2007 Lincoln MKX Review

PROS
Comfortable ride, Just the right size, First-class accommodations at a business-class rate

CONS Noisy for the class, Flat and unsupportive seats, Clunks Transmission

Lincoln finally gets into the game Lincoln has long been known as a purveyor of luxurious, comfortable, and large automobiles--vehicles like the Lincoln Town Car and Continental. Today, Ford's luxury division wants to compete with Audi, BMW, and Cadillac as a seller of smart-sized, athletic, and technologically advanced vehicles. MKX is the first salvo as Lincoln scrambles to remake its image among luxury automakers.

First off, MKX is a crossover SUV. That means it rides on a car-type chassis and is not intended to be driven off-road. Secondly, it's packed with all of the techno-goodies that today's luxury buyers expect. Finally, Lincoln has discarded a traditional nameplate in favor of an alpha designation that has become so popular amongst the affluent set.

MKX shares engines and chassis with Ford Edge. That makes it a five-passenger four-door wagon. Sole powertrain is a 265-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 that mates to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Both the engine and transmission are new at Ford Motor Company this year.

Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, and dual-front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. The curtain airbags protect both seating rows and have a rollover sensor. A rear-obstacle-detection system is optional. A rear-view camera is not available.

Standard equipment includes dual-zone automatic climate control, tilt-telescope wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, leather upholstery, power front bucket seats with lumbar adjustment, split-folding rear seat, wood interior trim, power mirrors, windows, and door locks, remote keyless entry, 6-disc CD/MP3 changer with digital-media player connection, automatic day/night rearview mirror, and automatic headlights.

Options include panoramic sunroof, navigation system, THX sound system, satellite radio, heated and cooled front seats, power lift gate, steering-linked adaptive headlights, and a DVD-based rear-seat entertainment system.

The front-drive model has a suggested retail price of $34,120 and the all-wheel-drive version lists for $35,770. Both have a $675 destination charge. MKX is built in Canada.

Sadly, the engine isn't as smooth or refined as similar V6 engines offered in many competitors. The new six-speed transmission upshifts smoothly. However, it pauses too long when downshifting and sometimes bangs between gears when trying to cope with rush-hour stop-and-go commuting. That's disconcerting because this transmission is found in many other Ford Motor Company products.

The all-wheel-drive system is not intended for extreme off-road driving. Still, around town it does an excellent job of apportioning power to wheels with the most traction. Even on slippery, rain-soaked roads and on gravel driveways there's very little wheel slip.

The 2007 MPX sports EPA ratings of 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway. Those numbers are about as good as they get when it comes to midsize SUVs. Even so, in routine driving don't expect to average better than 18 mpg. Though many other luxury SUVs crave expensive premium-grade fuel for best performance and economy, Lincoln says that the MKX will run fine on regular-grade fuel.

On the Road
MKX offers a comfortable ride with enough of a sporty feel to avoid the dreaded SUV bouncing and bobbing. The suspension does a good job of absorbing minor impacts and softening large bumps. For some reason, the ride isn't as smooth in the back seat. That's not uncommon among SUVs, but it's something to note if you'll regularly be carrying four adults.

Drivers will appreciate the firm and accurate steering. Before you go thinking the MKX is as sporty of BMW X5 or Acura MDX, stop. There is too much body lean in fast turns and nosedive in hard stops to call MKX confidence inspiring. Controlled might be a better description. Brakes are strong and the pedal is easy to modulate.

MKX suffers from too much road and wind noise at highway speeds to be considered one of the quieter luxury SUVs. There's more wind rush and tire roar when cruising than the Lexus RX or Cadillac SRX, for example. In addition, the 3.5-liter V6 growls harshly when accelerating.

Behind the Wheel
Though the MKX is unlike any other Lincoln on the outside, the interior is familiar in a refreshing and contemporary way. Traditional Lincoln buyers will immediately recognize the real wood, soft leather, and brushed-aluminum-look plastics. The design is modern and there are plenty of softly padded surfaces. Adding to the airy feel is the optional panoramic sunroof. It's extra large and features a second, fixed-glass panel over the rear seats.

Speedometer is a bit small and marked in vague 20 mph increments. That makes it hard to know your exact speed without a long glance. The navigation display is also slightly smaller than those offered in most competitors. At least it is easy to read day or night and placed high in the center of the dashboard. Audio and climate controls are easy to reach and clearly marked.

Second-row seats offer adult room and perhaps more long-haul comfort than the front seats. They also feature a large, padded drop down center armrest, which greatly increases rear-seat comfort. Step-in height is about average for the class and the door openings are sufficiently wide at the bottom for easy egress.

Cargo space is typical for five-passenger SUVs. Second-row seats fold flat to extent load area. Interior storage is unexceptional. Many competitors offer a deep center console box and open bins--Lincoln should take note. The close button for the power lift gate is on the side cargo area. This location is much more convenient for vertically challenged people than the traditional placement on the bottom of the lift gate.

Bottom Line
Give Lincoln engineers credit, MKX is an honest competitor to well-entrenched luxury SUVs and significantly more refined and luxurious than chassis-mate Ford Edge. Like Acura MDX, Lexus RX, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class, MKX doesn't break new ground in terms of handling dynamics, power, features, or comfort, but it does make more sense than a traditional truck-based SUV and has the advantage of aggressively low prices.

Lincoln's biggest problem may be how to market MKX. Lincoln isn't exactly known as a purveyor of sporty SUVs and certainly isn't held in the same regard as BMW or Mercedes-Benz by enthusiast buyers. That gives value-conscious shoppers a leg up when shopping and they would be wise to consider MKX when shopping for their next luxury SUV.