There’s an interesting thing happening at Lincoln these days. The upscale division of Ford Motor Company is enjoying increasing sales and a brand revitalization, thanks in part to a certain celebrity spokesperson who shall go unnamed. Jim Carrey did a spoof of him and his commercials on SNL last year that’s worth checking out on YouTube, though. The company saw a year-to-date sales increase of 16 percent in the first quarter of 2016, led mostly by the MKX, sales of which are up 81.4 percent during the same time period. Sales of Lincoln’s cars, on the other hand, have stagnated. So what’s driving the public’s increased thirst for the MKX? Well, after a week in the SUV, I’m starting to get it.
Initial impressions upon entering the vehicle are of an interior in which one could spend hours without noticing. The MKX has a seating position that feels just about right almost immediately to this 6-foot plus driver but the steering wheel could’ve used one more inch of telescopic ability to make it perfect. Our top-of-the-line Black Label trim came with optional massaging seats ($1,500) that, as long as you don’t let them put you to sleep, make the commute home just that much more pleasant. The Venetian leather seating and Alcantara-wrapped headliner are just bonuses. In a recent comparison against a Volvo XC60 and a Lexus RX350 F-Sport, the MKX was awarded best interior hands down. It was also the quietest over a bumpy road.
The test vehicle was optioned with Ford’s 2.7L EcoBoost V6, similar to the one found in the Ford F-150, while a 3.7L naturally aspirated V6 is standard. The twin-turbo engine is rated at 335 horsepower (when drinking 93 octane) and 380 lb-ft of torque. This was the most power and torque of the three vehicles we tested, but at the cost of having the lowest fuel economy. EPA estimates are 17/24/19 mpg city/highway/combined. In our 3-way comparison, the Lincoln also had the most overall interior volume as well as the most cargo volume. Its proportions resulted in the heaviest curb weight by about 150 pounds over the second heaviest RX350.
The drive is what one might expect from an uber luxurious SUV whose target customer can safely be assumed has an average age that qualifies for discounted movie tickets. That’s not to say it’s not enjoyable. The rush of speed comes on quickly, often surprising people as it pulls away from stop lights. The MKX could be described as a modern day sleeper vehicle. It also has a very stately ride that feels well planted at speed. If you’re lucky enough to live in an area with 80 mph speed limits, you’ll be surprised at how relaxed you are as the speedometer approaches triple digits… even without the massaging seats turned on.
Instead of jumping on YouTube to watch Jim Carrey’s “Lincoln” ads, check out this video of the aforementioned comparison test to see how the Lincoln MKX stacks up.
| 2016 LINCOLN MKX BLACK LABEL AWD | |
| Base MSRP | $55,810 |
| Price as tested | $65,270 |
| Engine | 2.7L twin-turbocharged V6 |
| Power (hp) | 335 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 380 |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain layout | Front engine, AWD |
| Curb weight (lbs) | 4,387 |
| EPA-estimated fuel economy (city/hwy/combined mpg) | 17/24/19 |
| 0-60 acceleration (seconds) | 7.64 |
| Passenger capacity | 5 |
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