higher trims feature Nappa or Semi-Aniline leather upholstery, with the driver's seat offering 24-way power adjustment and 5 massage programmes. The sliding rear bench offers up to 1,193 mm of maximum legroom alongside a completely flat floor design. High-spec rear seating can be upgraded to an Executive Lounge configuration, complete with powered ottoman leg rests, seat heating, ventilation, and massage functions. Audiophiles are catered for on top trims by a 28-speaker Revel premium sound system. Other notable amenities include 128-colour ambient lighting, an onboard fragrance dispenser, the "Redwood Forest" cabin air purification system, and a 540° surround-view camera. Boot space is versatile, expanding from 822 litres up to a cavernous 2,463 litres.

Safety and Driver Assistance

Safety is central to the Nautilus' product appeal. In terms of structural rigidity, high-strength and ultra-high-strength steel account for over 80% of the body structure, with thermoformed steel rated above 1,300 MPa making up over 32%, and 1,500 MPa ultra-high-strength steel contributing 38%. Engineered to meet both US-NCAP and C-NCAP five-star crash standards, the Nautilus achieved a Five-Star+ rating in China's C-NCAP assessments. In 2024, it also bagged the coveted "Top Safety Pick+" accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States. On the active safety front, the entire Nautilus lineup comes standard with the next-generation Lincoln Co-Pilot 360™ 2.1 suite, offering over 20 advanced driver assistance features. This includes the Lincoln BlueCruise hands-free system enabling Level 2+ semi-autonomous driving, which topped the 2023 US Consumer Reports active driver assistance system rankings with a score of 84. A 540° panoramic camera system is fitted as standard across the range.

Market Performance and Verdict

The Lincoln Nautilus stands as the primary sales pillar for Changan Lincoln. Throughout 2025, cumulative sales of the Nautilus reached approximately 23,291 units, with December 2025 alone logging 4,388 deliveries. Within the Changan Lincoln stable, the SUV consistently captures over 40% of overall brand volume. For the full year 2025, the Lincoln marque delivered roughly 49,000 vehicles in China, with the Nautilus and Lincoln Z together accounting for nearly 83% of total brand sales. The 2026 Nautilus spans an accessible pricing spectrum from RM239,900 to RM347,800, bolstered by differentiated variants such as the Qihang Edition (fixed at RM245,900), the Atlantis Edition (limited straight price of RM259,900), and the flagship Dark Knight Edition (RM347,800). The key strengths of the Nautilus lie in its segment-busting exterior dimensions and cabin space, the tech-laden 48-inch full-width display, top-tier NVH suppression and seat comfort, standard-fit Level 2+ ADAS, and top-tier IIHS safety credentials. On the flip side, its shortcomings include the brand's declining overall market share in China, a relatively measured model update cycle, and cabin styling that still leans towards old-school American luxury. On the whole, by delivering on "generous space, quiet refinement, and generous kit" alongside aggressive showroom pricing, the Lincoln Nautilus retains a compelling and distinct value proposition in the RM250,000 to RM350,000 premium mid-size SUV segment.