2011 MKX: Lincoln Refined

By: Travis Persaud

Ford can’t miss these days.

The Fusion has given them a true mid-size sedan to compete with Toyota’s Camry, Honda’s Accord, Nissan’s Altima and any other model that wants to put up a fight.

The Fiesta is at the forefront of the suddenly revitalized subcompact segment.

And the new Edge CUV has given them a class-leader by our estimation.

The company has found fresh legs, which led to the most sales in Canada for 2010.

Lincoln, Ford’s upscale luxury brand, hasn’t quite caught up yet — mainly outputting gussied up Ford vehicles with the Lincoln stamp — but they’re beginning to get it right. Starting with their 2009 MKS, they have slowly shifted their image from reserved and stuffy, to eye-catching and appealing.

The 2011 MKX continues that trend.

The Oakville, Ont.-built luxe CUV starts at $46,500 and on looks alone that’s a steal. The ribbed chrome grille is simply awesome, giving it a strong but elegant stance. The pinched hood and pronounced fenders, plus the more powerful 3.7 L V6 engine with 305 HP, further separate the MKX from the Ford Edge, its platform-mate. (Although, for anyone looking for a capable SUV/CUV and doesn’t want to spend money on an upscale model, the Edge is certainly a model worth checking out.)

Inside the luxury doesn’t stop. While Lincoln has certainly produced quality interiors in the past, they’ve lacked a certain refinement that other luxury brands boast. Not with the MKX.

The flowing centre stack, flanked by a leather dash, provides movement and excitement to the cabin. And wood panels fit expertly under the dash and along the doors.

But the real beauty of this interior isn’t the leather seats complete with reclining rear seats, or the “panoramic vista roof” (part of the $3,700 Sight and Sound package that also includes the voice-activated navigation system, upgraded THX II audio system with 14 speakers and blind spot monitoring among other features — this package is definitely recommended), or even the surprisingly ample head and legroom. It’s the MyLincoln Touch system.

The system eliminates all knobs and buttons from the centre stack (an area that all too often is overloaded with buttons), allowing the driver to manage everything through touch, voice or wheel-mounted controls.

Two 4.2-inch LCD screens on either side of the speedometer show everything you need to see – fuel efficiency, oil life, tire pressure, entertainment, climate, etc. – right in front of you. The two five-way controls on the wheel mean you don’t have to steer with one hand while fiddling a knob with the other.

And the main options that are used most frequently – entertainment, phone, navigation and climate – are colour-coded on both the 4.2-inch LCD and the main 8-inch touch screen in the centre, so it becomes very easy to know where to touch when you need to change something.

Any drawbacks? Well, the system is a bit slow, especially with an iPod connected. It takes an extra second or two before responding to a command. And the two “swipe pads” for volume and fan speed (you just run you finger to the right or left to increase and decrease) are a bit finicky; it takes some time to learn exactly how it likes to be touched.  It did become frustrating, but it was a small annoyance when stacked against everything this crossover has going for it, including the best voice-activated navigation system — period.

In a popular segment, Lincoln has a winner that should make consumers double take when shopping around.