Is the 2016 MKX Finally a Proper Lincoln?

“What do you think about the Lincoln MKX?”

I was asked this question a couple of months ago by my dear mother, who has been looking to upgrade to a mid-size luxury crossover for some time now. Very aware that I am a massive car enthusiast, she has no doubt asked me about my opinions on several different vehicles. It is important to bear in mind that my mom is about as far removed from a petrolhead as it gets, which means such things as power, torque, steering feel, and handling mean absolutely nothing to her. All that she wants is something luxurious that has a heated steering wheel and remote start (for the harsh Saskatchewan winter).

So when she asked me what I thought about the new Lincoln MKX, I was initially pretty skeptical. As we all know, Lincoln has been doing little more than selling mildly poshed-up, rebadged Ford models for the past 40-odd years, and the MKX (at least until now) has been no exception. I was feeling a sense of déjà vu after hearing, once again, that Lincoln has been going through a “rebranding”, and was certainly not impressed with their “rebranded” 2013 MKX. I had a slight chuckle, and tried my best to explain to her that she would be better off investing her money in a BMW X5, Mercedes ML-Class, or even a Jeep Grand Cherokee. “But the Lincoln looks better,” she insisted. Realizing that I probably wasn’t going to win the argument, I encouraged her to take one for a test drive.

From the start, it was clear to see why Mom was drawn to the MKX. It looks good. And not just “good for a Lincoln”, either. Lincoln’s designers did a very good job of designing the MKX to hide its Edge underpinnings. It certainly looks a lot more conservative than the new Lexus RX, which appears to have been styled by a Jedi with a machete. The test mule that she was given came with the optional, but pricey, LED headlights, which really gave the Lincoln some added presence. The only thing I didn’t like was the cheap-looking plastic cladding, which conjures up memories of the Volvo XC70 and, dare I say it, the Pontiac Aztec.

Inside, however, was a bit of a letdown. In the Lincoln’s defense, there are certainly plenty of plush materials in the cabin, with the Bridge of Weir leather seats feeling especially plush. The wood inlays along the door handles and centre console were a nice touch, although I did prefer the optional aluminum trim package. However, for all the nice pieces of trim found inside the MKX, the centre console was a disappointment. The fact that there are buttons and knobs to control the HVAC and audio systems is a very welcome touch that is certainly missing from many of the Lincoln’s competitors (read Cadillac SRX). However, they, along with the rest of the plastics on the centre console (including the annoying push-button shifter), look and feel more like they belong in a Fiesta than a Lincoln. The volume knob, in particular, feels like it was lifted out of a Hyundai Pony. And, while the interior as a whole isn’t actually all that bad, the MyLincolnTouch system is. Laggy and confusing, the 2016 models are also without Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, which is pretty disappointing for a brand-new, $70K SUV. Still, the interior was a lot better than I expected it to be, but although it’s not far off with that of many of its Japanese rivals, it’s still a long way away from the best Europeans.

What surprised me the most about the big Lincoln was the way this thing drove. The optional 2.7 litre twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 is a $2000 option, but it’s worth every red cent. Nobody is going to mistake the Lincoln for a Ferrari F12tdf, but I managed to make 2 tons of Lincoln hit 60 in around 6 seconds, which is pretty damn quick. The torque tsunami that comes from the EcoBoost is enough to make up for the so-so 6-speed automatic transmission, although fuel consumption is, predictably, pretty high. Surprisingly, though, even though I only managed about 15 mpg, there’s no penalty in fuel economy over the standard 3.7 litre NA V6. And, although the Lincoln is a big mother, it holds the road pretty well for a crossover. Most Lincoln buyers probably couldn’t care less about that, though, and would be far more interested in how the thing rides. On that front too, the Lincoln impresses. The ride is cushy and refined without feeling like a Mark IV Continental (thankfully). In fact, the ride/handling balance of the MKX is actually very very good indeed. You get the sense that the MKX was designed to be a long-haul cruiser/town car that isn’t afraid to tackle the odd B-road.

And this brings me to a key point: the MKX feels nothing like its German rivals. However, unlike Lincolns of the recent past, I get the feeling that the MKX isn’t trying to be German. Or Japanese. And, crucially, it’s not like it feels like a tacky, half-assed re-skinning of a Ford, either. What the Lincoln feels like is a truly American luxury car. Yeah, the quality isn’t perfect, it’s not the sharpest in the corners, and it definitely suffers from a bit of parts-sharing, but what American luxury car in the past 50 years hasn’t? With a powerful engine, a host of flamboyant luxury options, a healthy amount of chrome, and a massive curb weight, you have all the ingredients to make yourself a proper Lincoln. It’s damn close to one, although I have to admit it’s not quite there yet. What the MKX does do for me, though, is instill the confidence in me that Lincoln might actually be able to make something special out of the new Continental. In layman’s terms, it’s a nice car.

Maybe you were right after all, Mom.