2016 Lincoln MKC

Overview: Since the Lincoln MKC’s debut two years ago, we’ve recognized this compact crossover as a Lincoln; it’s something more than a rebadged Ford Escape, with which it shares its platform. Ford is serious about morphing its struggling luxury division into a desirable brand, and the MKC—with a little credit to Lincoln spokesman Matthew McConaughey—is helping to do just that. As in one of its prime competitors, the Audi Q5, most of the lower-grade corporate parts are hidden. Two turbocharged four-cylinder engines are on the menu, both paired to a six-speed automatic transmission: a 2.0-liter with 240 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, available with front- or all-wheel drive, and a 2.3-liter that makes an impressive 285 horsepower and 305 lb-ft, available only with all-wheel drive. We’ve tested both engines and drivetrains for 2015, and now we’ve just sampled the most expensive MKC, a nearly fully loaded 2016 Black Label that costs almost 60 grand. The MKC has proved itself a stylish, wholly respectable contender at its $34,185 base price, and while lacking some in interior quality and sportiness, it’s even satisfactory when you venture deep into the $40,000s. But at $57,895, where are we going?

What’s New: For 2016, the vastly improved Sync 3 infotainment system replaces MyLincoln Touch, offering simpler menu structures, faster response times, more accurate voice recognition, and wireless updates. A trailering package (the only option our car didn’t have) lets the MKC tow up to 3000 pounds’ worth of personal watercraft or a college dorm room packed in a U-Haul trailer. New paint and interior colors, along with a windshield wiper de-icer, are available. Since we’re nearly upon the 2017 model year, we’ll let you in on a little secret: The MKC gets a price cut of $540 to $1460, depending which of the eight trims you choose (Premiere, Select, Reserve, or Black Label, all in front- or all-wheel-drive versions). Our car would sticker for $56,775 as a 2017 model, an $1120 saving. Factory rebates on 2016 models mostly compensate for these discounts, however, and they’ll only grow on any 2016s left over on dealer lots. Those who wait will find more equipment comes standard for 2017, too, including a power liftgate, automatic brake holding at stoplights, and auto stop/start for the FWD 2.0-liter, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

What We Like: In Black Label trim, the MKC washes down our interior gripes like a shot of that famous whiskey. It’s properly nice inside. Our car’s Oasis theme (one of four color combos for 2016) drapes the entire dash, upper door panels, and steering wheel in soft, light-brown leather. The seats, the lower door panels, and even the lower recesses of the dash are trimmed in cream-colored hides that are every bit as smooth as the best materials from Lexus. Faux suede covers the pillars and headliner, while matte-finish walnut and aluminum trim decorate the remaining areas of the dash and doors. While the price is eye-watering, to get an Audi Q5 or a BMW X3 looking and feeling close to this special, you’ll need at least four or five grand more. Sync 3, coupled with real knobs and switches for the radio and climate controls, works as advertised. On the outside, with optional 20-inch wheels and Chroma Couture Metallic reddish-brown paint, the MKC looks even more dapper. It’s one of the best-dressed crossovers out there.

Ride comfort is exemplary even with the larger wheels. Lincoln’s adaptive dampers do the job, and among the three modes (Comfort, Normal, Sport), it’s never too floaty or too harsh. The six-speed automatic matches the appropriate ratio to the four-cylinder’s torque output with little effort, and in everyday driving there’s no wanting for power. The digital instrument panel, controlled by two pads on the steering wheel, is crisp and clever, hiding part of the speedometer needle when the lane-keeping assist is active, for example. As part of the VIP treatment that comes with the Black Label, Lincoln provides four-year scheduled maintenance that also covers wear items such as brake pads. And, starting with the 2017 model year, Lincoln will extend free pickup and delivery for maintenance and repair visits to every customer, not just Black Label owners.

What We Don’t Like: Considering brand cachet, a $58,000 Lincoln MKC Black Label isn’t so enticing when you can get into a Jaguar F-Pace or a Mercedes GLC300 for less. As we’ve noted in other contexts, taking a car designed to sell at one price point—call it $40,000 in this case—and adding a lot of upscale appointments to justify a sticker price 50 percent higher rarely results in a vehicle as satisfying as competitors that were developed from the outset for the pricier segment. The MKC’s steering wheel stalks remind us of those in a Ford Fiesta, the center stack plastic is low grade (which stands out particularly in Black Label trim), and the engine noise is decidedly downscale. Even the larger 2.3-liter engine delivers relatively unimpressive acceleration for the class, at 6.6 seconds to 60 mph.

Sure, you could skip our car’s special paint color ($1750) and drop the 20-inch wheels ($1145) for 19s. But that still leaves thousands of dollars just for the Black Label trim’s spiffier interior. Are free car washes, restaurant reservations from Lincoln’s Culinary Concierge, and a traveling salesperson who’ll spec your car at home worth this kind of money? We can’t help thinking that it’s too soon for Lincoln to charge really big bucks for a set of ownership privileges, some of which luxury-class competitors offer every customer, not just those who pop for the priciest models. Buyers seeking an MKC are likely to find better value in the only slightly less posh Reserve model for $6000 less.

Verdict: A worthy competitor deserving of attention even from European-brand die-hards.

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Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, front- or 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door hatchback

BASE PRICES: Premiere, $34,185;
Select, $38,015;
Reserve, $41,385;
Black Label, $47,380

ENGINE TYPES: turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter inline-4, 240 hp, 270 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.3-liter inline-4, 285 hp, 305 lb-ft

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 105.9 in
Length: 179.2 in
Width: 73.4 in Height: 65.2 in
Passenger volume: 99 cu ft
Cargo volume: 25 cu ft
Curb weight (C/D est): 3800–4100 lb

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 18–20/26–29 mpg

C/D TEST RESULTS FOR:
2015 Lincoln MKC 2.3 EcoBoost AWD
Zero to 60 mph: 6.6 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 18.9 sec
Zero to 120 mph: 36.9 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 7.2 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 3.5 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.5 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 15.2 sec @ 92 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 130 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 168 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.83 g
Curb weight: 4066 lb
C/D observed fuel economy: 19 mpg

*Stability-control-inhibited