2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Dodge Durango

The 2023 Dodge Durango entered its 12th model year without a redesign, yet it maintained an attractive and familiar presence. Dodge opted for clean, car-like styling, avoiding the trend of oversized grilles. The Durango's slim design, complemented by forward-leaning headlights and a large lower air intake, demonstrated that SUVs could have a commanding presence without resorting to massive grilles. At the rear, Dodge's signature "racetrack" taillights provided a distinctive look. The muscular SRT 392 and SRT Hellcat models featured unique styling elements, such as a Viper-like hood with a functional center air inlet and heat extractors, along with unique wheels and a different front fascia. The Blacktop Package allowed for some SRT styling features on the R/T and GT models, while the Hemi Orange appearance package added a splash of signature orange to the exterior badges and seat stitching. Dodge also expanded the color palette for 2023, adding Frostbite, Night Moves, Red Oxide, and Triple Nickel.

The interior of the Durango, while not as distinctive as the exterior, still offered a pleasant environment. Lower trim levels featured materials appropriate for their price points, while the R/T Plus Package included a wrapped instrument panel. The Citadel trim added luxurious features like Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain's chairs. The SRT Hellcat test car stood out with its bold red leather upholstery, adding a touch of flair to the interior.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus debuted with a sophisticated and streamlined exterior design, signaling a potential new direction for Lincoln. The grille, reminiscent of a bifurcated design seen on Mercedes-Benz, featured LED lighting that extended through the grille and illuminated the Lincoln star logo, creating a stunning visual effect. The horizontal aesthetic continued at the rear with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. Lincoln incorporated a unique design twist by placing the door handles high and integrating them into the beltline.

The interior of the Nautilus was a standout feature, with a full-width screen serving as the crown jewel. The materials used were of excellent quality, with polished metal accents, ambient lighting, and textures like open-pore wood and fine leather. While the piano key shifter style was a traditional Lincoln design element, it was not universally favored. The Jet Appearance Package, available for an additional $3,000, offered two-tone paint, black exterior trim, and unique interior elements, enhancing the Nautilus's overall appeal.

The 2023 Dodge Durango offered a range of powertrains, starting with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, standard on the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims. This engine produced 293 horsepower (295 hp with dual exhaust) and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive was standard, with optional all-wheel drive available on most trims. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, standard on the R/T and optional on the Citadel, delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, providing a classic V8 rumble. The Durango SRT 392 featured a 6.4-liter naturally-aspirated Hemi V8, producing 475 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds and a quarter-mile in 12.9 seconds. The SRT Hellcat took performance to another level with a 6.2-liter supercharged V8, generating 710 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, reaching 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and a quarter-mile in 11.5 seconds. The Hellcat's acceleration was exhilarating, with minimal wind and tire noise at highway speeds, while the adaptive-damping suspension, Pirelli P Zero tires, and Brembo brakes ensured power was manageable.

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's range exceeded 600 miles, making it a practical choice for long journeys. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with the adaptive suspension enhancing the driving experience. The hybrid's continuously variable transmission (CVT) avoided the typical drawbacks, providing a pleasant driving experience. While not a driver's car, the Nautilus offered a satisfying balance of performance and comfort.

The 2023 Dodge Durango was available in seven-seat or six-seat configurations, with two front bucket seats, a three-seat second-row bench, and a two-seat third-row bench standard on SXT, GT, and R/T models. The Citadel, SRT 392, and SRT Hellcat models featured second-row captain's chairs, which were also optional on GT and R/T models. The Durango offered competitive interior space compared to other three-row midsize SUVs, with headroom and legroom comparable to the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, Hyundai Palisade/Kia Telluride, and Toyota Highlander. However, the Durango's cargo space was less than the Chevy, with 17.2 cubic feet behind all three rows, 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.1 cubic feet behind the first row. Small-item storage was generous, with a large wireless charging pad and well-placed USB ports. The Durango's towing capacity was impressive, with V6 models capable of towing 6,200 pounds and Hemi V8 models up to 8,700 pounds.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus offered power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats across all trims, with the Black Label model featuring Lincoln's 24-way Perfect Position front seats, considered the most comfortable in the mid-size luxury SUV class. The massage function and extended heating element added to the comfort. Rear seats provided 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 in the Premiere trim was 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with the seats folded, though slightly less in the Reserve and Black Label trims. The Nautilus was available only with seating for five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating.

The 2023 Dodge Durango featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity on SXT and GT models. The Citadel and SRT models received a 10.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, utilizing the Uconnect 5 system. The larger touchscreen was responsive and user-friendly, with added personality in the form of Easter Eggs for SRT models. The Performance Pages app provided performance information, including timers and a g-force meter. A 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system was available with the Premium Package on the SRT Hellcat model.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for weather, audio, and other information. The center console housed an 11.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. While HVAC controls were easily accessible, adjusting vents required navigating menus, which could be distracting. Unlabelled steering wheel controls added to the distraction, though Google Maps and Alexa Built-in provided useful features. Wireless charging and USB-A and -C charge ports were standard throughout the cabin.

The 2023 Dodge Durango received mixed results in IIHS crash tests, with top "Good" marks in moderate front overlap, side, and roof strength tests, but a "Marginal" score in the driver-side small overlap front test. The NHTSA awarded the Durango a four-star overall safety rating, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash test. RWD versions received four stars in the rollover test, while AWD models got three stars. Standard driver-assist tech was limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert standard on all trims, but forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking were only standard on the Citadel.

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 hands-free/eyes-up Blue Cruise 1.2 technology was included on all trims, with a 90-day trial for Premiere and Reserve trims and four years standard on the Black Label. Blue Cruise combined adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist, with automatic lane-change assist and In-Lane Repositioning. 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 awarded the 2024 Nautilus a top score of "Good" in crashworthiness.