2010 Lincoln MKT
by Jim Prueter -09/2010
Dramatic style and smooth, quiet performance sets MKT apart
Often times when describing the appearance of a vehicle, people either anthropomorphize or ascribe animal characteristics to its body parts. So it is with the all-new 2010 Lincoln MKT. I’ve defaulted to comparing its looks (with affection I might add) to that of a Balaenidae whale. That may seem a bit mean but I would suggest the contrary.
The notable distinguishing features for right whales are its graceful yet stocky lines, strong bowed body, a smooth broad tail, and massive jaws that accommodate their comb-like strainer of baleen plates, rather than teeth.
Ascribing these characteristics to the MKT may have some folks thinking that I am demeaning the newest arrival from Lincoln. Nonsense. I love the look and further declare there is no shortage of things to fall in love with about the all-new Lincoln, a vehicle that scores high marks in just about every area.
The very first thing you notice is the massive chrome grille dominating the entire front of the luxury sedan and further distancing MKT from Lincoln’s frumpy styling past. It delivers a head-turning quotient previously unassociated with the brand. Bravo, Lincoln!
Following the smooth slab sides of the long body, the shoulders kick up just past the rear doors and flow to the forward-leaning rear lift gate with its dramatic whale “tail”-lights and nearly bumper-less back end. Ford’s twin-panel fixed panoramic vista roof is standard on all models, but you’ll have to pay extra if you want it to open. We think the design is magnificent, yet some will find the looks boorish or perhaps just plain goofy.
Inside, its cabin is luxurious with high quality materials like genuine Scottish leather, real wood trim and soft-touch materials elsewhere. Gauges are clear with chrome accents and LED white lighting, uncluttered in appearance; there’s a sharp eight-inch LED touch-screen interface mid-dash.
The MKT accommodates six or seven passengers, with bucket seats in the second row an option over the standard 60/40 split-folding bench seats. Front seats err on the side 
of plush versus supportive, yet are very comfortable. The third row is a two-person arrangement, and sloping rear glass means a complete lack of headroom for adults; it’s best left for the kids. Leather seating material is standard on all models. Second row seats are available with heating, cooling, and a power-assisted “fold-and-tumble” operation.
When selecting the optional second-row bucket seats, a refrigerated console is included. It can fit up to seven 12-ounce cans or cool perishable goods down to as low as 23 degrees.
The interior is library quiet, even up to speeds of over 85 miles per hour, which we reached on Ford’s Dearborn, Mich., proving grounds. This is thanks to an ample amount of sound deadening materials, laminated glass and aerodynamic tuning that eliminated wind noise.
MKT is available in three versions: front-wheel drive powered by a 3.7-liter 268-horsepower V-6 starting at $44,200; an all-wheel-drive with the same 3.7-liter V-6 starting at $46,195; and the all-wheel-drive powered by Ford’s 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 starting at $49,200.
The MKT is Ford’s first model to go on sale with the much heralded and awaited EcoBoost powertrain. EcoBoost is Ford-speak for turbo-charging an engine. Two quick-spinning grapefruit-sized turbochargers affixed to a 3.5-liter V-6 put out a surprising 355 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque using regular unleaded gas. Performance kicks in as low as 1500 rpm for instant engine power. MKT uses a fortified six-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters.
Other features include a keyless-entry code touch pad on the driver’s side door frame, high-intensity discharge headlamps, push-button start with MyKey feature that allows drivers to set preferences for speed control, radio functions and seat/mirror memory positions, or disable certain other functions.
Ford also provided a new MKT equipped with their new active park assist ($595) that, through the engagement of sonar sensors and electric power steering, will locate and guide the vehicle into a parking spot without the driver touching the steering wheel. It takes a lot of trust in the system to take your hands off the steering wheel and with the simple press of a button drive past a potential parking space and wait for the system to provide an audible beep indicating the MKT will fit into the space.
Simply shift the MKT into reverse and gently control the throttle. The car controls the steering and turns the vehicle perfectly into the parking spot utilizing the sensors and rear-view camera. The driver then puts the transmission into drive and the system pulls the vehicle forward while the driver straightens out the vehicle. It took us less than two minutes to learn the system and it worked without flaw every time we used it.
Standard safety gear includes just about everything one would expect in a luxury vehicle including all the requisite air bags, stability and traction control, anti-lock brakes, a rearview mirror blind-spot alert system, adaptive headlamps and adjustable pedals. Adaptive cruise control with collision warning system and brake assist safety features is a $1295 option.
The MKT hasn’t been crash-tested by the NHTSA, however the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded it the highest rating of “Good” in both frontal offset and side impact crash tests.
Overall, we think the 2010 Lincoln MKT is a standout in the group of seven-passenger crossover vehicles. We recognize that its dramatic styling will certainly be polarizing and its price will eliminate it from consideration for many buyers. Still, we think the MKT is the most completely surprising and overall outstanding vehicle from Lincoln we’ve ever tested.
