2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

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, creating a stunning visual effect. The rear mirrored this horizontal aesthetic with a full-width animated LED light bar and dual exhaust ports. The interior was equally impressive, highlighted by a full-width screen that served as the 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 elements for an additional $3,000.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport emphasized a sportier SUV aesthetic within the Range Rover family. Its taller stance, shorter wheelbase, and chopped top contributed to a more athletic appearance, although it appeared a bit too tall and narrow from certain angles. The lineup included SE, Dynamic SE, Autobiography, and SV Edition Two trims, with a Stealth appearance package available for the Dynamic SE. The SV Edition 2, the highest-performance model, featured 23-inch carbon-fiber wheels and a carbon-fiber hood. The interior boasted red leather upholstery, sport seats with light-up "SV" inserts, and illuminated steering-wheel paddle shifters. Despite its minimalist aesthetic, the Range Rover Sport's high console, dash, and door panels created a cockpit-like feel, which could feel cramped for some. Material quality was high, though the use of reflective piano black plastic was excessive.

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. The power delivery was smooth, and shifts were unobtrusive. For an additional $1,500, a hybrid setup offered 310 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque, and an EPA-estimated 30 mpg in combined driving, compared to 24 mpg for the gas-only engine. The hybrid's range exceeded 600 miles, making it a practical choice for long drives. All Nautilus models featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with an adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance. The hybrid's CVT was surprisingly refined, avoiding the typical droning associated with such transmissions.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options, all with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The base SE model featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, while the Dynamic SE offered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. A plug-in hybrid powertrain was available, delivering up to 543 hp and 590 lb-ft in the Autobiography trim. The SV Edition Two boasted a BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 626 hp, making it the most powerful Range Rover model. It accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and reached a top speed of 180 mph. The Range Rover Sport's sport-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and brake-based torque vectoring contributed to its agile handling and luxurious ride. Off-road capabilities were supported by the Terrain Response system, hill descent control, and ascent control.

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 in the Premiere trim. The Nautilus was a five-seater, prioritizing cargo space over a third row.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, positioned between the Velar and full-size Range Rover, offered a two-row, five-seater configuration. Front-seat occupants enjoyed similar headroom to other midsize luxury SUVs, while rear-seat headroom was only slightly less than competitors. The Range Rover Sport provided 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 53 cubic feet with seats folded. It lacked a split tailgate but featured power operation and an "access height" setting for easier loading. The Range Rover Sport's towing capacity reached 7,716 pounds for turbo-six and V8 models, surpassing some rivals.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for various information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. HVAC controls were permanent icons on the screen, but vent adjustments required navigating menus. Unlabeled steering wheel controls were a distraction, though Google Maps and Alexa Built-in were appreciated. Wireless charging and USB ports were standard.

The 2025 Land Rover Range Rover Sport shared its screen setup with the larger Range Rover, featuring a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen for infotainment. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The minimalist design had functional drawbacks, with climate control and drive mode adjustments requiring screen widgets. Steering-wheel controls offered limited alternatives, but the Pivi Pro infotainment system was responsive. The SV Edition 2 featured "Body and Soul Seats" with embedded transducers for a unique audio experience, though it felt somewhat gimmicky.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus included the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, such as 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 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered standard driver-assist features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. A 360-degree camera system and digital rearview mirror aided parking, though parking sensors were overly sensitive. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.