There was a time where size dominated the design philosophy of American luxury cars.
In the 20th century, American cars were larger than life, in nearly every sense. First was their physical size – at nearly 20 feet long, luxury cars of the 1970s sported a well-earned name as “land yachts.” They had big, thirsty V8 engines and comfortable, opulent interiors. Now, though, times have changed. To that end, do cars like the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus define American luxury for a more modern era? TFL’s Roman Mica took it out on the streets of Santa Barbara, California for a quick preview to find out.
Let’s start with size. While the full-size Navigator is still massive, at 210 inches, this is altogether a more manageable package. The 2019 Lincoln Nautilus comes in at 190 inches long, 78.7 inches wide and 66.2 inches tall. Its engine also isn’t some gargantuan V8 that gets half a gallon to the mile. The standard engine is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, making 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. Optionally, there’s a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6, making 335 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque. Also unlike huge American cars of yesteryear, the Nautilus’ engine comes mated to a modern eight-speed automatic.
Fuel economy ratings for the 2.0-liter 2019 Lincoln Nautilus stand at 21 City / 25 Highway / 23 Combined mpg for the all-wheel drive version. The 2.7-liter EcoBoost, on the other hand, manages 18 City / 27 Highway / 21 Combined mpg.
How much is the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus?
As far as the opulence is concerned, the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus does have nice, high-end materials in the cabin. You’d expect that – particularly with the Black Label, which costs $66,635 as-equipped. The exterior design is also sharper than the MKX it replaces. You still get leather, wood and plenty of tech, even if headroom in the back is a bit tight.
So does it help redefine American automotive luxury for the modern age? Watch the video above and see what we think! Subscribe to The Fast Lane Car and TFLnow for more news, views and real-world luxury reviews.
