2011 Lincoln MKT

Station Wagon or Crossover

Introduced in 2010, the MKT is Lincoln’s entry in the full-size luxury crossover segment offering three rows of seating and what Lincoln describes as the best possible blend of fuel economy, performance and technology. The MKT design features Lincoln’s signature split waterfall grille and I have to admit, I really don’t like the look at all. It just seems a bit overbearing to me and detracts from the overall look. That said the THX sound system is second to none.

The MKT is offered in either 6- or 7-passenger configurations, a second-row 60/40 split folding bench seat with heated outboard seating positions all standard. Optional power “fold and tumble” second-row bucket seats include heating, cooling and power lumbar adjustment and an available 5-quart refrigerator in the center console which all came in very handy for a weekend of grandkids soccer games. A fixed glass Panoramic Vista Roof with power-assisted front and rear sunshades is standard and a Power Panoramic Vista roof is optional.

What Lincoln does well with the MKT is offer a whole lot with the standard model. Some include wood inlays on the dashboard, door panels and the steering wheel. The also make the rear liftgate power and rain sensing wipers and heated rear seating. Obviously you get all the usual luxury features you’d expect from Lincoln like leather trim, power adjustable steering column, the Sync entertainment system and puddle lights.

Opt for the Premium Package and you get 12-way front power seats, rear footrests and rear-window sunshades, among other things. The Elite Package brings a voice-activated DVD navigation system with single DVD/CD/MP3 player, 10 gigabytes of music storage and SIRIUS Travel Link. The most fun part of testing the MKT was showing off Ford’s latest radar-guided blind-spot and parking lot warning aids which allows the MKT to park itself….yep, it literally parallel parks itself and quite easily at that.

The MKT is powered by and efficient albeit a bit underpowered 3.7 liter V6 that puts out 268 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque which unfortunately is a bit lackluster for this big a vehicle. That’s not the case with the very slick 3.5 liter dual turbocharged EcoBoost V6 engine that pumps out 355 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque which adds a huge fun quotient to driving the MKT. The EcoBoost engine is so efficient that despite weighing in at almost 5000 pounds, the MKT gets 16 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

Bottom line, whether you call the Lincoln MKT a CUV or a new age station wagon isn’t important and doesn’t alter the fact that it is a very versatile vehicle. It’s a big and roomy, ergo comfortable, and with the EcoBoost engine, it’s plenty spunky. So if you’re looking for a multitasking vehicle, the Lincoln MKT may fit the bill. With base pricing starting just over $44,000 and the EcoBoost AWD iteration tickling $50,000 it isn’t cheap, but then again, it is a Lincoln.