Model | St. Peters, MO
How the Lincoln Nautilus handles an I-70 commute, a Highway 364 merge and a winter morning, and who should look at something else.
Picture a weekday that starts in Lake St. Louis, crawls east on I-70 past the Mid Rivers Mall Drive exit, crosses the river on the Page Avenue bridge and ends in an office park forty minutes later. Then you do it backward. A commute like that tells you more about a vehicle than any spec sheet.
We hear questions about the Lincoln Nautilus every week, usually from people who drive some version of that route. So instead of a feature list, this is how the Lincoln Nautilus fits a St. Charles County week, and where it doesn't.
Quick answer: For most St. Charles County commuters the Lincoln Nautilus is a strong fit. The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus is a two row midsize SUV with standard all wheel drive, a quiet cabin, a wide panoramic display and an available hybrid. It's a weaker fit if you regularly need a third row or plan to tow heavy loads.
Seating
Two rows, five seats
Drive
All wheel drive standard
Powertrains
Turbo gas or hybrid
In this post
What Kind of SUV Is the Lincoln Nautilus?
The Lincoln Nautilus sits in the middle of the lineup. It's bigger than the Lincoln Corsair and a lot smaller than the Lincoln Aviator or Lincoln Navigator. Two rows, seating for five, and all wheel drive standard on the 2025 model.
The current generation was redesigned for 2024, and the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus mostly carries that design forward. You pick between a turbocharged four cylinder gas engine and a hybrid that pairs the same size engine with electric motors. Both come with all wheel drive. Trims run Premiere, Reserve and Black Label.
Inside, the thing everybody notices first is the screen. A panoramic display about 48 inches wide runs across the base of the windshield, with a separate center touchscreen below it. It's a lot of glass, and people tend to love it or need a week to get used to it.

How Does the Lincoln Nautilus Handle an I-70 Commute?
Quiet is the word owners use most. The Lincoln Nautilus is built to keep road and wind noise down, and on the concrete stretches of I-70 where cheaper SUVs drone, it stays calm enough to take a phone call without raising your voice.
The ride leans soft. Expansion joints on the Blanchette Bridge and the patched lanes on the I-70 ramps get rounded off instead of sent up through your back. Some reviewers say the standard drive mode floats a bit over bigger bumps. If you want it tighter, the drive modes let you firm things up.
Merging is easy. Both powertrains have plenty of pull for getting onto Highway 364 from a short ramp, and the hybrid adds electric help at low speed, which makes stop and go traffic smoother. The available hands free BlueCruise system can take some of the work out of approved highway stretches. Availability and the included service period depend on the trim and package, so ask the team what a specific vehicle includes.
A commute like that tells you more about a vehicle than any spec sheet.
Should a Commuter Pick the Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid?
If most of your miles are stop and go, the hybrid is worth a serious look. Hybrids earn their keep in traffic, where the electric motors handle more of the low speed driving and the engine gets more time off. That describes a lot of the drive between O'Fallon and the Mid Rivers Mall Drive interchange at 5:15.
If your commute is mostly open highway at a steady speed, the gap between the two narrows, and the gas model may make more sense. We'd rather not quote mileage numbers here, because they vary by year, trim and how you drive. Check the window sticker on the exact vehicle and compare.
Drive both. The hybrid feels a little different at low speed, and some drivers notice the brake pedal behaves differently than a gas model's. Ten minutes behind the wheel of each will tell you which one you'd rather live with.
Shop Lincoln NautilusSee Co-Pilot360 Features
Is the Lincoln Nautilus Big Enough for Weekends?
For a couple or a family of four, usually yes. The back seat has real room for adults, and the cargo area handles a big grocery run, a pair of golf bags or a weekend of luggage without a fight. The rear seats fold when you need more length.
Where it runs out is the bigger stuff. Five people plus a weekend's worth of gear for the lake is tight, and there's no third row for a carpool. If that's your regular Saturday, the Lincoln Aviator is the better fit.
Ask for exact cargo and towing figures on the trim you're considering instead of going off a number you read somewhere. They change with the powertrain and options.
St. Peters driver tip
Take the Lincoln Nautilus out Highway 94 toward Defiance on a test drive. The curves past the Katy Trail crossings show you how it handles when the road stops being straight, and you'll find out quickly whether you like the steering feel. Come back on Highway 364 to try a highway merge.
How Does the Lincoln Nautilus Do in Missouri Weather?
Standard all wheel drive helps on wet pavement, slush and the occasional icy morning on Salt River Road. It helps you get going and stay settled. It doesn't help you stop any faster, so tires still matter. A good set of all season tires, or winter tires if you want the extra grip, makes more difference come January than anything else.
The Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assistance features adds another layer in bad weather, with things like blind spot detection, pre collision assist and lane keeping. Which features are included depends on the trim, so check the window sticker or ask our team for the list on a specific vehicle.
In summer, strong air conditioning, plus ventilated front seats on vehicles that have them, earn their keep on a 95 degree afternoon in the office parking lot. Spring hail is another story, and a garage still does more against it than any feature.

Who Should Look at a Different Lincoln Instead?
If you need seven seats on a regular basis, go look at the Lincoln Aviator. If you tow a boat or a camper to the Lake of the Ozarks every other weekend, the Lincoln Navigator's size and capability make more sense.
On the other end, if you're a solo commuter who parks in a tight garage downtown and rarely carries more than one passenger, the smaller Lincoln Corsair may be all you need. You can compare them side by side on our new Lincoln inventory.
For the large middle of people who commute, run errands, carry a couple of kids or a couple of friends, and want something comfortable for a Saturday drive, the Lincoln Nautilus is the one we'd point you to first.
Warranty Forever on qualifying vehicles
Buy a qualifying Lincoln Nautilus here and Warranty Forever covers the listed engine, transmission and drive axle parts for as long as you own it, with no deductible. Keep up with the maintenance in the agreement and the coverage stays in place.
Read About Warranty ForeverQuestions Owners Ask About Nautilus Comfort
Is the Lincoln Nautilus comfortable for a long commute?
That's where it shines. The cabin is quiet, the ride is soft, and the front seats are built for long stretches. Take it on I-70 during your test drive to judge it on your own route.
Do the front seats have massage?
Massage and other seat features depend on the trim and package. Ask the sales team which vehicles in stock have them.
How much rear legroom does the Lincoln Nautilus have?
Enough for most adults to sit comfortably on a normal commute. For exact measurements, ask the team or check Lincoln's published specifications for the model year.
Questions Owners Ask About Nautilus Technology
Is the big screen distracting?
Most drivers settle in within a few days. The wide display sits low at the base of the windshield, and you can change what it shows.
Does the Lincoln Nautilus have BlueCruise?
BlueCruise hands free highway driving is offered on the Lincoln Nautilus, with availability and the included service period depending on trim and package. Ask about the specific vehicle.
Does it work with my phone?
Phone connectivity depends on the vehicle and its software, so bring your phone on the test drive and pair it before you leave the lot. The team can walk you through the Lincoln app too.
Questions Owners Ask About Nautilus Powertrains
Is the Lincoln Nautilus hybrid a plug in?
No. The Lincoln Nautilus hybrid charges itself while you drive, so there's nothing to plug in at home.
Is all wheel drive standard on the Lincoln Nautilus?
Yes, on the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus all wheel drive is standard on both the gas and hybrid models.
What fuel does the Lincoln Nautilus need?
Check the owner's guide and the label inside the fuel door for the recommended octane on the vehicle you're considering.
Questions Owners Ask About Buying a Nautilus
Should I wait for the 2026 Lincoln Nautilus?
If a specific change matters to you, ask the team what's been announced. If not, a 2025 Lincoln Nautilus in stock gets you driving it now.
Can I start financing on a Lincoln Nautilus from home?
Yes. Use our online pre approval form, and the Finance Department will follow up with you.
Will my trade in count toward a Lincoln Nautilus?
Yes. Get an estimate of your current vehicle's value first, and the team will confirm the number when they see it.
Questions Owners Ask About Test Drives in St. Peters
Can I test drive a Lincoln Nautilus on my actual commute route?
Ask the sales team. They can plan a longer drive that gets you onto I-70 or Highway 364 so you can feel it at speed.
Can I test drive the gas and hybrid back to back?
If both are in stock, yes. Call ahead at 636-441-4400 so the team can have them ready.
When is the sales department open?
Weekdays from 9 AM to 7 PM, and Saturdays from 9 AM to 5:30 PM. We're on North Service Road along I-70.
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