2019 Lincoln MKC Review: Luxury and Performance

Introduction

The Lincoln MKC shares its platform with the Ford Escape and competes with vehicles such as the Infiniti QX50 and Lexus NX. In this review, we will explore what makes this American vehicle stand out and whether it has enough features to justify its high price tag of AED 192,000.

Exterior Design

Launched in 2015, the MKC recently underwent some changes, most notably a redesigned front grille that replaces the previous split design with a full grille seen in modern Lincoln models like the Continental and Navigator. The rest of the design remains unchanged, which is not a negative aspect, as the MKC boasts an attractive appearance with LED headlights, large alloy wheels, and numerous chrome accents.

Interior Design

In terms of interior design and quality, Lincoln has done an excellent job with the MKC. Despite some large plastic components, particularly on the center console, the luxurious leather and wood touches compensate for these shortcomings. Notably, the wood used on the dashboard and door panels is real wood rather than plastic coated to resemble wood, which we often see in many vehicles.

As a family vehicle, much attention has been given to the rear seats, providing excellent head and legroom, along with rear air vents, cup holders, and charging ports for smart devices, enhancing comfort in this seating row. The trunk has a capacity of 714 liters, which increases to 1,500 liters when the rear seats are folded down. Compared to its competitors, the MKC offers better rear space than the Lexus NX but less than the Infiniti QX50.

Technological Features

Unfortunately, the Lincoln MKC falls short of its competitors regarding features. Priced close to AED 200,000, the vehicle lacks adaptive cruise control, automatic parking, 360-degree cameras, and wireless charging, features that have become standard in many other brands.

However, the MKC does come equipped with:

• Power-adjustable seats with memory and 12 settings
• Panoramic sunroof
• Entertainment system with SYNC 3 and touchscreen display
• Navigation system
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity
• 4 USB ports
• Exceptional audio system with 9 speakers

In terms of safety, the vehicle includes remote start, tire pressure monitoring, knee airbags, front and side airbags, and an SOS alert system in case of accidents. Overall, everything is impressive, except for the rear camera, which resembles early 2000s smartphone cameras.

Driving Experience

Driving the MKC gives you a sense of luxury, thanks to several factors. There’s a significant amount of leather inside the cabin, but the serene quietness and excellent noise insulation from external disturbances, such as road noise and wind sounds, are key contributors. This level of quietness is achieved through soundproof glass technology, similar to what you get from high-end headphones.

Another factor is Lincoln's ability to blend luxury with sporty driving well; many manufacturers struggle to find this balance, often delivering either a luxurious crossover or SUV or a purely sporty vehicle.

The MKC is equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, generating 245 horsepower and 373 Nm of torque, directed to the front wheels via a 6-speed automatic transmission. Here, the MKC loses ground to its competitors, as both the QX50 and NX offer all-wheel drive options.

The vehicle features three driving modes (Normal, Comfort, Sport), which can be a bit challenging to access as you need to navigate through the digital dashboard. The quickest way to switch between modes is to shift the gear lever from "D" to "S".

While the MKC offers an assistive steering system that lightens the steering at low speeds and increases weight at high speeds, driving it is not as easy as it seems. Drivers may struggle with visibility in certain areas, as the large A-pillar and oversized side mirrors can make it hard to see cars in adjacent lanes. Fortunately, it comes with a blind-spot monitoring system.

Conclusion

The Lincoln MKC is well-designed and built for a luxurious driving experience, but as we’ve seen, it’s not a complete vehicle. There’s ample room for improvement, especially regarding technological features. However, at a starting price of AED 192,000, it is AED 30,000 less than the Lexus NX and AED 50,000 less than the Infiniti QX50.