The new Nautilus will satisfy anyone who’s more fussed about a comfortable and practical ride than a fun one, and it will certainly satisfy anyone who wants plenty of shiny tech and attention to detail in the interior experience. The available massage function in the front seats, for example, are the best we’ve used in a long time and aren’t on a timer limit. However, there are materials in the cabin that let it down as an overall experience. On a competitor’s car, the see-through selector wheel would either be a more hefty plastic piece or, on an upper trim level, actual crystal.
The feeling here is that the Nautilus is aimed at people who don’t particularly enjoy driving (enthusiasts would probably be looking at a BMW X5) but, because they have to commute, they want somewhere nice to be while they do. These buyers want something that takes as much of the chore out of driving as possible, and they care most about passenger comfort. There are a lot of people who think like that, and for whom the Nautilus would work like a charm.
The Nautilus deserves to be a success. However, there is refinement that is needed if the aim is to steal customers away from any other premium brands. The Genesis GV80, albeit more expensive, offers a higher value package in our experience. So, in terms of the overall feeling of quality, there’s some work to be done. If you’re buying one right now, it’s for the interior and the tech, which is where the Nautilus scores big – and we wouldn’t blame you.