Lincoln MKC 2019 Review
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2019 Lincoln MKC Review: Luxury Crossover Insights
The 2019 Lincoln MKC shares its underpinnings with the Ford Escape and faces competition from the Infiniti QX50 and Lexus NX. In this review, we will explore if this American crossover justifies its steep price of 192,000 Dirhams.
Exterior
The Lincoln MKC has been around since 2015, recently undergoing a facelift. The most noticeable change is the replacement of the split wing grille with the rectangular corporate grille found on newer Lincoln models such as the Continental and Navigator. Despite the changes, the MKC remains a well-designed car with LED headlights, large alloy wheels, and ample chrome accents.
Interior
Lincoln has excelled in the interior quality and design of the MKC. Although there are large plastic pieces, they are offset by soft leather and real wood trim on the dashboard and door panels. The rear seats provide ample headroom and legroom, and they recline for added comfort. Rear amenities include:
- Rear A/C vents
- Cupholders
- Rear charging ports
The boot space measures 714 liters with the second row in use and 1,500 liters when folded flat. When compared to its rivals, the MKC offers more space than the Lexus NX but less than the Infiniti QX50.
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Features
On the features front, the Lincoln MKC falls short compared to its rivals. For nearly 200,000 Dirhams, it lacks:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Automated parking
- 360-degree cameras
- Wireless charging
However, it does include a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory settings, a panoramic roof, a touch infotainment screen with SYNC 3, navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 4 USB charging ports, and a Lincoln Premium audio system with 9 speakers. On the safety side, features include:
- Remote engine starter
- Tire pressure monitoring system
- Driver knee airbag
- Front and side airbags
- SOS post-crash alert system
Despite the positives, the pixelated rear camera feels outdated compared to modern standards.
Drive
Driving the Lincoln MKC feels luxurious, attributed to several factors including the abundance of leather in the cabin and the effective isolation from road and wind noise. This is achieved through acoustic glass and active noise cancellation technology, similar to high-end headphones.
Lincoln has focused on luxury, avoiding the common trap of balancing sportiness with comfort. The MKC is equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine producing 245 horsepower and 373 Nm of torque, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. However, it only drives the front wheels, which is a drawback compared to competitors like the QX50 and NX that offer all-wheel drive.
While the MKC features Drive Modes (Normal, Comfort, Sport), they are not easily accessible, requiring navigation through the small instrument cluster display. The quickest way to change modes is to adjust the transmission mapping from ‘D’ to ‘S’ using the dashboard-mounted gear controls, which may take some getting used to for new drivers.
The MKC has power-assisted steering that feels light at low speeds but gains weight at higher speeds. However, it presents challenges due to significant blind spots, with a bulky A-pillar and mirrors that magnify images uncomfortably, complicating visibility. Thankfully, blind spot monitoring is included to assist with this issue.
Verdict
The Lincoln MKC is visually appealing and provides a luxurious driving experience. Although it's not perfect and has areas for improvement, particularly in features, it offers a competitive price at 192,000 Dirhams, which is nearly 30,000 Dirhams less than the Lexus NX and a substantial 50,000 Dirhams less than the Infiniti QX50.
