2025 Lincoln Nautilus vs. Lexus NX

2025 Lincoln Nautilus vs. Lexus NX

The Lincoln Nautilus for 2025 has been named the 2025 MotorTrend SUV of the Year. That's quite an achievement when you consider the very worthy competition in the mid-size luxury two-row crossover segment. The Nautilus received an impressive redesign for the 2024 model, and the third generation is now taller, wider, and longer than before. Here's a head-to-head showdown between the Lincoln Nautilus and the Lexus NX to illustrate why the Nautilus is the one you'll want to buy at Woodhouse Lincoln in Omaha, NE.

What's new for 2025?

Lincoln executives agreed that the 2024 redesign was so well done, the carmaker needed to do only modest updates for the 2025 model year. For example, the Lincoln Rejuvenate Audio-Visual experience is now available on the Reserve trim and the Black Label model. Meanwhile, Lexus has made the wireless phone charger available across all trim levels and added two standard USB-C ports in the front console.

Powertrains and performance: Lincoln Finishes in First Place

Lincoln has created a standard engine in the new Lincoln Nautilus that gives Bellevue, OH drivers a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The power is managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. Lincoln also offers a hybrid powertrain as an available upgrade. It teams up a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four with an electric motor to create a combined 310 horsepower. The standard engine can take you to 60 mph in 7.3 seconds, and with the hybrid, it reaches the same milestone in an impressive 6.9 seconds.

Lexus powers the NX250 with a 5.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that comes up well short of the base engine in the Lincoln Nautilus, creating only 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The standard engine in the Lexus NX 250 is slower than the Nautilus's, taking 8.6 seconds to reach 60 mph. Lexus does offer a hybrid powertrain in the NX350h that combines a 5.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine and an electric motor, but horsepower still comes up short of the Nautilus at only 239 horsepower. So the Lincoln Nautilus takes the flag for Lincoln, OH drivers by delivering more horsepower and faster acceleration than the Lexus NX.

Interiors and Cargo Space: Lincoln is More Spacious

The cabin of the Lincoln Nautilus achieves a high level of excellence, thanks to enormous digital displays, upscale materials, and a remarkable attention to detail. Council Bluffs, OH Lincoln owners will be treated to luxurious comfort inside the Nautilus, including a massage function, heated and ventilated 24-way adjustable front seats, and an active noise cancellation system that keeps the cabin incredibly quiet. But we're just getting started. Every Lincoln Nautilus comes with three available on-board fragrances and Redwood Venetian leather seats.

The Lexus NX has the disadvantage of being a compact SUV, so Lexus has given it noticeably less interior room than the Lincoln Nautilus. The Lincoln Nautilus provides you with 43.5 inches of front legroom and 43.1 inches of rear legroom. Meanwhile, the Lexus NX offers only 41.0 inches of front legroom and 36.1 inches of rear legroom. The Nautilus wins again when it comes to cargo space, providing 36.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 71.3 cubic feet with the seats down. That's far more room than the Lexus NX, with only 22.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 46.9 cubic feet when the rear seats are down.

Technology: The Nautilus Wins Going Away

Frankly, the technology battle is almost over before it starts. The Lincoln Nautilus comes with a massive, standard 48-inch panoramic display that includes an 11.1-inch touch screen. The Lexus NX comes with only a standard 9.8-inch touch screen. What's more, the Lincoln Nautilus offers Fremont, OH buyers an available premium Revel 3D audio system with up to 28 speakers, while the most the Lexus NX can offer is a surround-sound system with only 17 speakers.

Test drive the winning Lincoln Nautilus at our dealership

As you can see, the Lincoln Nautilus has enormous advantages over the Lexus NX, which helps explain why MotorTrend selected the Nautilus as the 2025 MotorTrend SUV of the Year. We invite you to test drive this award-winning vehicle at Woodhouse Lincoln in Omaha, NE.