Test Drive: 2007 Lincoln MKX
Love LostThe Good
- Rear hatch opens and closes with key fob
- Extensive standard features
- Exterior style
The Bad
- Gigantic key
- Awkward placement of memory seat controls
- Pimped-out grill
- Clunky name (Mark X? MKX? Mark 10?)
All new for 2007, the Lincoln MKX is built on the MKZ (formerly known as the Zephyr) platform. The exterior sports the popular edgy-yet-round look and Lincoln’s new chrome pimped-out grill. Inside one finds leather interior in several color options and wood trim to match.
When I first saw the MKX at the Houston Auto Show I absolutely loved it, but from afar because it was on a stand no one could approach. Perhaps it grew more impressive in my head as time passed, but when I finally sat in it, I was disappointed. I can’t pin my disappointment on any particular feature, which is why I think it was just a time-passing sort of thing.
The interior looks nice, except for the center dash where the radio, A/C controls, and navigation are housed. I was hoping it would resemble the old Aviator’s interior, but it does only in color. Where the Aviator had a flat and smooth center dash panel, the MKX has a lot of rounded buttons that protrude slightly. I think the flat, square buttons looked higher end, like a nice stereo receiver.
The leather felt wonderful as car leathers go, and the back seats were surprisingly comfortable. The front seats however, didn’t fit either of us quite right. Chris felt the passenger seat wasn’t deep enough, and I found the driver seat to be at an odd angle. I kept trying to adjust it so the front edge would be lower, but it didn’t adjust that way and so I was never totally comfortable.
Interior color options include a light tan and a light gray, and I think they also offer a black. The wood color depends on the interior color – light brown in the tan interior, dark brown in the gray interior. Lincoln offers exterior colors in some pretty nice shades, including a deep purple metallic that looked black unless caught at just the right angle.
The test drive itself was really lame because we basically went around the block twice – once with me driving, once with Chris. Not enough time to get a feel for the car at all, so I don’t have many driving impressions of it. The car magazines are complaining about it being fat and slow, but in the little time I drove it I didn’t get that impression. I also didn’t go over 40 mph.
Where the Lincoln MKX really shines is in the features category. It had pretty much everything I could hope for in a car, including memory driver’s seat and a keyfob that opens and lowers the rear door. Keypad entry, THX stereo, stereo and A/C controls on the steering wheel, rear DVD entertainment system, and navigation are some of the feaures. I’m not sure what is standard and what is optional, however. But that keyfob that opens the back door – I’ve been drooling over that ever since. I sure wish my Audi had that!
I’m writing this several weeks after driving the Lincoln, so I’m not sharp on details. Chris wants me to look at it again even though I’m not all that interested in it anymore, so if I do I’ll refine this test drive.
MSRP: Starting at $34,795
Chris’s Back Seat Comments
I love the available options on the car. The HID lights that turn, the automatic liftgate from the key and inside, the available THX stereo. I think Casey would get a huge kick out of the seat A/C and heaters, and the gigantic sunroof. My favorite feature was how soft the seat leather was – it was very, very soft. Softer than something you’d find on a couch.
Overall Impression
Lincoln keeps delaying the arrival, but if it ever gets here it's going to offer a lot of features and a pretty good bang for the buck.