Compare the2024 Acura RDXVS 2024 Lincoln Nautilus

Both the RDX and the Nautilus have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Acura RDX achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Nautilus has not yet been fully evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Acura pays for scheduled maintenance on the RDX for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Acura will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Lincoln only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Nautilus.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Acura vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 1 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Acura higher than Lincoln.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Acura vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Acura fourth in overall reliability. Lincoln is ranked 23rd.

The RDX’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 22 more horsepower (272 vs. 250) and 5 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 275) than the Nautilus’ standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Acura RDX, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Nautilus.

The RDX’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Nautilus’ standard 60 series tires.

The RDX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Nautilus doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For greater off-road capability the RDX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Nautilus (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the RDX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Acura RDX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 450 pounds less than the Lincoln Nautilus.

The RDX is 5.8 inches shorter than the Nautilus, making the RDX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The RDX has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Nautilus with its rear seat folded (79.8 vs. 71.3 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the RDX. The Nautilus doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The RDX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Nautilus’ (1500 vs. 0 pounds).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Acura service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Acura 6th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 12th.

The RDX Advance has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Nautilus doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Acura RDX has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

The Acura RDX outsold the Lincoln Nautilus by 61% during 2023.