Review: Lincoln’s MKX SUV is right at home on center stage
Spend time in the MKX, and you may never get out.
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Today’s test vehicle is the Lincoln MKX, the midsize SUV that was completely redesigned for 2016 and is playing an important role on the world stage as Ford pumps new life into the Lincoln brand.
The MKX also is a cousin of the Ford Edge, a popular and capable SUV in its own right.
You could pose the question of why one would choose the Lincoln over the Ford if the Ford is that good.
The answer is fairly simple: Because you want extra luxury, which the MKX has in abundance, and also because you can get into a nice one for $40,000, maybe a little less if you get yourself a deal.
Of course, our test MKX was a different story.
We started with an MSRP of $48,575 (including destination). Tack on a whopping $15,160 in options and this is a loaded vehicle.
The Lincoln replaced the Smart Fortwo in our parking slot, and the differences are impossible to overstate.
Comfort, visibility, room, refinement, performance, safety, stability. It’s a long list.
And it was welcome.
When a delivery problem means extra time with a vehicle, you can smile or grimace.
We smiled when asked to babysit it an extra day.
DESIGNER INTERIOR: Wood, leather, and aluminum trim distinguish the MKX’s first-class interior.
Among the standard features on the MKX are a hands-free liftgate, panoramic vista roof, 10-way heated and cooled front seats, leather, adaptive HID headlights, and navigation.
Options on our test SUV included a smaller, 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine ($2,000); white platinum metallic paint ($695); cargo management system ($365); heated rear seats, steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers ($595); tech package with park assist and front camera ($1,720); driver assistance pack ($1,650) with interior mirror and camera, lane keeping aids, adaptive cruise control and active braking; luxury pack ($4,400) with adaptive LED headlamps and Revel Ultima audio; second-row inflatable seatbelts ($250); 21-inch polished wheels ($1,300); adaptive steering ($625); 22-way power driver’s seat ($1,500); and enhanced security ($60).
It makes for a bottom line of $63,735.
That’s a lot of money but the MKX is playing in a market alongside vehicles such as Acura’s similarly named MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Cadillac XT5, Lexus RX 350, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and Volvo XC90.
If you’re getting into the MKX for the first time, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the leather surfaces, comfortable seats, and fairly intuitive controls.
The optional 22-way seat is one answer for those of us who struggle to find the proper setup for long drives. Sometimes you get your height, distance to the wheel, and pedals and seatback in the right position only to find there’s not enough support under your thighs or that the headrest is at an odd angle and spoils everything else.
Not here. You can extend the thigh bolsters and the headrest moves four ways.
If that’s not enough, there’s an Active Motion feature that provides a slight massaging motion designed to give relief on long (or short) trips. You have to go into the vehicle settings on the main screen to make some of these adjustments.
However, if you spend more time behind the wheel than you do in your Barcalounger, it could be money well spent.
The interior mostly is a nice combination of wood, leather, and aluminum trim.
An exception is the plastic surround for the center stack controls. That includes the push buttons for selecting gears on the left side.
When you get behind the wheel of the MKX for the first time (and the next three or four times), you have to take a deep breath and look for that transmission selection system.
On the right side of the center stack is a row of buttons to turn on the surround-view cameras, front camera, and park-assist functions.
Underneath the center console is a large storage platform with a non-skid rubber base and large access openings on either side.
Our MKX had the older style MyLincoln Touch infotainment system, which we’re now accustomed to using. However, Lincoln since has shifted to the even better Sync system for late 2016 models and the 2017 year.
We also liked the optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6. It’s smooth and refined, giving you 335 horsepower and 380 lb.-ft. of torque. That all goes through a 6-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels under normal driving. Fuel economy is rated at 17 miles per gallon in city driving and 24 on the highway with 19 in combined use. We averaged 21.3 mpg in a week of varied drives.
Because our MKX was an all-wheel-drive model, the system would automatically shift power to the rear wheels as needed in slippery conditions.
However, don’t confuse this Lincoln with an off-roader. It’s a comfortable cruiser. The driver can select (after going through two menu layers) Normal, Sport, or Comfort driving modes.
Each selection changes steering effort and feel and suspension damping. The system also uses the SUV’s adaptive steering, active noise control, and throttle response settings.
As with many new vehicles, the LED lighting (optional in front, standard in rear) presents an attractive look, and the front headlamps flow nicely out of the Lincoln family’s split-wing grille.
When Mrs. G heard we’d have the Lincoln for an extra day, she smiled.
“Maybe they’ll forget we have it?” she asked.
No chance of that.
But we surely didn’t mind an encore with this Lincoln production.
2016 Lincoln MKX AWD SUV
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $48,575/$63,735. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 17 city/24 highway/19 combined. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 21.3. Drivetrain: 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6, 6-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive. Body: 5-passenger, midsize SUV.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 335. Torque: 380 lb.-ft. Overall length: 190 in. Wheelbase: 112.2 in. Height: 66.2 in. Width: 86.1 in. (mirrors extended). Curb weight: 4,447 lbs.
THE GOOD
Luxury, comfort, rear seat space, refined optional EcoBoost powertrain.
THE BAD
Infotainment can be tedious to use (likely fixed as model run continued), center stack trim seems of lesser quality than rest of interior.
THE BOTTOM LINE
A good value for the dollar, even in this price range.
ALSO CONSIDER
Acura MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Lexus RX 350, Mercedes-Benz GLE, Volvo XC90.
Bill Griffith can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @MrAutoWriter.
