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2012 Lincoln MKT Philadelphia

Other than the discontinuation of all-wheel drive for the base model and a price drop for the EcoBoost model, the 2012 Lincoln MKT carries over unchanged.  When equipped with the stellar 355-horsepower twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 and enhanced with all-wheel drive, the Lincoln MKT boasts the forceful performance and athleticism of all but the hottest performance sedans. The EcoBoost engine achieves good mileage, while delivering responsive, turbocharged performance. The Lincoln MKT comes standard with a normally aspirated 268-hp 3.7-liter V6 but without the turbocharged performance supplied by the more advanced Ecoboost engine.  In addition to exhibiting excellent handling, the Lincoln MKT is a comfortable, lavishly appointed luxury crossover. Its interior is part living room on wheels, part wood-lined room at the club. It even features power second-row seats that leap forward at the touch of a button for easy access to the third row. The second row can be comfy twin buckets, yielding seating for a total of six, or a bench, making for seating for seven. You can even choose an available second-row refrigerator to keep family beverages cool and crisp.   A voice-actuated Lincoln SYNC communication and entertainment system can be combined with two separate seatback DVD screens. There will be no backseat fighting over what to watch. And Sirius Satellite and Travel Link provide entertainment and all relevant traffic, weather and local information, including full listings of regional gas stations, arranged by nearness or price per gallon.

Driving Impressions of the '12 Lincoln MKT

The Lincoln MKT offers many pleasant surprises, but none can match its driving experience. First of all, consider the top-of-the-line EcoBoost model's 355 horsepower and 350pound-feet of torque.  In fact, driven vigorously, it blends smoothly with other competent luxury vehicles, and does so in the most surprising of ways.  On back roads, this crossover exhibits extremely accomplished cornering and over-the-road controllability. Its excellent wheel control means the wheels follow the terrain of the road surface with a minimum of bounce, maintaining smooth, constant contact. Its steering is remarkably alive, feeding to the driver constant information about the road being traversed and how much traction is available. And entering a corner, the MKT has almost no roll or lean as it turns in. This encourages an undisturbed, calmly analytic state of mind in the driver. Pushed harder through a corner, the Lincoln MKT's front wheels grip tenaciously, closely following the steering wheel's turn commands, a characteristic lacking in most big SUVs. The value of this heightened cornering ability is, if you have to swerve out of someone's way very suddenly in an emergency, the MKT will do a better job of following your commands than some of its most prestigious competitors, including those from Acura and Audi. This crossover SUV's agility and predictability make driving it both very safe and honestly exhilarating. In fact, against all expectation, we found this Lincoln to be the best-handling large SUV we've driven.

Interior Features of the '12 Lincoln MKT

From the moment you climb into the Lincoln MKT, you are struck by the bright atmosphere of its interior. Light colors, leather and bright blonde wood surround you, and the wood is real.

The steering wheel is trimmed with wood and contains all the expected buttons for cruise control and audio adjustment. The audio is powerful, excellent and easy to use. The audio system is tuned with genuine, old-fashioned, functional radial knobs. The substantial chrome-and-leather shifter fills your palm, but for those who want to control their 6-speed transmission more actively, paddle shifters behind the steering wheel allow manual shifting.

To the driver's right in the center stack of the console is a touch-screen monitor, delivering all the countless cyber-communication virtues of navigation, weather information and so on included in Lincoln's SYNC. With available voice-activation, you can select whatever function you need without removing your hands from the wheel.

The leather-upholstered driver and passenger seats are extremely comfortable, and both feature 12-way adjustment and lumbar support. Your passenger has no grounds for complaining of second-class service. Both heating and cooling are available, and the front seating is an excellent blend of alert lateral support and well-tailored comfort.

Hand-stitched leather covers the surfaces not already covered in blond wood; this interior is deluxe. Two indispensable cupholders are provided for each of the Lincoln MKT's three rows, and the second row seats are provided with a separate climate-control system.

An available power folding mechanism for the second-row seats flops them forward at the touch of a button to allow third-row riders easy access, though as mentioned, the dimensions of the third-row compartment are tight and best suited to mid-sized or smaller children. Yet even with all three rows full, there is still a small but serviceable stowage space aft of the third seat.

Generous interior courtesy lighting is provided, welcoming all passengers. The very roomy second row features available massive twin bucket seats, with adjustable lumbar support. Power takeoffs are distributed throughout the interior for operating personal electronics.

Safety equipment includes front and side airbags, three-row side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor, seat-belt pretensioners, seat-belt energy-management retractors, seat-belt usage sensors, driver-seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, front-passenger sensing system, rearview camera, post-crash alert system, child-safety rear door locks, child-safety seat anchors, electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and tire-pressure monitor. All-wheel drive is available, which enhances traction and stability in adverse conditions.

Model Lineup

The 2011 Lincoln MKT comes standard with a 268-hp 3.7-liter V6, front-wheel drive, and 6-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. It is also available with all-wheel drive.

Lincoln MKT EcoBoost upgrades with a 355-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter 24-valve EcoBoost V6, all-wheel drive, and 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels.

Standard features include premium leather upholstery, three-zone climate control, cabin-air filtration, 12-way adjustable cooled and heated driver and front-passenger seats, heated second-row seats, third-row 50/50 seats, seat memory system, power tilt/telescope steering, leather steering wheel with wood accents and redundant audio and speed controls, touch-screen monitor, illuminated front visors, one-touch up/down four windows, AM/FM/CD/DVD/MP3 with 10 speakers, Sirius Satellite Radio, capless fuel filler, reverse sensing system, Lincoln Sync communications and entertainment, speed-sensitive/rain-sensitive front wipers, two-speed rear wiper, intelligent access with pushbutton start, universal garage door opener, adjustable pedals with memory, second-row sunshades, anti-theft alarm, power door locks with auto-lock, keyless entry keypad, performance-limiting programmable key, fog lamps, second- and third-row privacy glass, glass roof with power front and rear sunshade, adaptive headlamps with auto high beam, heated power mirrors with memory and driver's side auto-dimming, 19-inch wheels, genuine wood interior applique, rear-window defroster, courtesy lamps, LED instrumentation, message center, auto-dimming rearview, power liftgate, four 12-volt powerpoints, rear cargo cover and net.

The Preferred Package adds voice-activated navigation with in-dash DVD/CD/MP3 player, DVD audio and video capability; internal hard-disk drive for map; 10GB Music Jukebox storing up to 100 CDs; Sirius Travel Link and THX II 5.1 audio system; blind-spot information and cross-traffic alert; fold-and-tumble third-row seats, and power panoramic vista roof.

Options include adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support; Class III trailer tow package, including wiring harness, 4/7-pin connector, engine oil cooler, tire mobility kit and trailer-sway control; dual headrest DVD system, second-row heated and cooled power fold-and-tumble bucket seats, second-row refrigerator, active park assist; 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels for the 3.7-liter V6.

Conclusions

The Lincoln MKT is a lavishly equipped full-size luxury crossover of the first order. It offers enormous interior capacity and comfort and a long list of deluxe standard and optional equipment. Driven in real-world conditions, this Lincoln is exceptional; a powerful, poised sports car of an SUV with agility and handling unmatched in its class. Click here to learn more about the 2012 Lincoln MKT.

Some of the information for this review was obtained through newcartestdrive.com