2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Hyundai Palisade

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 massive 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.

In contrast, the 2025 Hyundai Palisade leveraged bold design as a differentiator, especially after the 2023 refresh that introduced a more angular and technical look. The SUV's balanced forms and upscale appearance made it seem like a bargain at its sticker price. Inside, even the base SE trim offered a clean, modern look, while higher trims featured premium leather, artificial suede, and metal speaker grilles. The Palisade was loaded with thoughtful details, such as USB charging ports in the front seatbacks and second-row smartphone storage pockets. It was available in seven trim levels, with prices ranging from $37,200 to $54,500.

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, boosting power 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 provided better fuel economy. The Nautilus featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with an adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade was equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and averaged 22 mpg in combined driving. The Palisade's ride was firm at lower speeds but softer on highways, and it handled speed humps impressively. The powertrain was smooth and refined, with the automatic transmission providing silky shifts. Despite not being fuel-efficient, the Palisade's V6 was satisfying to drive, and its steering and suspension offered a reasonable feel for the road.

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 functions. 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. 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 Hyundai Palisade accommodated three rows of seats, with our test vehicle featuring a seven-passenger arrangement. The Calligraphy trim included Nappa premium leather, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, and a massaging driver's seat. Second-row captain's chairs offered heating and ventilation, while the third-row seat was heated, a rarity in this segment. The Palisade provided generous storage space, with a Smart Liftgate for hands-free access. Cargo space measured 18 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 86.4 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a stunning 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash and customizable sections for various information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. However, some controls were distracting, such as the unlabelled steering wheel controls and menu-based vent adjustments. The Nautilus included Google maps, Alexa Built-in, wireless charging, and USB ports throughout the cabin.

The 2025 Hyundai Palisade's technology, while starting to look dated, was fully functional. It featured a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, though smartphone connectivity required a cable. The system included two-device Bluetooth support, wireless charging, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluelink+ connected services. The voice recognition system performed well, and the Harman Kardon audio system provided commendable sound. The Palisade also offered a head-up display and a surround-view camera system.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came 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 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 Hyundai Palisade featured the Hyundai SmartSense suite, with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Higher trims added features like a surround-view camera and Remote Smart Parking Assist. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS through 2024, though a Poor rating in a new test prevented the accolade in 2025. The NHTSA awarded it five-star frontal impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.