2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2025 Subaru Forester

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus presented a sophisticated and streamlined exterior, available in Premiere, Reserve, or Black Label trims. Its design featured a new grille with LED lighting extending through it, illuminating 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 and 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 Subaru Forester focused on practicality and capability, though it received notable styling updates. The exterior included standard roof rails and 17-inch alloy wheels, with a more generic look compared to previous models. The Forester Sport featured bronze trim accents and 19-inch wheels, while the Limited and Touring trims offered additional features like a low-profile roof rack and chrome badging. The interior maintained a functional design with cloth upholstery and StarTex material in the Sport trim, offering easy cleaning and a cohesive look with the exterior accents.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. For an additional $1,500, a hybrid setup was available, delivering 310 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque, and an EPA-estimated 30 mpg combined. The hybrid also offered a range of over 600 miles. All Nautilus models featured all-wheel drive and five drive modes, with an adaptive suspension available for enhanced performance. The hybrid's CVT was well-tuned, avoiding common pitfalls like droning.

The 2025 Subaru Forester retained its 2.5-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine, producing 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft of torque, with a Lineartonic CVT and Symmetrical AWD as standard. The Forester's X-Mode system, standard from the Premium trim, improved stability and traction on challenging terrain. The Forester Sport and higher trims featured a dual-function X-Mode. The Forester's fuel economy was rated at 26 mpg city, 33 highway, and 29 combined, with slightly lower figures for the Sport and Touring trims. A hybrid version was anticipated but not yet available.

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, though slightly less in higher trims.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced a hands-free power liftgate, powered from the Sport trim and foot-activated on Limited. The cargo space increased slightly to 29.6 cubic feet with rear seats in place and 74.4 cubic feet with them folded. The Forester's roomy second row contributed to its competitive interior space. The Premium trim offered a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, with additional features like heated and ventilated seats available on higher trims.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus featured a massive 48-inch curved display, with customizable sections for various information. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled basic infotainment duties, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. 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 vent adjustments.

The 2025 Subaru Forester introduced an 11.6-inch Multimedia Plus infotainment system, standard on all but the base trim, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base model retained two 7-inch touchscreens with wired smartphone projection. Higher trims offered additional features like a wireless charging pad, Wi-Fi hotspot, and an 11-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Subaru's Starlink connected services suite included new capabilities for 2025.

The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus included the Lincoln CoPilot 360 suite of ADAS features, such as lane-keeping assist, park assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Blue Cruise 1.2 technology offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways, with features like automatic lane-change assist. The 2023 Nautilus received high safety ratings, and the 2024 model was expected to perform similarly.

The 2025 Subaru Forester featured Subaru's EyeSight suite of advanced driver-assistance technology, with enhancements like a wider field of view and an electric brake booster. Emergency Stop Assist was available on the Touring trim, along with other advanced safety features. The 2024 Forester received high safety ratings, and the 2025 model was expected to continue this trend.