2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Ford Explorer

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus presented a sophisticated and streamlined exterior, available in Premiere, Reserve, or Black Label trims. Its design featured a new grille reminiscent of Mercedes Benz, with LED lighting extending through the grille to illuminate 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, boasting a full-width screen as its crown jewel, complemented by high-quality materials like open-pore wood and fine leather. The Jet Appearance Package offered additional customization with two-tone paint and black exterior trim, enhancing the vehicle's overall appeal.

In contrast, the 2025 Ford Explorer maintained its sleek and less boxy design with a refreshed front end that appeared wider and more ruggedly handsome. The rear featured new LED taillights bleeding into the liftgate, connected by a trim strip with the SUV's name. Interior updates significantly improved the Explorer's ambiance, making it competitive in its segment. Ford reduced the available trim levels to four, including the new base trim Active, sporty ST-Line, luxurious Platinum, and performance-tuned ST. Prices ranged from $39,755 to $55,505, excluding the destination charge.

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. 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 in combined driving. The hybrid offered a range of over 600 miles, while the gas-only engine achieved 24 mpg combined. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with an adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance.

The 2025 Ford Explorer offered two EcoBoost engines: a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder with 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, and a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 with 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, standard on the Explorer ST and optional with Platinum trim. All Explorers had a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with an optional four-wheel-drive system. The ST-Line test vehicle averaged 23.8 mpg with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The Explorer's driving modes included Eco, Normal, Sport, Slippery, Trail, Tow/Haul, and Deep Snow/Sand with 4WD. The ST-Line Street Package added larger wheels and performance brakes, enhancing the vehicle's handling and ride quality.

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 seats provided 43 inches of legroom, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The Lincoln Rejuvenate feature combined massage, lighting, and screen images for relaxation. Cargo space measured 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with seats folded down in the Premiere trim, though slightly less in higher trims. The Nautilus seated five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating.

The 2025 Ford Explorer seated six in its standard configuration, with an optional second-row bench seat increasing capacity to seven. The ST-Line test vehicle featured a heated steering wheel, heated power-adjustable front seats, and the Premium Package, which added ambient lighting, massage front seats, and heated second-row seats. The third row was less comfortable for adults but suitable for children. Cargo space was competitive, with 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 85.8 cubic feet. The Explorer's interior was practical, with useful storage solutions like a dashboard tray housing a wireless charger.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a striking 48-inch curved display, with a customizable digital dash and a smaller 11.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included Google Maps, Alexa Built-in, and over-the-air updates. However, some controls were distracting, such as the unlabelled steering wheel controls and menu-based vent adjustments. Wireless charging and USB ports were standard throughout the cabin.

The 2025 Ford Explorer introduced the Ford Digital Experience, with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, with a 5G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot available. The system was user-friendly, with Google Maps and app downloads via Google Play. The Explorer offered B&O sound systems, with the ST-Line featuring 10 speakers and higher trims boasting 14 speakers and 980 watts of power.

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. Blue Cruise 1.2 technology was available, offering hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. The 2023 Nautilus received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though the 2024 model had not yet been rated.

The 2025 Ford Explorer featured Ford CoPilot 360+ with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist. Higher trims included Ford CoPilot 360 2.0 with a surround-view camera system and BlueCruise hands-free driving. BlueCruise performed well in testing, though it occasionally struggled with large trucks in adjacent lanes. The 2025 Explorer had not been fully rated by the NHTSA or IIHS at the time of publication.