The Lincoln MKT includes styling cues from past Lincolns, but many will have trouble getting past the large tail end.
Let it never be said that Lincoln went conservative in its design of the MKT luxury crossover.
On first glimpse, the MKT seemed to have rather odd proportions. While most of the vehicle has a nice design and well-played features, the bulky rear end gives the tail end a heavy look. Let’s call it like it is: The MKT looks like it’s packing a load.
In contrast, the design of the Buick Enclave, is striking, making it the most beautiful of the luxury crossovers. Sure, styling is a subjective area frought with peril for auto scribes. In Lincoln’s defense, luxury car buyers typically want a flashy design that stands out from the crowd. It’s also worth noting that my wife disagrees with my assessment.
Lincoln has made great use of the split-wing grille, which it is extending across the lineup. It gives Lincoln a distinctive front end design, which also points back to Lincoln’s storied past.
But still that rear end …
Lincoln's split-wing grille is distinctive.
The MKT is essentially Lincoln’s version of the popular, but no less controversially styled, Ford Flex.
Like the Flex, the MKT is a six- or seven-passenger, three-row crossover.
The interior shows some of Ford’s best work and some areas where it needs to do more.
The beautiful: The test vehicle came with rust-colored leather — called Canyon — and gorgeous, real olive ebony ash wood trim. The wood trim in particular had beautiful graining.
While a new steering wheel design is making its way through the Ford and Lincoln lineups, it hasn't reached the MKT yet.
Areas that need work: Ford has been using the same basic steering wheel design for years. This one features 12 buttons, some of them redundant. For example, an on AND and off switch for the cruise when others make due with one button for both functions. And why can’t the resume function be combined with increase speed? And still no cancel button. An updated steering wheel design is making its way through the Ford and Lincoln lineups, but it hasn’t reached the MKT yet.
Also, the levers to fold the MKT’s middle row seats are balky and harder to use than the best in the industry.
While the MKT is based on the bones of the Flex, it does not have as much space in the third row. Headroom is severely limited, making the space uninhabitable for full-size adults. A 13-year-old boy reported that the kneeroom was tight and the space was too small for him to share with a friend. The Enclave has more space in the third row.
Sync is simply the best voice-recognition system on the market and Lincoln's quieter vehicles make the best use of it.
Middle-row passengers have a far more comfortable perch. A three-seat bench is standard, but a pair of buckets is an option. Either way, those folks have excellent head- and legroom.
One of the pillars that Ford has staked its business on is technology and the MKT is crammed with it.
The MKT’s technology can be classified in three categories: Communication and convenience, safety and performance.
For communication and convenience, the MKT has Ford’s revolutionary Sync system. It can be used to operate a cellphone or mp3 player with just a button on the steering wheel and your voice. But, check the right boxes and it can be used to check the weather, change the vehicle’s climate control or choose a destination for the navigation system.
The MKT's styling is dramatic but controversial.
While most automakers are focused on safety, none have invested as heavily in voice control as has Ford. Using your voice to control infotainment and other systems allows you to focus on the road while driving. And while airbags and side-impact door beams are great, avoiding an accident in the first place is the best way to drive safely.
The MKT also has an available new parking assist system that Ford says is far more capable than the other systems on the market, most notably that offered by Lexus. The test vehicle was not equipped with this system.
The MKT's center console features simple buttons, but most functions can be accomplished by voice.
For safety, Ford adds what it calls the Safety Canopy, it’s system of side curtain airbags. It also has an available blind-spot recognition system called BLIS. Cross Traffic Alert looks for cross traffic behind the vehicle and sounds a warning if it detects traffic while backing out of a parking space. Of course it has stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes.
For the performance technology, we go under the MKT’s hood. A 268-horsepower 3.7-liter V-6 is standard, but the big news is Ford’s new EcoBoost engine. This twin-turbo 3.5-liter mill, pumps out 355 horsepower.
EcoBoost is a rather interesting name for what amounts to a high-performance engine. But here’s the amazing part. Despite having 87 more horsepower than the standard engine, the EcoBoost comes with no fuel mileage penalty. The all-wheel-drive MKT with EcoBoost is rated at 16 mpg city and 22 highway. An AWD MKT with the normally aspirated engine is rated at the same 16/22. The only penalty is the EcoBoost engine needs premium fuel to give peak performance, although it can run on regular as well.
The EcoBoost gives the MKT a satisfying push that makes it feel more like a sports car than a two-and-a-half-ton crossover. There is no turbo lag.
One of the keys to the EcoBoost is direct injection, which allows the engine to have a higher compression ratio than previous turbo engines.
The MKT handles nicely and has a creamy ride. The all-wheel drive handled typical Michigan weather without difficulty.
The MKT starts at $44,595 with front-wheel drive and the regular 3.7-liter engine. The MKT with EcoBoost tested here starts at $49,595. The $4,000 Elite package adds the voice-activated navigation, a powered panel in the standard Vista sunroof and other goodies. With everything, the sticker rings the cash register at $54,585.
Technology is expensive, but Ford is betting that buyers are willing to pay for it. The MKT gives buyers several ways to get the latest in high-tech. There’s Sync, with the best voice-recognition system on the market, And there’s EcoBoost, which gives buyers a sizable horsepower bump with no fuel mileage penalty.
It’s an attractive package, even if it’s wrapped in a less-than-attractive package.