2011 Lincoln MKT Review

SEE ALSO: Lincoln Buyers Guide

2011 Lincoln MKT Review

by Mark Fulmer
TACH Editor In Chief

For a half century or so the archetypal family vehicle in America was the station wagon. Then came the minivans and SUVs. Now we seem to be revisiting this style with these vehicles called crossovers.

We who were kids during the great American Stationwagon Era have a trunk load of memories. For the Fulmer family, a lot of it had to do with the fact that my dad was both an absolute car nut and had sawdust in his veins from his wood shop in the basement. So not surprisingly, our first station wagon was a woody that we affectionately called the "Rattley-Bang-Bang" - for obvious acoustic reasons. It was a lot of fun in town, but we never took it on very long trips.

Our second wagon was nicknamed "The Brown Bomber" – which had nothing to do with prizefighting or aviation. This was the car that our family of seven bundled into to take our summer vacations up in the. High Sierras. Even though I had (and have) four sisters, we did somehow manage to get all of our stuff in the wagon. The Brown Bomber did a fine job of getting us up the hills, although we did have to make occasional stops to let her cool off and add water to the radiator.

To compare the new Lincoln MK T to the station wagons of my past is like comparing a rowboat to shuttlecraft from the Starship Enterprise.

EXTERIOR.

From fore to aft the MK T has no straight lines, horizontal or vertical. The big smiling grill in front is complemented by the simple red grin on the back end. The stylish optimistic look of the MK T makes it easy to spot in a crowded parking lot.

INTERIOR.

Without a doubt my dad would've thoroughly enjoyed the amount of wood-grain used in the MK T's interior from the leather and wood trim steering wheel to the dash panel and over all four doors. In keeping with its reputation as a leader in high–end luxury, the stitching, fit, and finish of the interior is flawless.

There are, as you would expect, a large amount of standard features which include:

• 12-way powered, heated-and-cooled front-row seating
• adjustable pedals
• heated second-row outboard seats
• ambient lighting
• an 8-inch color touch screen for audio and climate controls
• rear-view camera
• 10 GB hard drive for music
• “intelligent access” with push button start
• SecuriCode™ keyless entry keypad
• adaptive headlamps with HID lamps
• automatic high beams
• rain-sensing wipers
• reverse-sensing system
• power opening/closing rear lift gate

For the ardent audiophiles, I heartily recommend the THX surround system option. Be sure to wait until all of the passengers are seated in the car then turn on the sound system and hit the demo button. As the famous THX chord reverberates through the cabin slowly raise your arms like an orchestral conductor bringing forth the chromatic resolving crescendo.

PERFORMANCE

Entry-level MKT models have a 3.7-liter V6 for 268 hp and 267 pound-feet of torque, and with it estimated 17 mpg city/23 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined. Optional all-wheel drive reduces fuel economy to 16/22/18.

The MKT EcoBoost has a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 for 355 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. The same six-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive system are standard. Estimated fuel economy is 16/21/18. There is no turbo lag, so if you need it you can go from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.

SAFETY

The MKT comes standard with:

• electronic stability control
• antilock disc brakes
• front seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags
• a rear view camera
• a blind spot monitor and a Cross Traffic Alert
• the MyKey feature, which allows parents to set limits on top speed and audio system volume for their young drivers.

This is one stylish, luxury wagon that provides quiet comfort, solid performance, and state of the art safety.