2015 Lincoln MKC VIDEO REVIEW

To those who were ready to count Lincoln out – think again. The MKZ sedan brought elegance back to the brand and now the MKC gives them what every luxury automaker needs; a small crossover.

The MKZ is one of the most attractive sedans on the market and now Lincoln continues their styling rebirth with the Ford Escape-based MKC. Thankfully, the days of mindless rebadging are in the rearview mirror and thus the MKC offers a number of unique features including a more powerful EcoBoost engine, a continuously controlled damping suspension providing a smooth, comfortable ride, approach detection with a head turning illuminated welcome mat and soft glow lighting, a plethora of driver-assist technologies including a monitor for driver alertness and collision warning with brake support, a push button gear selector, active noise control for a quieter cabin, real wood trim and French stitched leather, a THX audio system, heated front and 2^nd row seats, cooled front seats and a heated steering wheel, available 20” wheels, and a 6 year 70,000 mile limited warranty. The base MSRP of the 2015 MKC is $34,000 while an absolutely top of the line model like this one with AWD, the 2.3-liter engine, the Reserve equipment group, tech and climate packages, enhanced THX audio, 20” aluminum wheels with Pirelli Grand Touring All-Season tires and Ruby red paint totals an emphatic $50,250. Though I very much appreciate Lincoln’s efforts here, that pricing is quite ambitious.

Designers have done another brilliant job in evoking Lincoln’s opulent past while evolving it into a modern CUV…best observed from the curvaceous rear.

This fully loaded MKC with its all-wheel drive and biggest engine gives the small luxury crossover shopper almost everything they could want. Just a couple of things to consider; its smaller inside than you’d think particularly getting in and out of the rear seats and I keep wishing Lincoln would have taken the luxury feel just another notch higher, particularly as it pertains to the less than substantial seats. As far as its drive goes, the engine is eager, and the ride and handling are well balanced but a greater connection with the steering would be appreciated.

The 2.3-liter EcoBoost is starting to proliferate through Ford and here it’s mated to a 6-speed auto with sport mode churning out 285 horsepower and a healthy 305 pound-feet of torque affording the driver ample energy to get wherever. It feels a little overeager unless you’re gentle on the gas eroding some of the MKC’s luxury persona but on occasions when you’re taking the back road, working the paddle shifters and directing the nimble chassis reveal this Lincoln’s racier side. The all-wheel drive system works front to rear and side-to-side to reduce understeer befitting sharp handling while three drive modes comprising sport, comfort and normal allow you to tune the car to your tastes. Gas mileage is rated at 18mpg city/26mpg highway and will accept regular unleaded – 1mpg less than the Acura RDX, a key MKC competitor. Towing is maxed at 2,000 pounds.

MyLincoln Touch anchors the center stack with its touchscreen of wide ranging info and connectivity, including customizable ambient lighting and the gauge display incorporates Ford’s excellent and easy to use menus to select and display various information. It also has Active Park Assist to help guide you into and out of parallel parking spots. Reclining seats and a panoramic vista roof greet rear passengers proving slightly tighter quarters than the segment leader. Ditto for the cargo area which is accessed via hands-free operation and is expandable though there’s no remote levers to fold the rear seats. As I mentioned before, the seating is all a bit thin and slightly lacking in luxury feel.

All told, the MKC is a curvy, eye-pleasing crossover backed by some serious muscle and a generous amount of comfort, convenience and safety features. It will do very well for Lincoln at a time when the segment is booming.

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