For prospective car owners, especially those prioritizing family safety, understanding vehicle safety ratings is paramount. The Lincoln Nautilus 2022, a luxury midsize SUV, has garnered attention for its blend of comfort and performance. But how does it fare in safety assessments? This article delves into the comprehensive safety ratings of the Lincoln Nautilus 2022, providing a detailed analysis for informed decision-making.
The original safety assessment data comes from rigorous testing protocols, ensuring a reliable overview of the vehicle’s crashworthiness and safety features. This analysis will maintain the integrity of the original data while enhancing clarity and SEO optimization for an English-speaking audience interested in the 2022 Lincoln Nautilus.
Decoding the Crashworthiness of the Lincoln Nautilus 2022
The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 shares its fundamental structure with the Lincoln MKX (models before 2019) and the Ford Edge (2019 models onwards). Therefore, safety ratings are applicable across these models for certain tests. Let’s break down the performance of the Lincoln Nautilus 2022 in various crash scenarios.
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object. This is a challenging test that assesses how well the car protects the driver in such an impact.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Head/Neck Injury | Good |
| Chest Injury | Good |
| Hip/Thigh Injury | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot Injury | Good |
| Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 achieved a “Good” rating in all aspects of the driver-side small overlap front crash test. This indicates robust structural integrity and effective occupant protection.
Action shot capturing the Lincoln Nautilus 2022 during a driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating the vehicle’s structural response.
Post-crash view of the dummy inside the Lincoln Nautilus 2022, illustrating the maintained survival space and minimal intrusion into the driver’s area after a small overlap frontal impact.
Deployment of frontal and side curtain airbags in the Lincoln Nautilus 2022 during a crash test, showing effective head protection and preventing contact with rigid structures.
Footwell area of the Lincoln Nautilus 2022 after a crash test, indicating good maintenance of driver space and low risk of injuries to legs and feet.
Technical measurements from the driver-side small overlap test further solidify these positive ratings, showing minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment and low injury measures across all body regions.
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side Assessment
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but evaluates protection for the front passenger. The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 also performed admirably in this assessment.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Passenger Head/Neck Injury | Good |
| Passenger Chest Injury | Good |
| Passenger Hip/Thigh Injury | Good |
| Passenger Lower Leg/Foot Injury | Good |
| Passenger Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
Similar to the driver side, the Lincoln Nautilus 2022 earned “Good” ratings across all passenger injury measures and structural evaluations in the passenger-side small overlap front test. This consistent performance underscores the vehicle’s commitment to overall occupant safety.
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test Results
The moderate overlap front test involves a larger portion of the vehicle’s front impacting a barrier. This test represents a significant portion of real-world frontal collisions.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Head/Neck Injury | Good |
| Chest Injury | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Left Injury | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Right Injury | Good |
| Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 once again secured a “Good” rating in the moderate overlap front test. This consistent “Good” performance across different frontal crash scenarios highlights the robust frontal impact protection of the vehicle.
Side Impact: Original and Updated Tests
Side impact crashes are another common and dangerous type of collision. The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 has undergone both original and updated side impact tests, providing a comprehensive view of its side crash protection.
Side: Original Test
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Head/Neck Injury | Good |
| Driver Torso Injury | Good |
| Driver Pelvis/Leg Injury | Good |
| Driver Head Protection | Good |
| Rear Passenger Head/Neck Injury | Good |
| Rear Passenger Torso Injury | Good |
| Rear Passenger Pelvis/Leg Injury | Good |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good |
In the original side impact test, the Lincoln Nautilus 2022 achieved “Good” ratings across the board for both driver and rear passenger protection.
Side: Updated Test (Side 2.0)
The updated side impact test is more rigorous, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to simulate a more severe side collision.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Head/Neck Injury | Good |
| Driver Torso Injury | Good |
| Driver Pelvis Injury | Marginal |
| Driver Head Protection | Good |
| Rear Passenger Head/Neck Injury | Good |
| Rear Passenger Torso Injury | Acceptable |
| Rear Passenger Pelvis Injury | Good |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good |
While still achieving an overall “Good” rating in the updated side impact test, the Lincoln Nautilus 2022 received a “Marginal” rating for driver pelvis injury and “Acceptable” for rear passenger torso injury. This suggests areas for potential improvement in side impact protection, particularly in more severe scenarios.
Roof Strength Assessment
Roof strength is crucial in rollover accidents. The roof strength test measures the roof’s ability to withstand forces in such an event.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 earned a “Good” rating in roof strength, indicating a strong roof structure capable of providing adequate protection in rollover crashes.
Head Restraints & Seats Evaluation
Head restraints and seats play a vital role in preventing neck injuries, especially in rear-end collisions.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Dynamic Rating | Good |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | Good |
The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 received a “Good” rating for its head restraints and seats, signifying effective design in minimizing whiplash injuries in rear impacts.
Advanced Safety Features of the Lincoln Nautilus 2022
Beyond crashworthiness, preventative safety features are equally important. The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 is equipped with advanced systems to help avoid accidents and protect pedestrians.
Headlight Performance
Headlight effectiveness is critical for nighttime driving safety. The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 offers different headlight variations, with varying ratings.
Trim Level Variations & Headlight Ratings:
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Reserve & Black Label trims (with Ultimate package): “Good” rating for LED projector headlights with high-beam assist. These headlights offer good visibility on straightaways and curves with minimal glare.
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Base, Select & Reserve trims (built after August 2022): “Acceptable” rating for LED reflector headlights with high-beam assist. These provide good visibility but with some glare noted.
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Base, Select & Reserve trims (built before September 2022): “Poor” rating for LED reflector headlights with high-beam assist due to excessive glare, despite good visibility.
It is important to note the build date and trim level of the Lincoln Nautilus 2022 to understand the specific headlight performance rating. The later models and higher trims offer superior headlight performance.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle & Pedestrian
The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 boasts superior front crash prevention systems, both for vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian scenarios.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention:
- Standard & Optional Systems: Both standard (Lincoln Co-Pilot360) and optional (Driver Assistance package) Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking systems earned a “Superior” rating. The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Daytime):
- Standard & Optional Systems: Both standard and optional Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking systems achieved an “Advanced” rating. The system demonstrated effective speed reduction or collision avoidance in various pedestrian crossing scenarios (child, adult crossing and parallel).
These “Superior” and “Advanced” ratings underscore the effectiveness of the Lincoln Nautilus 2022‘s front crash prevention technologies in mitigating or avoiding collisions.
Child Seat Anchor (LATCH) Ease of Use
For families, the ease of installing child seats is a significant factor. The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 LATCH system received varying ratings depending on the trim.
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Select Trim: “Acceptable” rating. Features 2 rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and borrowed lower anchors.
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Reserve Trim: “Marginal” rating. Similar LATCH system configuration to the Select trim but with lower ease-of-use scores, particularly noting that lower anchors are too deep and require too much force to attach in certain positions.
The “Acceptable” rating for the Select trim indicates reasonably user-friendly LATCH system, while the “Marginal” rating for the Reserve trim suggests some challenges in child seat installation.
Conclusion: The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 – A Safe Choice?
The Lincoln Nautilus 2022 demonstrates a strong commitment to safety, achieving predominantly “Good” ratings in crashworthiness evaluations. Its advanced front crash prevention systems are rated “Superior” and “Advanced”, contributing significantly to accident avoidance.
However, the updated side impact test revealed areas for potential improvement, and headlight performance varies significantly by trim and build date. The LATCH system ease of use also differs between trims.
Overall, the Lincoln Nautilus 2022 is a safe vehicle, particularly excelling in frontal crash protection and preventative safety technologies. Prospective buyers should consider the trim level and build date, especially regarding headlight performance and LATCH system ease of use, to make the most informed decision for their safety needs. For detailed technical specifications and further information, refer to the original safety reports and resources from reputable organizations.
