2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Audi Q5

The 2023 Audi Q5 presented a blend of elegance and sportiness with its exterior design, characterized by subtle curves and angular accents. It was available in two body styles: the standard Q5 SUV and the Q5 Sportback, which featured a sloping rear roofline for a sleeker look. Despite the typical reservations about coupelike styling, the Q5 Sportback stood out with a spoiler-like element above the taillights, providing a more defined transition from hatch to tail section. Inside, the Q5 offered a refined yet simple layout, though its age was beginning to show since its last redesign five years prior. Standard features included leather seating and heated front seats, with options for a heated steering wheel and rear seats. The 10-inch touchscreen was a nod to traditional design amidst a trend of larger screens, and while materials were of good quality, the Q5 no longer felt as special compared to newer non-luxury competitors. The build quality was robust, with no squeaks or creaks, making it a solid choice among luxury SUVs.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus debuted with a sophisticated and streamlined exterior, hinting at a new direction in Lincoln design. Its grille, reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz's bifurcated design, featured LED lighting that extended through the grille and illuminated the Lincoln star logo, creating a stunning visual. The rear mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. The interior was the highlight, with a massive full-width screen as its crown jewel. The materials used were of excellent quality, featuring ambient lighting, open-pore wood, and fine leather. The piano key shifter style, a Lincoln tradition since the mid-1950s, was a notable design element. An optional Jet Appearance Package added two-tone paint, black exterior trim, and unique interior elements for an additional cost, enhancing the Nautilus's appeal.

The 2023 Audi Q5 offered three engine choices. The base 40 TFSI was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 201 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. The midrange 45 TFSI increased output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, exclusively available with the Q5 Sportback. The 55 TFSI was a plug-in hybrid powertrain delivering 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, with an estimated 23 miles of electric-only range. Charging the PHEV took approximately 2.5 hours on a 7.4 kW home charger. All Q5 models came with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. The Q5 Sportback with the 45 TFSI engine experienced a noticeable delay in power delivery, likely due to the slow-reacting transmission, making initial acceleration feel sluggish. However, once underway, power was adequate, and handling was sporty, with precise steering that inspired confidence on curvy roads. The Q5 balanced compliance and cornering well, with minimal noise intrusion, providing a calm cabin environment.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The power delivery was smooth, and shifts were unobtrusive. For an additional $1,500, buyers could opt for the hybrid setup, which offered 310 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque, and an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid also boasted a range of over 600 miles, though the Lexus RX hybrid offered better fuel economy. All Nautilus models featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with the adaptive suspension enhancing the driving experience. The hybrid's continuously variable transmission (CVT) avoided typical drawbacks, providing a pleasant driving experience. While not a driver's car, the Nautilus could satisfy occasional performance desires.

The 2023 Audi Q5's interior design had remained largely unchanged since 2018 but continued to be functional and well-organized. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned atop the dash for easy visibility, and traditional dials and buttons were provided for climate controls, reducing the need to navigate on-screen menus. Visibility was good, aided by a narrow front roof pillar and better-than-average rear visibility. The front seats offered ample space for taller passengers, and the rear seats accommodated six-footers comfortably, even in the Sportback model. Storage options were available, though some were oddly sized. The Q5 provided 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, slightly reduced to 24.7 cubic feet in the Sportback, offering competitive storage compared to rivals.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats across all trims, with the Black Label model offering 24-way Perfect Position front seats for ultimate comfort. These seats included a massage function and extended heating, surpassing competitors like Mercedes-Benz and Genesis. The rear seats, while not as luxurious, offered an impressive 43 inches of legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create different moods, enhancing relaxation. Cargo space was generous, with 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with seats folded down in the Premiere trim. The Nautilus was available only with seating for five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating.

The 2023 Audi Q5 came standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring sharp graphics and quick responses, though system boot-up and Apple CarPlay activation were slow. Both CarPlay and Android Auto were available wirelessly across all trims. Higher trims included a Bang & Olufsen audio system. The on-screen buttons in Audi's native system were large and easy to read, but Apple CarPlay's app buttons were smaller and closer together, complicating use. The Q5 could be monitored remotely via a smartphone app, with features like unlocking and temperature pre-conditioning available through a limited-time subscription. Mid-range trims offered a customizable digital instrument panel for additional information.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for various information. The graphics were crisp, and colors were vibrant. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. HVAC controls were permanent icons on the screen, but vent adjustments required navigating menus, which was distracting. Unlabelled steering wheel controls added to the distraction, though Google Maps and Alexa Built-in provided useful features. Gaming and web browsing were available when stopped, and over-the-air updates ensured system currency. Wireless charging and USB-A and -C ports were standard throughout the cabin.

The 2023 Audi Q5 received top safety ratings, earning five out of five stars from the NHTSA for overall, frontal, and side protection, and four stars for rollover tests. The IIHS awarded the Q5 its highest score of "Good" in all crashworthiness tests and named it a Top Safety Pick+. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and parking sensors. Higher trims added features like lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera system, and traffic jam assist. The top Prestige trim offered matrix-design LED headlights, a head-up display, a semi-automated parking system, and a traffic sign reader.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came equipped with the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, including lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. The standout feature was the hands-free/eyes-up Blue Cruise 1.2 technology, included on all trims with varying trial periods. Blue Cruise combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, with automatic lane-change assist and In-Lane Repositioning for added safety. The 2024 Nautilus had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, but the 2023 model received five stars for frontal and side crash protection and four stars for rollover protection. The IIHS rated the 2024 Nautilus "Good" in crashworthiness but had not yet rated it in other areas.