2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Dodge Durango

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus presented a sophisticated and streamlined exterior, available in Premiere, Reserve, or Black Label trims. Its new grille design, reminiscent of Mercedes-Benz, featured LED lighting that extended through the grille, illuminating the Lincoln star logo. The rear mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. The interior was a standout, with a massive full-width screen as its crown jewel. High-quality materials, ambient lighting, and textures like open-pore wood and fine leather adorned the cabin, although the piano key shifter style was a traditional Lincoln element that some might not favor. An optional Jet Appearance Package added two-tone paint, black exterior trim, and unique interior bits for an extra $3,000.

In contrast, the 2025 Dodge Durango, particularly in the SRT Hellcat Premium trim with the Silver Bullet special edition package, exuded a more aggressive visual attitude. The package included a satin black hood, different wheels, dark badges, and black exhaust tips, enhancing its expressive look. Inside, the Durango SRT Hellcat maintained a subdued yet premium feel with dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. The cabin was solidly constructed, though some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall luxury feel. The Durango's interior was designed for comfort, with a leather and suede steering wheel wrap and forged carbon fiber trim adding to its appeal.

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. This setup provided smooth power delivery and unobtrusive shifts. For an additional $1,500, buyers could opt for a hybrid setup, boosting output to 310 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, with an EPA estimated 30 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid offered a range of over 600 miles, though the Lexus RX hybrid outperformed it in fuel economy. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with the adaptive suspension enhancing the driving experience. While not a driver's car, it could satisfy occasional performance cravings.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a simplified powertrain lineup, with the SRT Hellcat boasting a 710-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine and 645 pound-feet of torque. This powerhouse accelerated to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds, reached a top speed of 180 mph, and towed up to 8,700 pounds. Despite its impressive performance, the Durango SRT Hellcat suffered from poor fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 12/17/13 mpg. The SUV featured a full-time AWD system, electronic limited-slip rear differential, and a high-performance exhaust system. Its competition-tuned adaptive damping suspension, performance steering, and Brembo brakes ensured it handled like a performance vehicle, even on challenging roads.

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. These seats were among the most comfortable in the mid-size luxury SUV class, with a massage function that remained active until manually turned off. Rear passengers enjoyed 43 inches of legroom, accommodating taller individuals comfortably. The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images to create different moods. Cargo space measured 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with seats folded down, though seating was limited to five.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in form and function, offering a spacious and comfortable interior. The SRT Hellcat Premium featured heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, though they lacked secure support during spirited driving. The second-row captain's chairs provided good leg support and legroom, while the third row accommodated adults comfortably. The Durango offered 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 43.3 cubic feet with seats folded down, and a maximum volume of 85.1 cubic feet. The power liftgate and thoughtful storage solutions added to its practicality.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a stunning 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. While HVAC controls were easily accessible, adjusting vents required navigating menus, which could be distracting. Unlabeled steering wheel controls also posed a challenge, though Google Maps, Alexa Built-in, and over-the-air updates were welcome additions. Wireless charging and USB ports were standard throughout the cabin.

The 2025 Dodge Durango came equipped with a Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and native navigation. The system included SiriusXM 360L, Dodge Connect, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The SRT Hellcat featured an Alpine premium sound system, with an optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Uconnect system supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing and Alexa compatibility. SRT Performance Pages allowed drivers to track performance metrics, adding a sporty touch to the family-friendly SUV.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite with lane-keeping assist, park assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and emergency braking. The Blue Cruise 1.2 technology provided 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 IIHS, though the 2024 model had not yet been rated.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were less impressive, with a short list of standard features including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and trailer detection. The Durango received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a concerning three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not yet assessed the Durango in newer evaluations.