Compare | St. Peters, MO
Two quiet, two row luxury SUVs with different ideas about drivetrains, screens and back seat room. A fair look at both from our St. Peters showroom.
A lot of the people who sit in a Lincoln Nautilus on our showroom floor have a Lexus RX at home or on their short list. We don't take that as a slight. The Lexus RX has earned its following, and anybody shopping a midsize luxury SUV in St. Charles County should look at both.
They have plenty in common: two rows, five seats, a quiet cabin and hybrid versions. Where they split apart is in how power reaches the wheels, how the dash is laid out, and how much space the back seat and cargo area give you. We've tried to call it straight on both, including the places where the Lexus RX comes out ahead.
Quick answer: Choose the Lincoln Nautilus if you want all wheel drive on every trim, a wide panoramic display, and more rear legroom and cargo room on paper. Choose the Lexus RX if you want the widest spread of powertrains, including a plug in hybrid, and Lexus reliability and resale history matter most to you. Drive both on the same day and on the same roads before you decide.
Seating
Two rows and five seats in both
Lincoln Nautilus
All wheel drive on every trim
Lexus RX
Only one with a plug in hybrid
In this post
How Are the Lincoln Nautilus and Lexus RX Alike?
Both sit in the same part of the market. The current Lincoln Nautilus arrived with a new design for the 2024 model year, and the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus carries that design forward. The current Lexus RX generation dates to the 2023 model year. Lexus dropped the three row RX L when that generation launched, so today both SUVs are two row, five seat vehicles.
Neither one is trying to be a sports car. Both lean toward a soft, quiet ride, and both offer a hybrid. If your week is school drop off in Cottleville, a commute down I-70 and a Saturday run to Main Street in St. Charles, either one will do the job comfortably. The choice comes down to the details below.

Which Is Better Set Up for a St. Charles County Winter?
Every 2025 Lincoln Nautilus comes with all wheel drive, gas or hybrid, from the first trim up. You don't have to check a box or hunt the lot for the right badge.
The Lexus RX handles it differently. The gas Lexus RX 350 is sold with front wheel drive or all wheel drive, while the Lexus RX 350h, Lexus RX 450h+ and Lexus RX 500h all come with all wheel drive. If you're shopping a Lexus RX 350, new or used, look at the window sticker or the build sheet so you know which one you're getting.
All wheel drive helps you get moving on a slick hill. It doesn't help you stop, and that's where tires earn their keep. A good set of all season tires with plenty of tread, or a set of winter tires if you drive early mornings, matters as much as the drivetrain on either SUV.
St. Peters driver tip
Highway 94 out toward Defiance has curves and hills that stay icy after the main roads clear, and the Page Avenue bridge over the Missouri River catches wind and freezes early. If you're test driving in January, take one of those routes instead of a dry stretch of I-70. You'll learn more in ten minutes.
How Do the Gas and Hybrid Choices Compare?
The Lincoln Nautilus keeps it simple. There's a turbocharged four cylinder gas version and a hybrid version built around a turbocharged four cylinder with an electric motor. Both send power to all four wheels.
The Lexus RX gives you more to choose from. The Lexus RX 350 uses a turbocharged four cylinder. The Lexus RX 350h is a conventional hybrid. The Lexus RX 450h+ is a plug in hybrid that can cover short trips on electric power alone, and the Lexus RX 500h is a performance hybrid. If you have a garage outlet and a short commute to O'Fallon or Lake St. Louis, that plug in option is a real point in the Lexus RX column.
We aren't going to quote horsepower or fuel economy here, because the numbers move by version and model year. The window sticker has the EPA figures for the exact vehicle in front of you, and our sales team can pull them up for any Lincoln Nautilus you're looking at.
Shop the Lincoln NautilusSee All New Lincolns
What Feels Different Inside the Cabin?
This is where the two feel least alike. The Lincoln Nautilus has a 48 inch panoramic display that runs across the base of the windshield, with an 11.1 inch touchscreen below it. Some drivers love it on the first drive. Others want a few days to get used to it. The Lexus RX uses a more traditional layout, with a 12.3 inch display in front of the driver and an available 14 inch touchscreen in the center.
Space is the other big difference. Published figures give the Lincoln Nautilus more rear legroom and more cargo space than the Lexus RX. If your back seat holds teenagers, a car seat behind a tall driver, or golf bags on the way to a tee time, sit back there yourself in both and load what you carry.
For driver assistance, the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus offers BlueCruise, Lincoln's hands free highway driving feature for prequalified stretches of divided highway. Lexus fits Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 to every Lexus RX, which includes pre collision braking and all speed radar cruise control. Ask our team which Lincoln Co-Pilot360 features come on the trim you're considering, since the list varies.
If your back seat holds teenagers, a car seat behind a tall driver, or golf bags on the way to a tee time, sit back there yourself in both and load what you carry.

What About Reliability, Resale and Ownership?
Credit where it's due. The Lexus RX has a long record for reliability and strong resale value, and reviewers point to it every time. If that history is the main thing you're buying, the Lexus RX deserves a hard look.
The factory warranties are close. Both carry a 4 year or 50,000 mile basic warranty and a 6 year or 70,000 mile powertrain warranty. The differences tend to come from the store you buy from. A qualifying Lincoln bought here comes with Warranty Forever, and a Lincoln inside its new vehicle warranty qualifies for complimentary Pickup and Delivery from our service department on North Service Road.
The Lincoln Nautilus fits you if
- You want all wheel drive without checking the trim
- Adults or growing kids ride in the back seat
- You like a wide panoramic display and hands free highway driving
- You want service a few minutes off I-70 in St. Peters
The Lexus RX fits you if
- You want a plug in hybrid for short electric commutes
- Lexus reliability and resale history come first for you
- You prefer a more conventional dash layout
- You want a performance hybrid like the Lexus RX 500h
How Should You Test Drive Them Side by Side?
Driving them a week apart makes it hard to compare. Try to do both on the same day, on the same roads, with the same people in the car.
Pick one loop and repeat it
Something like Mid Rivers Mall Drive to I-70, a stretch of highway, then back on Mexico Road gives you city stops, highway noise and rough patches.
Sit in the back
Have someone else drive while you ride behind the driver's seat set to your own position. That's the seat your family will judge.
Load the cargo area
Bring the stroller, the sports bags or the cooler. Numbers on paper don't tell you how a shape fits your stuff.
Use the screens while parked
Pair your phone, set a destination and change the audio. Ten minutes in a parking lot tells you which layout you'll be happy with.
Tell us before you come in that you're cross shopping a Lexus RX. We'll have a Lincoln Nautilus ready on the trim you're comparing so the drive is fair.
Warranty Forever on qualifying vehicles
Buy a qualifying new or pre owned Lincoln from us and Warranty Forever covers the listed powertrain parts for as long as you own it, with no deductible on covered repairs. Keep up the maintenance the agreement calls for and keep the records.
How Warranty Forever WorksQuestions Shoppers Ask About Size and Seating
Does the Lexus RX still offer a third row?
Not in the current generation. Lexus offered a three row RX L in the past, but it ended when the current Lexus RX launched for the 2023 model year. Today both the Lexus RX and the Lincoln Nautilus seat five.
Which one has more cargo room?
Published figures give the Lincoln Nautilus more cargo space behind the second row. Shape and load height matter too, so bring the things you haul and try them in both.
Can I fit car seats in the back of a Lincoln Nautilus?
Bring your car seats to the test drive and install them. Every seat fits a little differently, and seeing it in person beats any chart.
Questions Shoppers Ask About Hybrids
Is the Lincoln Nautilus hybrid all wheel drive?
Yes. All wheel drive is standard on the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus, including the hybrid version.
Does the Lincoln Nautilus come as a plug in hybrid?
The 2025 Lincoln Nautilus is offered as a gas model or a conventional hybrid that charges itself while you drive. If plugging in at home is a must, the Lexus RX 450h+ offers that, and the Lincoln Aviator Grand Touring is a plug in hybrid in the Lincoln lineup.
Which one gets better fuel economy?
It depends on the version. The EPA ratings are on the window sticker of each vehicle, and our team can show you the figures for any Lincoln Nautilus in stock.
Questions Shoppers Ask About Technology
What is BlueCruise on the Lincoln Nautilus?
BlueCruise is Lincoln's hands free highway driving feature. It works on prequalified sections of divided highway, and you still have to watch the road. Ask our team how it's included on the vehicle you're considering.
Is the 48 inch display distracting?
Most drivers settle in after a few drives. It sits low at the base of the windshield, and the touchscreen below handles most controls. Try it on a test drive before you decide.
Do both have driver assistance features?
Yes. Lexus fits Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 to every Lexus RX. The Lincoln Nautilus uses Lincoln Co-Pilot360 features, and the exact list depends on the trim, so check the window sticker or ask us.
Questions Shoppers Ask About Buying in St. Peters
Will you take my Lexus as a trade in?
Yes. The store accepts trade ins from all manufacturers. You can start with an online estimate, and the final number is confirmed with a quick appraisal in person.
Can I get pre approved before I come in?
Yes. The online application goes to our Finance Department, which reviews the programs available to you. You can also call 636-441-4400 with questions first.
When is the sales showroom open?
Sales is open Monday through Friday 9 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 5:30 PM. Call ahead and we'll have a Lincoln Nautilus ready to drive.
Questions Shoppers Ask About Owning a Lincoln Here
Does Warranty Forever transfer if I sell the vehicle?
No. Warranty Forever covers qualifying vehicles for as long as you own them and isn't transferable. Towing and rental aren't part of it.
Does Pickup and Delivery come with a new Lincoln Nautilus?
Pickup and Delivery is complimentary while your Lincoln is within the 4 year or 50,000 mile new vehicle limited warranty. We pick it up, leave a Lincoln loaner, and bring it back washed.
Where do I get my Lincoln Nautilus serviced?
Our service department at 4760 North Service Road in St. Peters handles it. You can schedule service online or call 636-441-4400.