Compare | St. Peters, MO
How the Lincoln Nautilus and the BMW X5 each fit a St. Charles County family, from the way they ride on I-70 to the cabin you live in every day.
Both of these SUVs show up in the same driveways around Lake St. Louis and O'Fallon, and the people who drive them tend to want the same things. Two rows, room for car seats or teenagers, a cabin that feels special, and enough poise for a fast merge onto I-64. Where they part ways is in what each one cares about most.
The Lincoln Nautilus is built around calm. The BMW X5 is built around the drive. Neither approach is wrong, and plenty of shoppers drive both before deciding. This post compares them on the things families mention after a test drive, and tries to be straight about where the BMW X5 is the better pick.
Quick answer: Pick the Lincoln Nautilus if you want a quiet, relaxed ride, a wide panoramic display across the dash, a standard all wheel drive lineup and a hybrid option. Pick the BMW X5 if you put sharp handling first and want a wider spread of engines, including an inline six, a plug in hybrid and a V8. Both are two row midsize luxury SUVs, so drive them back to back on the roads you use every week.
Lincoln Nautilus
Quiet, roomy, hybrid available
BMW X5
Sporty, six cylinder and V8 choices
Both
Two row midsize luxury SUVs
In this post
How Are the Lincoln Nautilus and BMW X5 Different to Drive?
The Lincoln Nautilus is tuned for comfort first. Road noise stays low, the steering is light around a parking lot, and the suspension takes the edge off the patched lanes on Mid Rivers Mall Drive. On a long run out I-70 it feels settled and quiet, which is what most owners mention first.
The BMW X5 has a firmer, more connected feel. The steering has more weight, the body stays flatter in a quick corner, and the engines are eager. Drivers who like a winding road tend to light up in a BMW X5 on Highway 94 out toward Defiance. You'll feel more of the road through the seat, and for some people that's the point.
Neither is a bad highway SUV. The question is whether you want the vehicle to stay in the background on the commute or be part of the fun.

What Engines Do the Lincoln Nautilus and BMW X5 Offer?
The Lincoln Nautilus keeps it simple. There's a 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder with all wheel drive, and a hybrid version that pairs that engine with an electric motor. The hybrid is the one to look at if a lot of your driving is stop and go around St. Peters, since the electric assist helps most at low speeds.
The BMW X5 offers more choices. The base engine is a turbocharged inline six with mild hybrid assist, offered with rear wheel drive or all wheel drive. The xDrive50e is a plug in hybrid that can drive short distances on electricity alone. At the far end, the M60i uses a twin turbo V8. If engine choice matters to you, the BMW X5 has the wider menu.
Fuel economy, horsepower and towing differ by version on both sides. For exact figures, check the window sticker on the specific vehicle or ask our team. Our Lincoln Nautilus comparison page lines up the Lincoln Nautilus against other two row rivals if you want more numbers side by side.
The Lincoln Nautilus is built around calm. The BMW X5 is built around the drive.
Which Has the Better Cabin for a Family?
Sit in the Lincoln Nautilus and the first thing you notice is the screen. A panoramic display runs the width of the dash at the base of the windshield, showing the map, driving information and media where your eyes already are. A separate touchscreen lower down handles the controls. Some people love the effect. Others need a few days to get used to it.
The BMW X5 cabin takes a more driver focused approach, with its screens grouped toward the driver and a sportier seating position. It feels tight and well built. Families moving up from a smaller SUV usually find both have plenty of room in the second row for car seats.
Neither offers a third row, so if you need seven seats, look at the Lincoln Aviator or Lincoln Navigator instead. For two rows, the right answer comes from sitting in both with your own car seats, strollers or sports bags. Bring them to the test drive.
Shop the Lincoln NautilusValue Your Trade
How Do Driver Assist Features Compare?
Lincoln BlueCruise is the headline feature on the Lincoln Nautilus. On mapped, divided highways it allows hands free driving while a camera watches that your eyes stay on the road. Long stretches of I-70 are the kind of road it's built for. Ask our team about the BlueCruise terms on the vehicle you're looking at, since the hands free service runs on a plan.
The BMW X5 offers its own set of driver assist features, and the details vary by package and model year. If hands free highway driving is high on your list, ask the BMW dealer exactly what the BMW X5 you're considering includes and on which roads it works, so you're comparing like for like.
Both connect to your phone, and both brands offer an app with remote features that vary by vehicle. Spend ten minutes with each system in the showroom. The one that feels natural to you is the one you'll use.
The Lincoln Nautilus fits you if
- You want a quiet, soft ride on rough roads and long highway runs
- Hands free highway driving with BlueCruise appeals to you
- You like the idea of a hybrid for stop and go errands
- A wide, eye level display across the dash sounds good
- You want Warranty Forever on a qualifying vehicle from this store
The BMW X5 fits you if
- Sharp handling and steering feel matter most to you
- You want a choice of inline six, plug in hybrid or V8
- Driving short trips on electricity in a plug in hybrid appeals to you
- You prefer a firmer, sportier seating position
- You want the option of a rear wheel drive version

What Is Ownership Like in St. Charles County?
Weather matters here. Ice storms, freeze and thaw potholes and spring hail are part of life in St. Charles County, and an all wheel drive SUV with good tires handles all of it. The Lincoln Nautilus lineup comes with all wheel drive. On the BMW X5, choose an xDrive version if winter driving is a concern.
Service is the other half. Buying a Lincoln Nautilus from us means service right on North Service Road, Pickup and Delivery on vehicles within the 4 year or 50,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty, and Lincoln Mobile Service for many jobs at your home or office. Ask whichever store you buy from what their service drive looks like, because you'll see it more often than the showroom.
St. Peters driver tip
Drive both SUVs over the same loop: a stretch of I-70, the stop and go on Mid Rivers Mall Drive, then a few curves on Highway 94. Do it back to back on the same day so the road and the weather are the same. The difference in ride and noise jumps out quickly.
Warranty Forever on qualifying vehicles
A qualifying new or pre owned Lincoln Nautilus bought here can come with Warranty Forever, powertrain coverage on the engine, transmission and drive axle parts named in the agreement for as long as you own it. Covered repairs carry no deductible, as long as the listed maintenance is kept on record.
See How Warranty Forever WorksQuestions Owners Ask About Size and Seating
Does the Lincoln Nautilus have a third row?
No. The Lincoln Nautilus is a two row SUV. For three rows, look at the Lincoln Aviator or Lincoln Navigator.
Does the BMW X5 have a third row?
The current BMW X5 is sold as a two row midsize luxury SUV. Check with a BMW dealer for the details on any specific vehicle.
Which one fits car seats better?
Both have room for car seats in the second row. Bring your own seats to the test drive and install them, since every seat and every family is different.
Questions Owners Ask About Powertrains
Is the Lincoln Nautilus available as a hybrid?
Yes. The Lincoln Nautilus is offered with a 2.0 liter turbocharged four cylinder or a hybrid that pairs that engine with an electric motor.
Is there a plug in hybrid BMW X5?
Yes. The BMW X5 xDrive50e is a plug in hybrid that can drive short distances on electric power.
Which one tows more?
Towing ratings vary by version on both SUVs. Check the owner's guide or window sticker for the exact vehicle, or ask our team for the Lincoln Nautilus figure.
Questions Owners Ask About Winter Driving
Does the Lincoln Nautilus come with all wheel drive?
Yes. The Lincoln Nautilus lineup comes with all wheel drive.
Is every BMW X5 all wheel drive?
No. The sDrive version is rear wheel drive. The xDrive versions and the M60i use all wheel drive.
Do I need winter tires on either one?
All season tires in good shape handle most St. Charles County winters. Drivers who face hilly roads or early commutes often add winter tires for better grip on ice.
Questions Owners Ask About Technology
What is the panoramic display in the Lincoln Nautilus?
It's a wide screen across the dash at the base of the windshield showing navigation, driving information and media, with a separate touchscreen below for controls.
Does BlueCruise work everywhere?
BlueCruise works on mapped, divided highways. Ask our team which roads near St. Peters qualify and what plan comes with the vehicle.
Can I start either SUV from my phone?
Both brands offer phone apps with remote features. Features and plans vary, so ask about the specific vehicle.
Questions Owners Ask About Buying in St. Peters
Can I test drive a Lincoln Nautilus at Dave Sinclair Lincoln St. Peters?
Yes. Call 636-441-4400 or stop by 4760 North Service Road along I-70. Sales is open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 5:30 PM.
Can I trade in a BMW toward a Lincoln Nautilus?
Yes. The store takes trade ins of all makes and models. Start online with the Value Your Trade tool, then confirm the number with an in person appraisal.
Do you have pre owned Lincoln Nautilus models too?
Inventory changes daily. Check our used and Lincoln Certified Pre Owned listings or call the sales team.