2026 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus exuded a stately presence with its distinctive grille, reminiscent of a horse collar, featuring black mesh and customizable Lincoln star trim elements in chrome, copper, or black. The large Lincoln logo was prominently displayed at the center, flanked by sleek, eye-slit headlights with winged LED light signatures. Its wide and proud stance was accentuated by a contrasting black roof and pillars, with integrated door handles along the shoulder line. The body was adorned with a spear-shaped design element along the upper doors, featuring Nautilus lettering, and a trim strip above the rocker panels. The rear boasted a spoiler and a full-width taillight within a black trim piece, complemented by standard 19-inch alloy wheels, with options for larger sizes. The Jet Appearance package added satin dark luster wheels and black accents for a more aggressive look. Inside, the Nautilus offered a high-end ambiance with a unique layout centered around a 48-inch screen at the base of the windshield, requiring a lowered steering wheel with a flat top. The interior featured a stepped design, with a low-set center console, infotainment touchscreen, and a wide display screen. Upholstery options ranged from synthetic leather in the base trim to luxurious leather and suede in the top Black Label model, with design themes like Chalet and Aurora.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold reinterpretation of its design, which could polarize opinions. Its grille, spanning the entire width of the front end, had a flat, faceless look that divided opinions. The vehicle's personality shifted with color and trim level, with body-colored vertical strakes at each edge that blended harmoniously in darker shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile showcased unique faceted and angular fender sculpting, with black plastic tabs atop each wheel well, adding an odd novelty. The rear view adopted a different style, with rounded corners and vertical taillights reminiscent of a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout with a stark, buttonless modern appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim, equipped with the optional Executive package, offered a luxurious two-tone palette, akin to a Volvo. The seats, covered in synthetic leather and suede, had somewhat flat and firm cushions, but the surrounding materials were of excellent quality. Trim surfaces included engineered wood and carbon, with more traditional coverings in supporting trims.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus offered modest power for its price, with a standard turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. While adequate for a typical midsize SUV, luxury buyers expected more from a vehicle weighing over 4,500 pounds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The hybrid variant, which was tested, used the same engine with a larger turbo and an electric motor, boosting output to 310 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. It employed a continuously variable transmission (CVT) designed for a quiet and serene driving experience. The hybrid's extra power reduced the 0-60 mph time to about 7 seconds, still middling for a luxury vehicle but sufficient for worry-free passing. The Nautilus prioritized comfort over sportiness, with a MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear suspension with steel springs. Adaptive dampers were available on higher trims, offering a range of drive modes, though the handling remained soft and spongy. The ride was smooth, even with the largest 22-inch wheels, but rippled surfaces could cause more jiggling than expected.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid variant added electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery pack, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed transmission. The hybrid was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims but was offered in the X-Line trim. The Telluride Hybrid provided ample power and a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas modes. The X-Pro Prestige model excelled in off-road settings, with enough power to climb moderately steep grades. Both Tellurides prioritized comfort, delivering a smooth ride with the X-Pro Prestige trim's lifted off-road suspension and the Hybrid SX Prestige's stiffer ride. The Telluride was composed and controllable on winding roads, with a soft brake pedal effort that required adjustment. In panic stops, the brake response was immediate, and the vehicle tracked straight.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus emphasized comfort for both first- and second-row passengers. It came standard with power-adjustable heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a heated steering wheel, active noise cancellation, ambient lighting, and a power tilt/telescoping steering column. Higher trims offered ventilated front seats, 24-way power front seats with massage functions, and heated rear seats. The second row provided excellent space for two adults or three in a pinch, with 43.2 inches of legroom. The rear seats folded down via power releases in the cargo area, offering 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats upright and 71.3 cubic feet when folded flat. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free version available.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid offered ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers due to low-mounted seat cushions. The Hybrid SX Prestige test vehicle featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, comparable to business-class airline seats. The middle-row seats had significant travel fore and aft, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row, with a total of 89.3 cubic feet when the second-row seatbacks were folded flat. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds (4,500 for the Hybrid). For smaller items, the front seats had a large center bin with deployable cupholders, and the second row featured a tray and bin that slid out from the console.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 48-inch screen at the base of the windshield, displaying essential information such as maps, weather, and media. An 11.1-inch touchscreen handled infotainment controls, including navigation, climate settings, and phone mirroring via wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard features included a 5G Wi-Fi hotspot, digital key, satellite radio, remote start, and a wireless smartphone charger. Audio options ranged from a 10-speaker system to a 28-speaker Revel Ultima 3D unit. The Black Label trim included Lincoln Rejuvenate, offering relaxation programs with scent, seating position, and calming images. The steering wheel had five-way controllers for cruise control and voice controls, with a centrally located volume dial.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system included native navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. The system was user-friendly, though it required hard taps and had some delays. The climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customizable infotainment themes, including NBA teams and Disney characters. A 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system was available on higher trims, delivering powerful bass and clear tones.

The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus was equipped with standard safety features, including a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, lane-centering steering, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, high-beam assist, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, exit warning, front and rear parking sensors, a driver-attention monitor, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and intersection assist, and front and rear automatic emergency braking. Lincoln BlueCruise, a hands-free driving system, was also standard. The Nautilus earned a perfect five stars from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard advanced safety features such as frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, parking proximity sensors, highway driving assist, and rear passenger sensors/reminders. Higher trims offered a surround-view camera system, blind-spot camera system, side parking proximity sensors, and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had operational issues at night, and the blind-spot cameras were more distracting than helpful. The highway driving assist was effective on longer trips.