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Premium midsize SUV; Built in Canada
  • 4-door wagon
  • transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $12,800 – $37,300*


2010 Lincoln MKT front


2010 Lincoln MKT rear


2010 Lincoln MKT interior

Pros:
  • Acceleration
  • Cargo room
  • Instruments/controls
  • Seat comfort
Cons:
  • Fuel economy
  • Tire noise
  • Third-row seat room
  • Visibility

Lincoln’s MKT has distinctive styling and a comfortable interior. While the Ford Flex, on which it is based, has a form-follows-function flair, Lincoln sacrifices third-row room for rakish lines. The EcoBoost engine boasts strong performance with decent fuel economy for an SUV of this size. While MKT is a competent SUV, very little about it stands out from the pack. Ultimately, nearly all of its rivals offer more compelling combinations of performance, luxury, and value for the money.

Overview

Introduced for 2010, the Lincoln MKT was the latest addition to the portfolio of Ford’s luxury brand. MKT was a midsize crossover SUV that could seat up to seven and shared elements of its basic design with the Ford Flex. Two models were offered. The Base model, offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, used a 270-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine. The top-line EcoBoost model was AWD only and held a 355-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. Sole transmission for both engines was a six-speed automatic. Maximum towing capacity was 4,500 pounds. Standard safety features included all-disc antilock braking, traction control, an antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, a power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, and power-adjustable pedals were standard. Also standard was Ford’s Sync voice-activated control for cell phones and digital-music players as well as a hard drive for storing 10 gigabytes’ worth of digital-music files. An option package included blind-spot alert, a navigation system with voice control and real-time traffic alerts, and a panoramic sunroof. Other options included a power-folding third-row seat, heated and cooled second-row seats, a refrigerated console box, DVD entertainment, and adaptive cruise control. With the MKT, Lincoln competed against such models as the Acura MDX, Buick Enclave, and Mercedes-Benz R-Class.

Yearly Updates

2011 MKT
Lincoln’s midsize crossover saw no major changes following its introduction for the 2010 model year.
2012 MKT
The only change of note to the Lincoln MKT for 2012 was that all-wheel drive was no longer offered on the Base model.
2013 MKT
Along with most of the Lincoln lineup, the MKT saw a fairly substantial freshening for 2013. Exterior and interior styling were freshened, and top-line versions received a new feature called “Lincoln Drive Control” that adjusted the steering, suspension, engine, and transmission between normal “Drive” and sporty “Sport” modes.
2014 MKT
According to Lincoln, the only thing new for 2014 was a different exterior paint choice.

Engines

transverse front-engine/front- or all-wheel drive

Two engines have been available for the MKT. The base 3.7-liter V6 develops 270 horsepower, while the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 generates 355 horsepower. Both engines team with a six-speed automatic transmission. EcoBoost models have all-wheel drive, but the base MKT may have either front-drive or AWD.

dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.7/227
Engine HP 270
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 270
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 16/22
Turbocharged dohc V6
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 3.5/213
Engine HP 355
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 350
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
6-speed automatic

 16/22

 18.6

Road Test

Acceleration is appealing in the EcoBoost MKT, which is strong at any speed, aided by an alert transmission. No base 3.7-liter V6 models have been made available for testing so far.

Fuel economy is less tempting, though on par for a vehicle of this size. In Consumer Guide testing, AWD EcoBoost models averaged 15.2 mpg in city driving and 17.7 to 19.5 mpg with more highway miles. The 3.7-liter V6 uses regular-grade gas. Lincoln says the EcoBoost is designed to run on regular-grade gas, though the company recommends premium for best performance.

Suspension tuning is firm, but the ride is well controlled overall. Large bumps don’t upset the MKT’s composure, but they’re always felt. With the EcoBoost’s standard 20-inch tires, small pavement imperfections filter through to the cabin, but the ride is never uncomfortable.

An MKT has direct, well-weighted steering. Body lean is well controlled for a large vehicle, although sheer size and weight keep it from being truly nimble. Brakes are strong and responsive.

Wheel patter is intrusive on rough pavement. The engine is not as refined as those found in some competitors, but it is unobtrusive. Wind noise is minimal.

Gauges are clearly marked and well placed. Controls also are well positioned. Audio and climate functions are largely separate from the optional navigation system. That navigation system absorbs some audio functions but is simple to program. The navigation system also includes Sirius Travel Link, a handy feature that delivers real-time traffic information, local gas prices, movie listings, and sports scores through the navigation screen. Each MKT has an abundance of padded surfaces and quality touches, such as stitching on the dashboard top. Wood interior trim has been standard, with an optional distinctive metallic trim. Most interior materials are of good quality; however, some textures fail to impress. The use of painted plastic substituting for metal trim on the center stack disappoints in this price range.

Large, comfortable front seats provide ample room. The standard power tilt and telescopic steering wheel and power-adjustable pedals make it easy to find a comfortable driving position. Rear visibility is hampered by headrest clutter and a shallow rear window, but the standard rearview camera and rear-obstacle detection help.

Second-row legroom and headroom are generous. The third row’s limited headroom restricts its use to children, although they should have ample legroom.

A useful cargo well sits behind the third-row seat. With all seats folded, a long, flat load floor provides generous cargo room. The third-row seats require several steps to fold, but power folding has been optional.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2011 Lincoln MKT w/AWD, EcoBoost

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 7
70%
Fuel Economy - 5
50%
Ride Quality - 6
60%
Steering/Handling - 6
60%
Quietness - 6
60%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 7
70%
Room/Comfort Front - 8
80%
Room/Comfort Rear - 8
80%
Cargo Room - 9
90%

Other

Value - 6
60%

Total: 68

Specifications

4-door wagon
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
117.9 207.6 76.0 67.4
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
75.9 18.6 7
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.1 38.8 41.3 41.8
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2010 MKT 4-door wagon

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 5
100%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Rear Passenger Injury - 5
100%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Brakes
Description: Rear brakes may drag because of corrosion build up between brake pad and bracket. (2011-14)
Cruise control
Description: The adaptive cruise control may quit working if vehicle is driven for extended times where there is no traffic (deserted roads) unless it has been reprogrammed. (2010)
Fuel odors
Description: Incorrectly installed fuel vapor line can cause various problems including fuel odor, gas tank slow to fill, or hesitation while driving. (2013)
Oil consumption and exhaust smoke
Description: Vehicles equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine with aluminum valve covers may have excessive oil consumption and exhaust smoke under normal operating conditions. (2010-14)
Oil leak
Description: Oil can collect in baffle under left-side valve cover, enter PCV system, and eventually get inside the fresh air intake. (2011-13)
Transmission leak
Description: Transmission may leak fluid from left halfshaft seal. (2013)
Transmission leak
Description: Leak in valve body can cause slippage or clutch damage. (2013)
Windshield
Description: The rain sensor may fall from the windshield because the mounting clip comes away from the glass and requires a sensor replacement kit. (2010)
Transmission problems
Description: Software glitch can prevent transmission from upshifting, leaving only first gear and reverse operative. (2013-14)
Software problems
Description: The blind spot or cross traffic system may quit working occasionally during heavy rain or snow, but resume working in clear weather unless the control modules have updated software. (2010-11)

Recall History

2011-13 MKT
Description: Certain 2011 thorough 2013 Lincoln MKT vehicles may lose power steering assist because of a sensor fault.
2013 MKT
Description: Certain 2013 Model Lincoln MKT vehicles may develop a crack and fuel leak in the fuel delivery module.
2013 MKT with Town Car package
Description: Certain 2013 model Lincoln MKT vehicles made between March 6, 2012 and April 3, 2012 and equipped with the Town Car package supplied to limousine and hearse upfitters may have bolts in the rear brake rotors that were not fully seated.
2013-14 MKT with limousine or hearse prep package
Description: Certain 2013 and 2014 model Lincoln MKT vehicles equipped with a limousine or hearse prep package may have a vacuum pump relay that can overheat.
2013-14 MKT
Description: Certain 2013 and 2014 model Lincoln MKT vehicles may have a halfshaft retention clip that was not properly installed. As a result, the halfshaft can become disengaged while driving.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

More about Tom Appel
Written by: Tom Appel on April 21, 2016.
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