Used Lincoln Nautilus
Best Year for a Used Lincoln Nautilus to Buy
2021 to 2023 is the strongest used buy. Those are the first-generation cars after the cabin was overhauled, so you get the 13.2-inch Sync 4 screen along with the option of the 335-horsepower V6 that the current generation no longer offers.
Three Honest Answers
The Best Used Nautilus Years, by What You Are Optimizing For
The Nautilus is unusual among used luxury SUVs in that the newest one is not automatically the answer. The 2024 redesign brought a spectacular cabin and took away the V6, so which years suit you depends on what you actually want out of the vehicle.
2021 to 2023
First generation, updated
The last three years of the first generation, after the 2021 interior overhaul. Modern screen, modern phone integration, and you can still choose the V6. This is the version that gives up the least for the money.
- 2.0L turbo four, 250 hp, or 2.7L twin-turbo V6, 335 hp
- 8-speed automatic
- 13.2-inch Sync 4 screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
2019 to 2020
First generation, early
Mechanically the same car as the 2021, with the older 8-inch screen. Lincoln Co-Pilot360 was standard from the very first Nautilus, so the safety equipment is not what you are giving up. The lowest door into the nameplate.
- 2.0L turbo four, 250 hp, or 2.7L twin-turbo V6, 335 hp
- 8-speed automatic
- 8-inch screen, wired phone integration
- Co-Pilot360 standard
2024 onward
Second generation
The full redesign, built around a 48-inch display that spans the base of the windshield. All-wheel drive became standard, and a hybrid joined the lineup. Low miles, and many are still inside their original factory coverage.
- 2.0L turbo four, 250 hp, or the 2.0L hybrid
- Hybrid rated 29 city / 31 highway by the EPA
- 48-inch panoramic display
- All-wheel drive standard
Used Nautilus supply moves week to week. Check the current used Nautilus listings, or call and tell us which years you are open to and we will be straight with you about what is realistic this month.
Year by Year
What Each Nautilus Era Gives You
Two dates matter when you shop this SUV used: 2021, when the interior was redone, and 2024, when the whole vehicle was replaced. Everything else is detail.
| Model years | Generation | Engines | What defines it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 to 2020 | First generation | 2.0L turbo four, 250 hp, or 2.7L twin-turbo V6, 335 hp | The Nautilus name arrives. 8-inch screen, Co-Pilot360 standard, front-wheel drive with all-wheel drive available. |
| 2021 to 2023 | First generation, updated | 2.0L turbo four, 250 hp, or 2.7L twin-turbo V6, 335 hp | New dashboard with the 13.2-inch Sync 4 screen and wireless phone integration. Mechanically unchanged, which is the point. |
| 2024 onward | Second generation | 2.0L turbo four, 250 hp, or the 2.0L hybrid | All new. 48-inch panoramic display, all-wheel drive standard, a hybrid option, and no V6 anywhere in the range. |
If you tow, look at the older car
This is the part most Nautilus shoppers do not know, and it points the opposite way from every other spec on this page. A first-generation Nautilus fitted with the Class II Trailer Tow Package is rated to pull up to 3,500 pounds. The second-generation car has no factory tow hardware and is rated up to 1,750 pounds with a dealer-installed Class I hitch.
If a small camper or a pair of jet skis is in your summer plans on Kentucky Lake, that gap decides the purchase for you. Check the specific vehicle, because the tow package was an option rather than standard equipment, and plenty of first-generation cars were built without it.
If you want the four-cylinder or the hybrid
The 2.0L four is the volume engine across every year and it is a perfectly good one for a two-row SUV. The hybrid only exists from 2024, and the EPA rates it at 29 city and 31 highway, which is a real difference over the gas car on a daily commute rather than a rounding error. If fuel economy is your priority, the newest generation is the only place to look.
Before You Sign
What to Check on Any Used Nautilus
Most of this is a twenty-minute test drive and a careful walk around, and it is worth doing on a vehicle from any lot, ours included.
- Service history, especially on a V6 car. Both engines are turbocharged and both want their oil changes on schedule. Documented history beats a low odometer with no paperwork.
- The 8-speed under load. Take it up an on-ramp onto I-24 and ask for a downshift. It should arrive promptly and smoothly, without hunting.
- All-wheel drive, if fitted. First-generation cars came both ways, so confirm which one you are looking at rather than assuming. Every second-generation car has it.
- The tow package, if you tow. Look for the factory hitch receiver and wiring, and check the door label. This is the single most valuable thing to verify on a first-generation car.
- Every screen and camera. On a 2024 or newer, wake the full 48-inch display and confirm each panel lights and responds. On a 2021 to 2023, pair a phone wirelessly and run the backup camera.
- The panoramic roof. Open it, close it, and check the headliner around the edges for any sign of water having been where it should not be.
- An inspection by people who know the brand. Our technicians work on Lincolns every day. Book an inspection before you commit to any used Nautilus.
Trading something in? Get a trade estimate before you visit and the appointment becomes a test drive instead of an afternoon of waiting. You can also browse our pre-owned Lincoln selection if you are open to other models in the lineup.
Questions We Get Asked
Used Nautilus Buying Questions
What is the best year for a used Lincoln Nautilus?
2021 to 2023, for most buyers. Those years combine the redesigned dashboard and 13.2-inch Sync 4 touchscreen with the choice of the 2.7L twin-turbo V6 at 335 horsepower, an engine the second-generation Nautilus does not offer at all.
Which used Nautilus years are the best value?
2019 to 2020. They are mechanically identical to the 2021 to 2023 cars, with the same two engines and the same 8-speed automatic. What you give up is the bigger screen and wireless phone integration. Lincoln Co-Pilot360 was standard from the first year, so the safety equipment is not the compromise.
What changed on the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus?
The interior. Lincoln fitted a new dashboard built around a 13.2-inch Sync 4 touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The engines, transmission and drivetrain carried over unchanged, which is why the 2021 is such a clean upgrade over the 2020.
How is the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus different from the 2023?
It is a completely new vehicle. The 2024 second-generation Nautilus is built around a 48-inch panoramic display spanning the base of the windshield, all-wheel drive became standard, and a hybrid powertrain joined the lineup. The 2.7L V6 was discontinued.
Should I buy a Nautilus with the V6 or the four-cylinder?
The 2.0L turbo four is the sensible default and it is the engine most Nautilus buyers choose. Take the 2.7L V6 if you want the extra pull for passing and merging, or if you plan to tow. The V6 only exists on 2019 to 2023 cars.
Can a used Lincoln Nautilus tow?
Within limits, and the older car is the stronger one here. A first-generation Nautilus fitted with the Class II Trailer Tow Package is rated up to 3,500 pounds. The second-generation car has no factory tow hardware and is rated up to 1,750 pounds with a dealer-installed Class I hitch. Verify the package on the specific vehicle, because it was optional.
What should I inspect on a used Nautilus before buying?
Service records for the turbocharged engine, the 8-speed's behavior under load, whether the car is front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, the tow package if you need one, every screen and camera, and the panoramic roof and its headliner. Our technicians can inspect one for you before you buy.
Do you have used Lincoln Nautilus models in Clarksville?
Our used inventory changes weekly. Check the used Lincoln Nautilus listings on our site for what is here right now, or call 931-632-4844 and tell us which years and engine you want. We will watch for it rather than steer you to whatever is on the lot today.
Come See It
Come Look at One in Clarksville
Reading about two generations is one thing. Sitting in a 2022 and a 2025 back to back tells you which one you actually want in about ten minutes.
Where we are
2655 Trenton Rd, Clarksville, TN 37040. We have been at this corner of Clarksville since 1946, which makes us the oldest dealership in the city.
Sales
Call 931-632-4844. Sales is open Monday through Saturday, and opening and closing times vary by day, so check current hours before a late visit. You can also send us a note and we will call you back.
Service
Our technicians work on Lincolns every day, and we will inspect a used Nautilus for you whether or not you are buying it from us. Call the service desk at 931-343-4566 or book online.
Directions
We are just off Trenton Road, a few minutes from Exit 4 on I-24. Get hours and directions.
Find the Right Nautilus Year
Tell us the years and the engine you want and we will keep an eye out, rather than talking you into what happens to be here today.
Jenkins and Wynne Lincoln | 2655 Trenton Rd, Clarksville, TN 37040