Lincoln’s MKC: A comfortable traveling companion
I’ve had the privilege of driving and testing new cars in day-to-day living and driving for the past 19 years. The driving has involved commuting, long trips, joyrides, running errands, lugging stuff home from the home-improvement center or nursery, and taking family outings.
Many of the test vehicles earn oohs and ahhs from neighbors and friends. The vehicles stand out for their luxurious appointments, power, and prestige.
But there’s always a naysayer to pick a nit with something.
Today’s test car, the 2016 Lincoln MKC compact luxury SUV, broke new ground.
It’s been years since I drove a Lincoln and, frankly, was wondering if the brand was heading the way of the Edsel and Mercury.
During the week we drove the MKC, almost every night different friends joined us for a ride. (For some reason, they’re usually happy to let me drive). Sometimes it was another couple heading out to dinner; other times we were running errands; and one trip was with a carload of gearheads going to the amazing annual Naples, Fla., Ferrari show.
Their reaction was unanimous.
“What kind of car did you say this was?’’ “I love the styling.’’ “I love the seats.’’ “This is really nice.’’ “Who’d have thought a Lincoln would be playing in this field?’’
I have to agree.
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Take a closer look at the 2016 Lincoln MKC
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It’s necessary to go back to my sports background to explain why I’m so taken with this MKC.
In sports, there always are all-stars, people gifted with amazing talents. But they’re not always able to lift their teammates to their level and become winners. A lot of times there are members of their team that just don’t fit.
Somehow, the MKC, which isn’t the fastest, best-handling, most luxurious, or even most prestigious, puts its whole package together to achieve that elusive goal: “It’s a Winnah!’’ as we say in Boston.
It’s not the fastest car among this group, but the optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder feels quick and nimble and the 6-speed transmission is smooth. The suspension is made for comfort. Maybe this is your grandfather’s Buick, but one adapted for the 2016 market—definitely on the comfortable side and not designed to push on back country roads (there’s actually a shortage of them in Florida). But it’s sure made for a 1,500-mile trip.
People often ask if the seats are comfortable in a particular car. Well, that’s an individual perception. Or, as Newburyport Realtor Tracey Mosseau once told me, “There’s an a– for every seat.’’ If that’s the case, the MKC may fit many posteriors.
For me, the MKC’s seats are fine. I’d be happy driving this vehicle from New England to Florida or Nashville or Minnesota. No seat is comfortable for more than two to three hours, but the test is how it performs after you take one of those rest breaks.
Automakers seem to be making a game of placing the start-stop switch, the infotainment controls, and the transmission selector in unique spots.
Lincoln’s designers came up with a new (to me) location. The start-stop button is on the top of the left column of buttons on the center stack. Below it are the P-R-N-D transmission selector buttons.
After I spent a few awkward moments getting acclimated to the setup—something that usually would bring out my curmudgeonly side—I smiled. “Neat idea,’’ was my reaction. “It leaves a storage spot on the console where the gear selector used to be.’’
There are knobs—big knobs—to adjust volume and audio tuning. In addition, the latest Ford Sync 3 system is pretty user-friendly and not frustrating at all to operate.
It’s not all perfection. The MKC’s rear seat fits smaller or normal-sized people well. But put a large person in back behind a large person in the front seat and things are snug. That’s a situation I only simulated by setting the driver’s seat in my favored position and then getting “behind me.’’
The MKC comes in four trim levels and they’re not exactly self-explanatory. The base is the Premiere. From there we move up to Select, Reserve, and Black Label.
Now, to a New England beer-drinker, Black Label, a Carling product, was more entry level than premium. But we’ll let Lincoln make its own statement.
Our test vehicle was the MKC Select with an MSRP of $43,880 (including destination). The bottom line was $50,200 after $6,320 of options that included a lot of things you might want starting with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine with 285 horsepower and 305 lb.-ft. of torque ($1,140) and a technology package ($2,295) that added park assist, adaptive cruise control, forward sensing system, lane keeping system, a climate package, and heated wheel).
Moving up to the top step adds more trim options, more leather, a choice of interior design themes, and upgraded sound system.
It tells me the Select version we were driving was the version that I’d order, if all things were equal.
Lincoln has been using Matthew McConaughey as its pitchman. I was missing much of his message in watching the TV commercials, but now I’m in agreement with his take on Lincoln. “I just like it. Long before anyone paid me to drive it.’’
It’s one case when I’d have to agree.
There’s an impressive amount of competition out there in what the industry calls the luxury compact crossover segment. I won’t argue with those who claim the Acura RDX or BMW X3 is the leader.
Land Rover’s Discovery Sport and Audi’s Q5 also are outstanding vehicles. I haven’t been in the new Lexus NX200T so we’ll see if that can take my heart down the road.
But, for now, I’d love to have a Lincoln MKC in my driveway.
2016 Lincoln MKC AWD Reserve
THE BASICS
Price, base/as tested (with destination): $43,880/$50,200. Fuel economy, EPA estimated: 18 city, 26 highway, 21 combined. Fuel economy, Globe observed: 23.7. Drivetrain: 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine, 6-speed automatic, all-wheel-drive. Body: 5-passenger compact luxury crossover.
THE SPECIFICS
Horsepower: 285. Torque: 305 lb.-ft. Overall length: 179.2 in. Wheelbase: 105 in. Height: 65.2 in. Width: 73.4 in. (mirrors folded). Curb weight: 3,957 lbs.
THE GOOD
Quality cabin, ride, good value in the segment.
THE BAD
Rear legroom, extremely responsive accelerator and brake pedals, making it hard to drive the MKC smoothly.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Try it. You may be surprised at how much you like it.
ALSO CONSIDER
Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X1 or X3, Buick Encore, GMC Terrain, Land Rover Evoque, Lexus NX 200t, Porsche Macan.
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