2009 Lincoln MKX Las Vegas NV

December 7, 2009   By Brian Alexander, Road Test Editor


2009 Lincoln MKX

DriverSide Overview

Do you hear that metal-on-metal tapping? That would be the tin-laced reverberation of the final nails being driven into the Lincoln Navigator ’s bulbous coffin. Even though Lincoln still produces the antiquated body-on-frame full-sizer, its days of roaming the streets as king of the Ford Motor Company SUVs are coming to an end. Thanks to erratic oil prices and government mandates for increased fuel economy, Ford will instead focus future development on less brutish, more efficient crossover vehicles – the first of which being the Edge -based MKX. Because while times may change, the financial merits of badge engineering don’t. Like the Edge, the MKX has seating for five, plenty of cargo space and a host of technological features such as SYNC and Ford’s real-time navigation system. The interior gets higher-quality trimmings and comfortable leather heated and cooled seats. It’s certainly enough to make you forget about the days of the Navigator, fast. And it’s easier to park, too.

What's to Like
Pop the rear hatch on the MKX, and you’ll find a cavernous rear storage area. The seats are especially comfortable, enveloping you without being overly soft, and there’s space enough for five people to fit comfortably. No matter how many times we review it, we’re continually impressed with Ford’s next generation navigation system.

What's Not to Like
For a car starting at $37,845 we were disappointed to not find keyless go as a standard feature. The same can be said about the omission of all-wheel drive from the standard package, made all the more perplexing given that the figure ‘X’ – a typical industry-wide denotation for all-wheel drive – is included in the vehicle’s name. Road noise isn’t a huge issue, but our car did exhibit a strange rear-end whine from 60-75 mph.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
If you’re a fan of the command-style high seating position, the MKX won’t disappoint – you can see everything from up here. Comfortable power seats with heating and cooling help you make the most out of long drives, while the compliant suspension miraculously manages to keep the ride soft without simultaneously killing all road feel. Body roll – a common gripe in most crossovers – is kept to a minimum as well, and though the steering has good on-center feel, it gets less confident as the level of effort increases. Ergonomically, our only real gripe with the MKX is that its high waistline leads to poor visibility over the driver’s left shoulder. Merge with caution.

Engine and Drivetrain
The MKX is powered by a 3.5-liter Duratec V-6 engine that sees use in numerous Ford products. In this guise, it generates 265 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque, which is driven to the ground...

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