Compare the2026 Lincoln NautilusVS 2026 Tesla Model Y

Safety
Warranty
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Nautilus are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Model Y doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Nautilus. But it costs extra on the Model Y.

The Nautilus has standard 911 Assist, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model Y doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Nautilus is safer than the Tesla Model Y:

	Nautilus	Model Y
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Compression	33 lbs.	68 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	359/332 lbs.	298/427 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Lincoln Nautilus is safer than the Tesla Model Y:

	Nautilus	Model Y
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	121 lbs.	145 lbs.
Hip Force	154 lbs.	216 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	169	358
Hip Force	491 lbs.	567 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Nautilus’ warranty.

Brakes and Stopping

The Nautilus stops shorter than the Model Y:

	Nautilus	Model Y
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	120 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Nautilus offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Model Y’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Nautilus offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Model Y; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Nautilus has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Nautilus flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y Performance suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the Nautilus’ turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (37.5 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Nautilus has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Model Y (7.9 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the Nautilus to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Nautilus uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Model Y doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Nautilus has 1.7 inches more front legroom, 3 inches more front hip room, 2.5 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 2.6 inches more rear legroom, 5.7 inches more rear hip room and 4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

Cargo Capacity

The Nautilus has a much larger cargo volume than the Model Y with its rear seat up (36.4 vs. 34.3 cubic feet).

Towing

The Nautilus Hybrid can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Nautilus can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Model Y can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Nautilus’ exterior PIN entry system. The Model Y doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Nautilus has a standard rear wiper. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Nautilus has standard extendable sun visors. The Model Y doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Nautilus (except Premiere) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Model Y.

The Nautilus is equipped with both FM and AM stereo radios, offering access to more content and better coverage than the Model Y, which solely provides FM radio. With AM radio, you can enjoy a wider variety of stations featuring news, talk shows, sports commentary, native language programing, automated traffic guidance, and emergency broadcasts. AM waves travel further and penetrate buildings and obstacles more effectively than FM signals, especially at night. Having both FM and AM stereo radios the Nautilus offers a more comprehensive listening experience compared to only FM in the Model Y.

HD Radio boasts several benefits over conventional radio: superior sound quality with clearer and consistent FM broadcasts, CD-quality audio, and Multicast Channels offering up to four streams from a single station, adding programming choices. Cars like the Nautilus optionally equipped with HD Radio provide an improved in-car entertainment experience. The Model Y, devoid of this technology, foregoes these benefits. Selecting the Lincoln Nautilus empowers drivers to enjoy a more immersive and enjoyable listening experience while on the go.

Compared to the Tesla Model Y’s traditional radio, the Lincoln Nautilus equipped with standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks.

The Nautilus offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The Model Y doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Lincoln Nautilus retains 43.1% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 39.16% resale value of the 2025 Tesla Model Y after five years, which can save the Lincoln’s owner up to $5809.72579 in depreciation.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Nautilus first among midsize premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Model Y isn’t in the top three.

Motor Trend selected the Nautilus as their 2025 Sport Utility of the Year. The Model Y has never been chosen.

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