2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Mazda CX-5

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 cost.

In contrast, the 2025 Mazda CX-5 was celebrated for its attractive design, standing out in the small SUV class with graceful curves rather than sharp angles. Despite not being redesigned since 2017, its styling remained impressive, often mistaken for an entry-level luxury SUV. The interior boasted nicer-than-average materials and a layout that bridged older analog cockpits with newer digital trends. While it lacked a massive infotainment touchscreen, the physical buttons, knobs, and gauges offered better usability. The CX-5's interior featured soft-touch materials and high-quality plastic elements, comparable to last-generation Acura or Lexus interiors, making it feel more special than similarly priced crossovers.

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, a hybrid option 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, though the Lexus RX hybrid offered better fuel economy. All Nautilus models featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance. The hybrid's CVT avoided typical droning, providing a satisfying driving experience, though not quite at the level of a Porsche Cayenne or BMW X5.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 offered two engine choices: a base 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, and a Turbo model with 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, with standard all-wheel drive. The base engine accelerated to 60 mph in about 8 seconds, while the Turbo model achieved it two seconds faster, making it one of the quicker options in its class. The CX-5 excelled in sporty driving dynamics, with sure-footedness and minimal body roll, providing confidence for evasive maneuvers. The firmer ride quality was noticeable but not intrusive, and the quiet cabin effectively filtered out wind and road noise.

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, renowned for their comfort and massage function. 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, with optional scented cabins. Cargo space measured 36 cubic feet behind the second row and 71 cubic feet with seats folded down in the Premiere trim, slightly reduced in Reserve and Black Label trims. The Nautilus seated five, prioritizing cargo space over additional seating rows.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5's interior design and refinement were commendable, though it fell short in practicality and space compared to rivals. While rear headroom was adequate, competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sportage offered more. The CX-5 excelled in rear legroom but was outmatched by the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage. Cargo capacity reached 30.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.1 cubic feet with seats folded flat. The cargo area featured helpful latches for easy seat stowing. Front seats included moderately sized cupholders, door pockets, and a deep center armrest bin, with wireless charging available on midlevel trims.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a massive 48-inch curved display, with a digital dash for the driver and customizable sections for various information. A smaller 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. HVAC controls were permanent icons on the screen, though vent adjustments required menu navigation. Unlabeled steering wheel controls added a learning curve, but Google Maps, Alexa Built-in, gaming, web browsing, and over-the-air updates enhanced the tech experience. Wireless charging and USB-A and -C ports were standard.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 came with a 10.25-inch infotainment display, controlled via a center console dial. This setup allowed for easy operation while driving, with logical menus and quick selections. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto could be controlled via the touchscreen or dial, with wireless integration available on midrange trims. The Premium Plus trim added a wireless charging pad. While analog gauges felt dated, a head-up display on higher trims projected speed and information onto the windshield. The base trim featured a four-speaker audio system, while the Signature model boasted a 10-speaker Bose premium system. Remote vehicle monitoring and a Wi-Fi hotspot were available.

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 offered hands-free/eyes-up driving on pre-mapped highways, with automatic lane-change assist and In-Lane Repositioning. The 2023 Nautilus received five stars from the NHTSA for frontal and side crash protection and four stars for rollover protection. The IIHS awarded the 2024 Nautilus a "Good" score in crashworthiness.

The 2025 Mazda CX-5 earned five stars from the NHTSA in all evaluations except rollover protection, where it received four stars. The 2024 model received the IIHS' highest "Good" score in all tests and a Top Safety Pick rating. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and traffic jam assist. The Turbo Signature trim included a driver attention monitor and rear automatic braking.