2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E was a bold move by Ford, blending the iconic Mustang styling with a modern electric crossover SUV design. Despite initial skepticism, the Mach-E's unique combination of galloping horse emblems, scowling headlights, and tri-bar taillights proved to be a successful strategy, attracting a wide range of customers. Its long, narrow, and tall dimensions might have seemed unusual, but the visual connection to the legendary pony car played a significant role in its popularity. The Mach-E GT, in particular, stood out with its aggressive styling, featuring revised bumpers, unique 20-inch wheels, and a dark front panel that mimicked a traditional grille, giving it a distinctive and assertive appearance.

In contrast, the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus debuted with a more sophisticated and streamlined exterior design, signaling a potential new direction for Lincoln. The grille, reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz's bifurcated design, featured LED lighting that extended through it, illuminating the Lincoln star logo in a stunning display. The rear of the Nautilus mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. Inside, the Nautilus impressed with its high-quality materials, ambient lighting, and a variety of textures, including open-pore wood and fine leather. The interior's highlight was the full-width screen, which added a touch of modern luxury to the cabin.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered a range of configurations, including standard-range and extended-range battery packs, as well as single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and dual-motor all-wheel-drive (AWD) systems. Power output varied from 266 to 480 horsepower, with torque ranging from 317 to 634 pound-feet, and driving range spanning 224 to 312 miles. The Mach-E GT, equipped with an extended-range battery and AWD, delivered 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds with an EPA-estimated range of 270 miles. The GT Performance Edition package increased torque to 634 lb-ft, reduced range to 260 miles, and enhanced performance with adaptive damping suspension, larger front brakes, and summer performance tires. The Mach-E GT featured driving modes like Whisper, Engage, and Unbridled, with an exclusive Unbridled Extend mode for racetrack use. Despite its firm suspension and choppy ride, the Mach-E GT was exciting to drive, achieving an efficiency of 37 kWh per 100 miles during testing.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. 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 AWD and five drive modes, with the available adaptive suspension enhancing performance in Excite mode. The hybrid's continuously variable transmission (CVT) avoided the typical drawbacks, providing a smooth driving experience. While not a driver's car, the Nautilus offered a satisfying balance of power and comfort.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E, with its crossover SUV configuration, provided seating for up to five people and 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, including a sizable front trunk (frunk). The Mach-E GT featured eight-way power-adjustable and heated front seats wrapped in black ActiveX artificial leather with black Miko synthetic suede inserts. The interior boasted a stylish tiered center console with ample storage space. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed a comfortable and airy environment, thanks to the panoramic glass roof. The Mach-E offered 29.7 cu-ft of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 59.7 cu-ft with the rear seats folded down. The frunk, measuring 4.7 cu-ft, was designed for easy cleaning with a drain plug.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus offered power-adjustable, heated, and cooled front seats across all trims, with the Black Label model featuring 24-way Perfect Position front seats with massage and extended heating functions. Rear passengers enjoyed 43 inches of legroom, providing ample space for taller individuals. The Nautilus included the Lincoln Rejuvenate feature, combining massage, lighting, and screen images to create different moods. Cargo space measured 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with the seats folded down in the Premiere trim. The Nautilus was available with seating for five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured a 15.5-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen running on Ford's Sync 4A infotainment platform, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect services, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, navigation, and wireless smartphone charging. The system provided access to various vehicle settings and energy usage data, with natural voice recognition for commands. The Mach-E included a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and a 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display. Phone As A Key technology allowed smartphone-based vehicle access and operation.

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. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Nautilus included Google maps, Alexa Built-in, gaming, web browsing, and over-the-air updates. Wireless charging and USB-A and -C charge ports were standard throughout the cabin.

The 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E came with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 technology, including BlueCruise hands-free highway driving. BlueCruise 1.2 added features like lane-change function and predictive speed assist. The Mach-E received top marks from the IIHS and was a Top Safety Pick for 2022. NHTSA ratings were pending, with top scores for side-impact protection and rollover resistance.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite, including lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. Blue Cruise 1.2 was available on all trims, with a 90-day trial for Premiere and Reserve trims. The 2023 Nautilus received five stars from NHTSA for frontal and side crash protection and four stars for rollover protection. The IIHS rated the 2024 Nautilus "Good" in crashworthiness.