The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus stands out as a luxury SUV that prioritizes safety, offering robust protection for both drivers and passengers. This article delves into the safety ratings and crash test performance of the 2022 Nautilus, providing a comprehensive overview for those considering this vehicle. Understanding these safety aspects is crucial when choosing a vehicle, and the Lincoln Nautilus has proven to be a reliable and secure option in various safety evaluations.
In-Depth Look at Crash Test Ratings
The Lincoln Nautilus, sharing its fundamental structure with the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, has undergone rigorous testing to assess its crashworthiness. These tests evaluate how well the vehicle protects occupants in different types of collisions. Let’s break down the performance in each key area:
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side
In the driver-side small overlap front test, which simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object, the Lincoln Nautilus achieved a Good rating. This top rating signifies excellent protection.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Head/neck injury measures | G |
| Chest injury measures | G |
| Hip/thigh injury measures | G |
| Lower leg/foot injury measures | G |
| Driver restraints and kinematics | G |
The structural integrity of the Nautilus held up exceptionally well during this demanding test. Key measurements confirm this robust performance:
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max intrusion (cm) | 9 |
| Footrest intrusion (cm) | 4 |
| Left toepan intrusion (cm) | 4 |
| Brake pedal intrusion (cm) | 5 |
| Rocker panel lateral average intrusion (cm) | 4 |
| Steering column intrusion (cm) | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max intrusion (cm) | 8 |
| Upper dash intrusion (cm) | 5 |
| Lower instrument panel intrusion (cm) | 6 |
These measurements indicate minimal intrusion into the driver’s space, maintaining critical survival space. Furthermore, the injury measures recorded on the crash test dummy were also minimal:
| Injury Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 69 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Neck Extension Bending Moment (Nm) | 10 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.20 |
| Chest Maximum Compression (mm) | 26 |
| Left Femur Force (kN) | 0.8 |
| Right Femur Force (kN) | 0.6 |
| Left Tibia Index | 0.40 |
| Right Tibia Index | 0.37 |
These low injury measurements, coupled with the “Good” rating, demonstrate the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus’s capability to protect the driver in a challenging small overlap frontal crash scenario.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap front test is equally important as it evaluates protection for the front passenger. The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus again earned a Good rating in this assessment.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Head/neck injury measures (Passenger) | G |
| Chest injury measures (Passenger) | G |
| Hip/thigh injury measures (Passenger) | G |
| Lower leg/foot injury measures (Passenger) | G |
| Passenger restraints and kinematics | G |
Similar to the driver-side, the structural performance and occupant protection were excellent on the passenger side.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test
In the moderate overlap front test, which involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front impacting a barrier, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus continued to showcase its safety prowess with a Good rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Head/neck injury measures | G |
| Chest injury measures | G |
| Leg/foot, left injury measures | G |
| Leg/foot, right injury measures | G |
| Driver restraints and kinematics | G |
The measurements from this test further support the “Good” rating, showing controlled intrusion and minimal risk of injury.
Side: Original Test
The side crash test simulates a typical side impact collision. The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus achieved a Good rating in the original side test, indicating effective protection in side impact scenarios.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
| Head/neck injury measures (Driver) | G |
| Torso injury measures (Driver) | G |
| Pelvis/leg injury measures (Driver) | G |
| Head/neck injury measures (Rear Passenger) | G |
| Torso injury measures (Rear Passenger) | G |
| Pelvis/leg injury measures (Rear Passenger) | G |
Both driver and rear passenger injury measures were low, reinforcing the vehicle’s side-impact safety.
Side: Updated Test
An updated side crash test, known as Side 2.0, introduces a more severe impact. In this more challenging test, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus still maintained an overall Good rating, although with some variation in subcategories.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
| Head/neck injury measures (Driver) | G |
| Torso injury measures (Driver) | G |
| Pelvis injury measures (Driver) | M |
| Head/neck injury measures (Rear Passenger) | G |
| Torso injury measures (Rear Passenger) | A |
| Pelvis injury measures (Rear Passenger) | G |
While most categories remained “Good,” the driver pelvis received a “Marginal” rating, and the rear passenger torso received an “Acceptable” rating. Despite these slightly lower scores in specific areas of the updated test, the overall “Good” rating still indicates a strong level of side-impact protection.
Roof Strength
In the roof strength test, which measures the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus achieved a Good rating. The strength-to-weight ratio of 5.21 is well above the minimum requirement, demonstrating a robust roof structure.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.21 |
This “Good” rating for roof strength contributes to the overall safety profile of the 2022 Nautilus, indicating good protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
The design of head restraints and seats plays a crucial role in preventing whiplash and other neck injuries in rear-end collisions. The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus earned a Good rating for head restraints and seats.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
This “Good” rating signifies effective head restraint geometry and dynamic performance in simulated rear-end impacts.
Headlight Performance
Headlight performance is a critical safety feature, especially for nighttime driving. The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offers different headlight options, with varying ratings.
For the Reserve and Black Label trims equipped with the Ultimate package, the LED projector headlights received a Good overall rating.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating (LED Projector) | G |
However, for the Base, Select, and Reserve trims built after August 2022, equipped with LED reflector headlights, the rating is Acceptable.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating (LED Reflector, post-Aug 2022) | A |
For the same Base, Select, and Reserve trims built before September 2022, the LED reflector headlights received a Poor rating due to excessive glare.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating (LED Reflector, pre-Sep 2022) | P |
This variation highlights the importance of considering trim level and production date when evaluating headlight performance on the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus.
Front Crash Prevention
The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus excels in front crash prevention, offering both vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian detection systems.
For vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention, both the standard and optional systems earned a Superior rating. The Nautilus successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
| Evaluation Criteria (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating (Standard & Optional) | Superior |
In pedestrian front crash prevention (daytime), both standard and optional systems achieved an Advanced rating. The systems demonstrated significant speed reduction or collision avoidance in various pedestrian scenarios.
| Evaluation Criteria (Pedestrian Day) | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating (Standard & Optional) | Advanced |
These “Superior” and “Advanced” ratings underscore the effectiveness of the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus’s front crash prevention technologies in mitigating or avoiding collisions.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is crucial for families. The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus LATCH system received varying ratings depending on the trim level.
For the Select trim, the LATCH system received an Acceptable rating.
| Evaluation Criteria (Select Trim) | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | A |
However, for the Reserve trim, the rating is Marginal.
| Evaluation Criteria (Reserve Trim) | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | M |
The differences in ratings are attributed to factors like anchor depth and force required for attachment, indicating that LATCH usability can vary between trims.
Conclusion
Overall, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus demonstrates a strong commitment to safety, achieving predominantly “Good” and “Superior” ratings in critical crash tests and front crash prevention assessments. While there are some variations in headlight and LATCH ratings across different trims and production dates, the fundamental safety structure and occupant protection of the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus are commendable. For those prioritizing safety in a luxury SUV, the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus is a compelling choice, offering peace of mind through its robust safety performance.
