Our second First Drive took us to Palm Springs, California, to check out the new Lincoln Nautilus. This two-row luxury mid-size utility brings a lot to the table at a decent price point.

Any luxury buyer will be, first and foremost, concerned about the in-car experience. The Nautilus’s cabin is defined by a standard 48-inch panoramic display, controlled by an 11.1-inch center screen. Described by our man on the scene as a “spa on wheels,” the Nautilus’s digital scent feature can deploy three aromas into the cabin; and a coming over-the-air update will debut a “Rejuvenate” mode, letting occupants lay back for a few minutes with scents and a massage.

And you can relax knowing the on-road experience is, as expected, equally calming. Cabin aside, that’s also thanks to the powertrains: a standard 2.0-liter turbo-four and an eight-speed automatic, rated at 250 horsepower; and a hybrid 2.0-liter turbo mated to an eCVT, rated at 310 horsepower.

STEVEN TRUANT: “So, it’s easy to get caught up in all of these screens and you might even forget even to think ‘oh, it’s a car; how does it drive?’ It’s a Lincoln. It’s smooth, it’s quiet, it’s comfortable, it offers every single amenity that’s needed. And not only that, at the starting price point, it’s extremely competitive.”

And what are those prices? The 2024 Lincoln Nautilus starts just over $50,000, working up to the mid-70s for a top-trim Black Label. Considering the cost of high-end European luxury machines, Lincoln is certainly hitting the mark.

We’ll dive into more of the details on an upcoming Road Test, and have plenty more Quick Spins… soon!