Compared: 2024 Lincoln Nautilus vs. 2024 Cadillac XT6

Two takes on the American luxury SUV square off.

Brennan Sullivan | 

Sep 30, 2024 | 3 min read

Cadillac | Lincoln

The purpose of different SUVs these days is wide, ranging from rugged off-roading to sophisticated luxury cruising. The 2024 Cadillac XT6 and the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus are midsize domestic luxury SUVs dressed for the boulevard, not the trail. Here's a look at how these two comfort-focused family vehicles compare in terms of price, features, and fuel economy.

Lincoln

The XT6 Costs Less to Start Than the Nautilus

The revamped-for-2024 Lincoln Nautilus range begins with the Premiere, priced at about $53,000. The Reserve, for around $57,000, adds, among other things, leather-trimmed seating and available audio upgrades. The Nautilus Black Label eclipses the lower trims with features including premium leather interior finishes, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats for around $77,000.

The Nautilus comes with standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four. You can choose a hybrid gasoline-electric powertrain for $1,500 on any trim.

Cadillac

Turning to the General Motors side of the aisle, the entry-level Cadillac XT6 Luxury is priced a bit lower than its Ford-based counterpart, starting around $50,000 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and front-wheel drive (FWD). AWD is an extra $2,000.

The two upper trims, the roughly $56,000 Premium Luxury and the roughly $62,000 Sport, boast a 3.6-liter V6 engine. The Premium Luxury comes with FWD or AWD, while the Sport can only be had with AWD.

Lincoln

Nautilus Has Lots of Tech, but XT6 Has More Space

Perhaps the difference that will matter most for buyers seeking space is seating capacity. The Cadillac comes standard with a third row, offering space for up to seven passengers. The Lincoln, however, seats just five. The XT6 also has an advantage when it comes to cargo capacity, with 78.7 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the front seats. The most the Lincoln can accommodate is 71.3 cu-ft.

The XT6 can tow a maximum payload of up to 4,000 pounds, depending on the engine and how the vehicle is equipped. The Cadillac's top figure bests the Lincoln's 1,750-pound limit.

Cadillac

In terms of technology, Lincoln's BlueCruise hands-free highway driving capability comes as standard equipment on all trims, with four years of service included.

Cadillac's comparable advanced driver-assistance suite, Super Cruise, is available on the XT6 but only as an option on Premium Luxury and Sport models. Similarly, both vehicles offer a 360-degree camera, but it's included as standard equipment on the Lincoln and optional equipment on the Cadillac.

Lincoln

The Hybrid Nautilus Wins on Fuel Economy

Thanks to its available hybrid powertrain, Lincoln stands above its competitor in terms of fuel economy. The standard Nautilus achieves a respectable 21/29/24 mpg in city/highway/combined driving, but the hybrid goes the distance, scoring 30/31/30 mpg.

The most efficient version of the XT6, the FWD four-cylinder, gets 21/27/23 mpg, while the AWD V6 is rated at 18/25/21 mpg.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.

Brennan Sullivan

Brennan Sullivan is a writer and lifelong car fanatic. With an appreciation for all makes and models, Brennan is particularly passionate about the rich history of the automotive industry. In his spare time, he's the caretaker of a 1962 Sunbeam Alpine, and a Golden Retriever named Willow.