“Sometimes you gotta go back, to actually move forward”. These aren’t just words that sound cool coming from Matthew McConaughey’s Texan drawl, but they are a true representation of Lincoln’s return to form with their products. My grandfather had a Mark IV Lincoln Continental back in 1975 and when I questioned him about the car, he proclaimed it was the best car he had ever owned. While you won’t find a 7.5-litre V8 in any Fords or Lincolns in today’s market, the modern day Lincoln still has a luxurious feeling interior, and a soft and supple ride that simulates driving on clouds.

The MKC crossover is Lincoln Motor Company’s entry into the competitive sporty utility vehicle segment. At first I admit, I was skeptical. I’ve seen the commercials and I really believed the MKC was just a rebadged Ford Escape. Much to my surprise, although they both share the same platform and a few components, Lincoln’s design and engineering team have put together a rather well rounded and handsome SUV with a unique take on luxury sport-utes.

Externally, the 2016 Lincoln MKC is actually quite the looker. It is cleanly styled and conservative right down to the Lincoln signature grille, adding that extra dose of elegance. Rounded off with Land Rover-esque 18-inch wheels, the MKC really does put on a show. If the Range Rover Evoque is the tailored and bold all-star, the MKC is the hard working business CEO who started from the bottom and now has it made.

The MKC also follows suit throughout the cabin. The White Sands leather interior contrasted nicely with the Midnight Sapphire exterior paint, making it look more expensive than any Ford Escape I’ve ever seen. My only gripe with white interiors is that in the long run, owners need to look out for blue markings from unwashed denim, and this particular tester was beginning to show signs of that.

The interior is tight but any feeling of claustrophobia is largely remedied by the expansive panoramic moonroof that extends all the way from the driver to behind the second row’s headrests. I was particularly impressed with the MKC’s ergonomic philosophy. Everything was in reach and while I did have to get used to the transmission selector buttons being mounted on the dashboard, I was very happy taking the MKC on long hauls.

Under the bonnet on this tester was the standard 2.0-litre EcoBoost turbo 4-cylinder that pumps out 240 horsepower and 270 lb.-ft of torque. Buyers can opt for the more powerful 285 horsepower 2.3-litre EcoBoost as an option and in both cases, a same six-speed automatic with paddle shifters and all-wheel drive are customary. While someone like me would jump at the proposition of more power, the smaller 2.0-litre holds its own. In Sport Mode it has more than enough power to help the MKC get up and go.

Thanks to a mid-week snowstorm, I averaged a miserable 12.1 L/100km instead of the rated 10.6 L/100km. While it wasn’t completely off the charts I still had hoped for better numbers as I didn’t even take advantage of the added trailer tow package that has the capacity to tow up to 3,000 pounds. Still, in similar sized sport utility vehicles, the fuel economy from the MKC is on par, so I can’t nitpick too much.

However, when stacked up against competition like the Acura RDX, the BMW X3, and the Audi Q3, the MKC does not live up to the sporty nature that these other crossovers are bred from. Due to the continuously controlled damping (CCD) setup, the MKC does feel quite lofty and loose over bumps and rough roads. Body roll in turns is accentuated and not progressive. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you’re looking for comfort, but you definitely would not want to find yourself in an MKC on a track up against one of the aforementioned competitors.

The Lincoln MKC is a tough sell. On the one hand it does provide fantastic comfort and niceties for the price but on the other hand, it has clearly been geared towards the younger consumer. But attempting to stray young buyers away from import brands is a difficult task. Not to mention that the Lincoln name still doesn’t carry as much weight as it used to – but I think they’re getting there. Perhaps one of the biggest issues I see is that a fully loaded Ford Escape, the best selling crossover in Canada and a phenomenal car I must add, costs just as much as a base model MKC.

A few months ago Lincoln had debuted the new Continental that screamed comfort and style with a touch of performance. More recently, they released a Navigator Concept at the New York International Auto Show, which featured gull wing doors and an aluminum staircase that leads into an interior with 30 seat configurations. Now that is what gets the people going. Perhaps some of that newfound inspiration will make its way into the MKC sometime in the future but in the mean time, save your money and stick with the Ford Escape.

Review: 2016 Lincoln MKX

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