DecodedCars2026 Lincoln Nautilus
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2026 models.
- Class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
- Body styles
- 4dr SUV, HEV 4dr SUV
- Engines
- 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
- Drivetrain
- Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Fuel
- Hybrid, Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 30 combined · 29 city / 31 hwy
- Length
- 193.3 in
- Curb weight
- 4,350–4,517 lb
- NHTSA rating
- Not rated
- Recalls
- 3 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 30 MPG combined — 16% better than the average 2026 small SUV (25.9 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 32 similar 2026 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2026 Lincoln Nautilus is a small SUV offered with a 2.0L 4-cyl turbo engine, including a hybrid version and part-time 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 193 inches long and 80 inches wide on a 114-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,350 lb (4dr SUV).
EPA rates its most efficient version at 30 MPG combined (29 city / 31 highway), 16% better than the 2026 small SUV average of 25.9 MPG, for an estimated $2,250 a year in fuel.
It has 3 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the unknown or other.
What changed for 2026
No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2025 Nautilus — a carry-over year in the data.
Compared with 2025; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2025 Nautilus →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Hangzhou, Hangzhou
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 4 2026 Nautilus configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr SUV | 193.3 in | 79.9 in | 68.1 in | 114.2 in | 65.4 / 65.4 in | 4,350 lb | 57/43 |
| HEV 4dr SUV | 193.3 in | 79.9 in | 68.1 in | 114.2 in | 65.4 / 65.4 in | 4,517 lb | 56/44 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nautilus HEV AWD Hybrid | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 29 / 31 / 30 | +16% | $2,250 | 297 |
| Nautilus AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 8-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 21 / 29 / 24 | -7% | $2,800 | 369 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2026 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus.
Similar 2026 small SUVs
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Lincoln Nautilus (this car) | 30 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2026 Tesla Model Y | 357 mi | Not rated | 8 |
| 2026 BMW X3 | 29 MPG | Not rated | 2 |
| 2026 Lexus RX | 36 MPG | Not rated | 3 |
| 2026 Volvo XC90 | 27 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Audi Q7 | 22 MPG | Not rated | 1 |
| 2026 Tesla Model X | 352 mi | Not rated | 0 |
Recalls (3)
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · Oct 20, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V688000 · 11,623 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Nautilus Hybrid and 2027 Corsair Hybrid vehicles. The vehicle may unexpectedly shift into neutral while driving, due to corrosion in the transmission's park lock actuator circuit board.
- Risk
- A vehicle that unexpectedly shifts into neutral can lead to a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the Integrated Park Module (IPM), free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S75. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 26, 2026.
Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings › External/Pedestrian Alert · Jun 30, 2026
NHTSA campaign 26V415000 · 66,383 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and 2025-2027 Explorer Hybrid vehicles. A software error may prevent the vehicle from making the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds.
- Risk
- A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Note: This is an expansion of Recall 25V691. Any vehicles previously repaired under 25V691 must have the new remedy completed. Ford will release an over-the-air (OTA) update or dealers will update the APIM software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will replace the digital signal processing module in Nautilus Hybrid vehicles equipped with 28 speakers, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S51. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning July 7, 2026.
Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings › External/Pedestrian Alert · Oct 10, 2025
NHTSA campaign 25V691000 · 43,438 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and 2025 Explorer hybrid police vehicles. A software error may prevent the vehicle from emitting the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds.
- Risk
- A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- The audio control module and digital signal processing module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA2. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 10, 2025.
Not every 2026 Lincoln Nautilus is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Other Nautilus years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Nautilus | 30 | 193.3 in | ★★★★★ | 8 | 31 |
| 2024 Nautilus | 30 | 193.3 in | Not rated | 9 | 35 |
| 2023 Nautilus | 23 | 189.8 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 7 |
| 2022 Nautilus | 23 | 189.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 16 |
| 2021 Nautilus | 23 | 189.8 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 27 |
| 2020 Nautilus | 23 | 189.8 in | ★★★★★ | 5 | 34 |
| 2019 Nautilus | 23 | 189.8 in | ★★★★★ | 8 | 102 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Lincoln. How we calculate this →