By Cars.com Staff
Cars.com National June 30, 2010Vehicle Overview
Lincoln added a three-row luxury crossover to its lineup for the 2010 model year with the debut of the MKT. With seating for up to seven people, the MKT shares its platform with the Ford Flex, but has significantly different exterior styling and a more luxurious interior befitting its starting price of more than $40,000.
The MKT is available with front- or all-wheel drive and is offered with a choice of V-6 engines. Competitors include the Buick Enclave and Acura MDX.
What's New for 2011
There are no significant changes.
Exterior
While the Flex is all angles and flat surfaces, the MKT features a flowing design. The MKT has a version of Lincoln's toothy chrome grille that dominates its face, much like the grille on the MKS luxury sedan does. The rear of the MKT sports a distinctive liftgate that incorporates a large horizontal brake light that ps its width. Exterior features include:
- Standard adaptive xenon headlights
- Automatic high-beam feature
- Keypad entry
- Standard 19-inch aluminum wheels
- Optional 20-inch aluminum rims
- Standard fixed glass roof
- Optional power glass roof
Interior
The MKT's interior is a big step up for the brand in terms of materials quality. The use of soft-touch dashboard materials and an intricately designed gauge cluster contribute to the luxurious space. Leather-covered seats are standard.
The seven-person seating configuration features front bucket seats, a second-row bench seat and a two-person third row. Available bucket seats for the second row drop seating capacity to six and include a center console. A refrigerator is optional with this setup.
The second row has ample legroom and comfortable seats. The third row, meanwhile, suffers from a lack of headroom that makes it impossible for tall passengers to sit with their heads upright. The MKT's sleeker styling is likely to blame, as third-row headroom in the Flex is fine. Interior features include:
- Standard power-adjustable pedals
- Sync communications system
- MyKey programmable system
- Heated and cooled front seats
- Power tilt/telescoping steering wheel
Under the Hood
MKT buyers have a choice of two V-6 engines. The base 3.7-liter V-6 produces 268 horsepower and teams with a six-speed automatic transmission. The optional EcoBoost V-6 is slightly smaller — 3.5 liters — but makes significantly more power (355 hp) thanks to direct fuel injection and two turbochargers. It also drives a six-speed automatic. In both instances, the MKT comes with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters to control gear changes. Mechanical features include:
- 268-hp, 3.7-liter V-6 available with front- or all-wheel drive
- 355-hp, turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 available only with all-wheel drive
- Six-speed automatic transmission
- 4,500-pound towing capacity with Class III trailer hitch
Safety
The MKT is available with Collision Warning with Brake Support, which can alert the driver to vehicles ahead and ready the brakes. An optional blind spot warning system is also available.
Standard safety features include:
- Antilock brakes
- Side-impact airbags for the front seats
- Side curtain airbags for all three rows
- Electronic stability system with Roll Stability Control
- Rear parking sensors and a backup camera
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| David Thomas | Cars.com National | August 31, 2010 |
| Cars.com Staff | Cars.com National | June 30, 2010 |
Affiliate Reviews
| Steven Cole Smith | Orlando Sentinel | October 14, 2011 |
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