2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, as Hyundai's largest SUV, had an imposing presence on the road, further enhanced by its 2023 styling update. The new front fascia, with its bold strokes and squared-off grille, framed the updated headlights, giving the SUV a more robust appearance. LED accents, daytime running lights, and headlights were standard across the lineup, while LED taillights were standard on SEL and higher trims. The Calligraphy trim stood out with premium rear accent lighting, body-color bumpers, and a unique grille, while the new XRT trim featured a dark grille and black 20-inch wheels. The interior of the Calligraphy trim was stylish, featuring premium Nappa leather and a dual-pane sunroof, with heated and ventilated seats available in the first and second rows.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus debuted with a sophisticated and streamlined exterior design, hinting at a new direction for Lincoln. The grille, reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz's bifurcated design, featured LED lighting that extended through the grill, illuminating the Lincoln star logo. The rear showcased a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports, while the door handles were cleverly integrated into the beltline. Inside, the Nautilus boasted high-quality materials, ambient lighting, and a full-width screen that was the centerpiece of the interior. The Jet Appearance Package offered additional customization with two-tone paint and black exterior trim, enhancing the vehicle's overall aesthetic.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was powered by a 3.8-liter V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was competitive within its class, offering more power than the Mazda CX-9 and Volkswagen Atlas, and slightly more than the Honda Pilot and Nissan Pathfinder. The Palisade's eight-speed automatic transmission could be controlled with paddle shifters, and front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available for an additional $1,900. The Palisade's towing capacity reached up to 5,000 pounds, and AWD models featured a dedicated Tow Mode. Fuel economy for the FWD Palisade was 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined, while AWD models achieved 19 city, 25 highway, and 21 combined.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For an additional $1,500, buyers could opt for a hybrid setup, increasing output to 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA estimated 30 mpg combined. The hybrid offered a range of over 600 miles, though the Lexus RX hybrid provided better fuel economy. All Nautilus models featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with an adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance. The hybrid's CVT was well-tuned, avoiding the typical droning associated with such transmissions.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade offered ample space for seven or eight passengers, with 44.1 inches of legroom in the front row, 42.4 in the second, and 31.4 in the third. Passenger volume measured 155.3 cubic feet, and cargo space was 18 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The Palisade featured HVAC vents in all three rows and provided two cupholders per person. The center console included a phone holder and additional storage space, while automatic dual-zone climate control was standard in SEL and higher trims.

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, surpassing competitors like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE. The Nautilus's Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create different moods, while cargo space measured 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Nautilus accommodated five passengers, prioritizing cargo space over a third row of seating.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade introduced WiFi hotspot capability as standard across all trims, along with a 12.3-inch color touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and navigation. A premium 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system was available in SEL models and standard in Limited and Calligraphy. The Palisade also offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a color head-up display in higher trims. Hyundai's Bluelink connected vehicle system provided remote accessibility and management features, while Digital Key 2 Touch allowed owners to use compatible devices to unlock, start, and drive the car.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a striking 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for various information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The Nautilus included Google Maps and Alexa Built-in for voice controls, with gaming and web browsing available when the car was stopped. Wireless charging and USB ports were standard throughout the cabin, though some controls were criticized for being distracting due to their placement on the touchscreen.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade was expected to maintain its high safety standards, with the 2022 model earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. The 2023 Palisade featured Hyundai's Smart Sense suite of safety features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, and lane-keeping assist. Blind-spot collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance were newly standard, while Highway Driving Assist I and II provided advanced driving assistance. A full-display digital rearview mirror and safe exit warning were also available.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came equipped with the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, including lane-keeping assist, park assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Blue Cruise 1.2 technology offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, with automatic lane-change assist and In-Lane Repositioning. The 2023 Nautilus received high safety ratings from the NHTSA, and the 2024 model was expected to maintain similar standards, with the IIHS awarding it a top score of "Good" in crashworthiness.