by Gabrielle DeSantis

When it comes to two and three-row midsize SUVs, there are many available in today’s market. But how many are truly satisfying for their owners? Which new midsize SUVs would owners buy again? Would you believe us if we told you that the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus is one of these SUVs? We’re going to tell you how.

The most satisfying midsize SUVs in 2021

Recently, consumer site Consumer Reports published a list of the most satisfying midsize two-row and three-row SUVs for 2021. Each year, they ask their members how happy they are with their vehicles. They ask members if they had it to do all over again if they would still buy their vehicles on their Annual Auto Survey.

Using consumer feedback, CR ranked the top five midsize SUVs based on their owner satisfaction rating. The CR team explains that each SUV has its strong points and its weaknesses. Not all of them have earned a coveted CR recommendation.

The team also considers the safety features each SUV includes both standard and optional when making their assessment. The SUVs with the most standard features like blind-spot warning, automatic emergency braking, and forward-collision alerts fared better. Each vehicle’s emissions were also factored in with the cleanest emissions earning a Green Choice designation from the consumer site. One vehicle that makes the list is the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus is a satisfying SUV

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Surprisingly, the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus made the list for the most satisfying two-row midsize SUVs. When you consider that it only earned an overall rating from Consumers Reports of 50 out of 100, and it has a poor reliability rating, you have to wonder why it’s even on the list.

You can get the latest Nautilus with either a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6. The standard transmission is an eight-speed automatic. With the V6, its acceleration is excellent.

The Nautilus offers a comfortable ride complete with nimble handling and a quiet interior. The upscale cabin got an update in 2021. There’s now a big 13.2-inch screen you can use to navigate the newest Sync 4 infotainment system which is easy to use. 

The Nautilus features blind-spot warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and forward-collision warning standard which is a plus.

The CR team didn’t care for the push-button gear selector that they considered prissy and counterintuitive. Its below-average predicted reliability rating kept them from granting the SUV a CR recommendation.

Pros and cons of the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus

One of the nicer midsize luxury SUVs available today, the 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offers a comfy ride, an upscale vibe, and loads of the latest technology. It performed well on the CR road test and performed better than the popular Lexus RX 350 among others.

The driving experience in a Nautilus is a quality one. Its performance is athletic and composed with enough control and responsiveness to instill confidence. It might not be able to keep up with its German peers on winding country roads, but the drive will still impress you.

The suspension is firm enough for a composed ride, but it absorbs the blows from the road nicely. The opulence of the interior gets better with each Nautilus model with leather seats and quality chrome and wood accents. The big sunroof lets in the light.

The latest Nautilus has its issues though. The biggest is its below-average predicted reliability rating which is mostly centered around major and minor transmission issues, climate control, and electrical equipment. The driver’s leg space is cramped and negatively impacts the driving position.

The push-button gear selector that Lincoln has revived makes parking a hassle and the thick roof pillars reduce your rear visibility. The optional surround-view camera setup helps with that issue, but it costs extra.

The post The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus Defies the Odds to Make This Consumer Reports List appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The sticker price on a vehicle can be a little deceptive. There are tons of ways that a vehicle can be more expensive than you previously thought, such as added fees and taxes. Insurance takes it to a whole new level as the price can sometimes be far more than potential buyers were calculating in their heads. The 2021 Honda CR-V LX trim will also make consumers swoon a little when they get an insurance quote, but not because it’s too expensive. Rather, it’s deceptively cheap for all that you get. So how is this possible?

The LX trim may be the cheapest, but it offers a lot for its price point

Cheap is usually a good thing unless you’re talking about a vehicle, that is. Or, that seems to be the accepted perception. In reality, lower prices don’t necessarily mean poor quality, and higher-priced vehicles are often overrated for what they offer.

Honda seems to have found the sweet spot with the Honda CR-V. While it might be out of the budget range for some consumers, it’s possible to save up for it. It also offers just enough goodies to be worth the price.

The LX starts at $25,350, and it comes standard with a 190 hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is more than adequate. It has enough cargo room to compete with a midsize SUV, and it’s comfortable enough to make passengers feel like they’re in something more upscale.

The next trim level is the EX. It starts at $27,860 and offers a 7-inch touchscreen as opposed to the 5-inch display on the LX. The EX-L gets a slight price boost up to $30,450. For $2,590 more, you’ll get leather seats so comfy it’ll make you feel spoiled.

Finally, the CR-V Touring, which is the highest trim level available, offers wireless device charging, a heated steering wheel, and a hands-free liftgate to name a few things. The Touring starts at $33,650.

What safety features does the Honda CR-V LX trim have?

RELATED: Every 2021 Honda CR-V Trim is Recommended by Edmunds

This is the part where we usually point out that while the automaker offers a few nice safety features, it doesn’t go crazy with them. We can’t do that now, because the Honda Sensing suite offers so many features as standard, it puts competitors to shame.

The EX comes standard with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a rearview camera.

Given the low price of the 2021 Honda CR-V EX, it might seem like it can’t get any better. That’s where you’d be wrong, though, because the LX has another major reason to consider it if you’re in the market for a new SUV.

Is the Honda CR-V expensive to insure?

RELATED: Why Are the Honda Accord and Civic Expensive to Insure?

So, now that you know everything that makes the Honda CR-V LX so attractive, it’s time to learn the true cost of ownership. Beyond the already cheap starting price, that is. 

According to MotorTrend, insurance for the 2021 Honda CR-V LX costs on average $1,285 per year. Break that down into monthly payments, and it’s around $107.08 a month. While you may be feeling a little faint right now, it’s true. There really are brand-new vehicles that don’t cost an arm and a leg to insure.

That’s not all, though. It gets even better if you can believe it. Insurance typically gets cheaper as a vehicle ages. This means that you’ll start out paying $107.08 a month, but as the years roll by, you’ll likely be expected to pay less. 

While your car payments are not going to lower as time passes, it’s still nice to know that your insurance will. And since Honda is considered one of the most reliable car brands in the industry, you won’t have to worry about trading in for a newer model unless you just want to. It doesn’t get much better than that.

The post The Standard 2021 Honda CR-V Makes Insurance Lighter on Your Wallet appeared first on MotorBiscuit.