BoomerSooner Posted Wednesday at 06:45 PM Share Posted Wednesday at 06:45 PM I took delivery of a 2026 Lincoln Nautilus Reserve III in April. After about 3,000 miles, I can report that this is a heckuva CUV. Mine is Infinite Black Metallic Clearcoat (IMO, better than the old Tuxedo Black) with Hot Chocolate interior and hybrid drive. First, the range is outstanding. Anywhere from 450 to 600 miles is well within reach. Fuel economy runs 5 mpg (highway) to 10 mpg (city) better than my 2024 4WD Explorer Ltd with the 2.3 engine. Acceleration with the hybrid feels about the same--no complaints with either. While I was shopping, it was recommended to me (on this site) to splurge for the hybrid system, even though it has a CVT. That was sound advice. The CVT is only noticeable on rare occasions, possibly because the ICE is almost invisible--it's that quiet. Now for the good stuff: *The seats are excellent. Adjustable 90-ways-to-Sunday, massage, cooled/heated, and with great leather upholstery. They are a treat every time I sit in them. *The dash is obviously the gee-whiz factor. However, once acclimated, it's actually pretty unobtrusive and functional. The only criticisms are that the nav on the 48" dash is finicky at times (the touchscreen tablet is rock-solid) and the lighted strakes on the doors can be too bright at night, depending on my choice of ambient color. Also, it would be nice to have a bit more information about the ICE (a tach is available on the non-hybrid) and battery pack (the MPG indicator is the only clue). However, there's only, like, a million settings and if I've overlooked these, that's entirely possible. *The Revel Ultima is the real deal. This stereo is what got me excited about "Nauti Girl" in the first place. There are possibly better sound systems out there, but I doubt my hearing discernment would be able to appreciate better highs/lows/separation/clarity. If you want to blast Flim and the BBs, you'll hear all the subtle tones in crisp, 28-speaker reproduction. Piano solos with Khatia Buniatishvili at the keyboard are beautifully reproduced--and straight piano can be a challenge for cars. Thumping bass with Arctic Monkeys: Pure and undistorted. Seriously. This system fits this car perfectly. *The fit and finish have been without reproach. Having had to have my Explorer repainted after delivery (factory silver paint ran out of metallic on my hood/front fender), my Ranger repaired (came factory-fresh with a big dent in the roof), and the roof on my wife's Escape looking like it had been brush-painted, the Nautilus' paint is remarkably good. Plus, there are no squeaks, rattles, or body groans. The doors close with an impressive "thwump" without any secondary rattles or vibrations. Solid. Nice. *The ride is plush (maybe a bit too plush). It would be nice if the "excite" setting firmed up the suspension more. *Quiet: The interior is as quiet as a tomb. Conversations with backseat passengers are easily held. It's so quiet, that highway conversations using hands-free Bluetooth sound about the same as holding the phone to my ear. Once the door is shut, it's almost like an isolation chamber. Kudos for this feature. *The squircle steeing wheel with touchpads. Weird at first. However, I got used to it after a day and now I actually prefer the shape for highway driving. Plus, the leather on the wheel is smooth and soft. *BlueCruise. Unsettling at first, I've quickly decided I like it. I just wish it worked over 80 mph (area turnpikes require 80+ or you'll get run over). It does seem to impact the "tap once" turn signal though, even if it's not actively operating. So, "sorry" if I only signaled one flash before merging in front of you. *Passenger room in the backseat rivals an F150 SuperCrew. And the trunk space is generous. I feel like this might have been envisioned as a 3-row at some point but turned out to be a bit tight. As a 2-row, interior legroom is more than adequate. Visibility from inside is excellent. *Styling: I elected against the Jet Package (because I like the shiny bits) and tinted the front windows. I think the overall visual is to give the Nauti length and to make her look "hunkered down". The 21" bright machined wheels looked taller to me than the all black (or mostly) 22" wheels. Interior styling looks posh, integrated, and nearly everything you touch feels soft and of high quality. The push buttons for PRNDL could have been replaced with a traditional T-lever but I understand the corporate schtick and, at least, they work well. Next up: a clear bra for the nose and mirror faces. I know this is a Chinese market car, but maybe we need to tap some of those stylists for some other projects? 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted Thursday at 12:41 PM Share Posted Thursday at 12:41 PM Congrats on the new ride, I'm glad you like it! They did a great job with the Nautilus! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellanca Posted Thursday at 05:03 PM Share Posted Thursday at 05:03 PM Congrats, I’m a little over 38K on my 24 BL and really do love it; it’s a solid car!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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