2010 Lincoln MKT

After Many Test Drives Lincoln Was The BEST

By Michael G (TX) on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 750

Pros: "Ride, Acceleration, Sync-Nav-Interior-Fridge"

Cons: "Body Panels that don't line up - Front Grille"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 7

"I may have been a year too early for what I really wanted in a new vehicle. Ideally I set out to buy a Diesel this time, but could not find the right "whole-package" Diesel and so I leased a Lincoln for 24 months. This was a failsafe move of sorts, but still it says a lot for this MKT vehicle to be the choice after so many careful test drives from other manufacturers. It is too bad that domestic auto manufacturers don't offer diesel engines. Diesel's offer a way to obtain higher MPG and the European car makers are all over this tried and proven technology, many getting MPG on SUV's into the low 30's. I would have to say that because of sloppy body panel placement on the MKT that I am forced to reduce the overall quality score to a 7, whereas Lexus easily scored a 10. For example, passenger doors, hatches, and body panels on the Lexus, Mercedes, Audi, VW were precise regardless of the angle you viewed them. Lincoln on the other hand was close, but not exact in this regard. Beyond the visual quality issues the Lincoln is a great concept and very unique in many regards. For example you don't step up to get in or drop down to get it. The entry is just right and I would have to score the interior of this vehicle right at 10, while the outside is different, I would score it a 7. I think the Lincoln engineers can do a better job with the nose and tail of this vehilce. In my 3 week search for a new vehicle, I could basically find nothing from Lexus that would fit my exact needs as well as the Lincoln did. The Lexus GX 460, came closest, but it was just too heavy, narrow and short and gas mileage is poor, especially when you MUST buy Premium Unleaded. However, the Lexus was extremely well built, perhaps the best of all. Had Lexus offered a Diesel it would have been a hard vehicle to pass up. The VW Touareg TDI was excellent as well, warranty was so-so for such an expensive ~$60K vehicle in my opinion, the NAV was only good and was a major reason I crossed VW off my list. If the VW had the Audi-connect Nav that was in the 2012 Audi Q7, I would have a VW in my driveway. Mercedes has a NAV that simply is the worst in class in my opinion. I love the look of their ML 350 Bluetec, but the vehicle was a general disappointment in ride, noise levels and NAV technology and was a non-consideration after one fast test drive. Audi Q7 is going to change radically in 2014 and the current model is just too heavy and of course, I fear the depreciation once the new 2014 Q7 hits the market and is built in the U.S. in much larger quantities. I mean you almost can't find a new Q7 in the U.S. and this means paying sticker for a Q7. I would say the VW Touareg had the hands down best ride of all the vehicles I test drove easily beating the Audi Q7, BMW X5,Mercedes ML350 Bluetec, Lexus GX 460 and even the MKT. The VW had the most precise steering, and cornering of the group and even acceleration was excellent, but not as good as the MKT. The MKT however, simply had more of what I needed and is really a great all around road machine and in many respects provides a unique car like, or even sports car like ride when purchased with the Ecoboost and AWD. The MKT is no slouch and can rocket from 70-100mph in seconds. The MKT will surprise you, even if the body panels are not precisely assembled. I even tried the Ford Explorer and my test drive vehicle had an exhaust leak of sorts that made me roll my windows down during a test drive. So NO. Nice but no. So when it was all said and done, that left the Lincoln MKT AWD Ecoboost as the survivor of a long test drive process. The 2012 MKT was the best overall value and with an $8K sticker reduction a best buy when compared to the other vehicles mentioned in this review. The MKT, in the end and in spite of some obvious minor "visual" quality control problems had the best combination of ride, luxury (2nd row heated AND COOLED Seats plus a Fridge and passenger console plus huge retracting sun roof), technology (blind spot detection / adaptive radar, remote start, adaptive headlights, keyless entry and perhaps the very best voice operated Sync and Nav system to be found. That makes this vehicle a must consider choice if you are wanting an luxury vehicle. PS. I gave reliability a 7. It may be a 10. I owned a 2009 Ford Flex Limited (Ford's version of the MKT)and that vehicle never gave me any trouble for the 30 months I owned it - and yes, panels were installed improperly on that vehicle as well."

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After Many Test Drives Lincoln Was The Best

By Mike A (TX) on Tuesday, April 10, 2012

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 600

Pros: "Value, Drive, Tech Options, Sync, Nav, Fridge"

Cons: "Body Panels Don't Line up, Grill is too Verbose"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 7

"I may have been a year too early for what I really wanted in a new vehicle. Ideally I wanted a buy a Diesel, but could not find the right Diesel and so I leased a Lincoln. A fail safe move, but still it says a lot for this vehicle. It is too bad that GM, Ford and Chrysler can't manufacture a Sedan class/ SUV/ or Crossover diesel here in the U.S. American companies because of their dictatorship style of management, become their own worst enemy when it comes to manufacturing precision (Six Sigma) especially for Luxury vehicles. I give the MKT an overall quality grade of 7 compared to say Lexus that easily earns a 10. For example, passenger doors, hatches, and body panels on the Lexus, Mercedes, Audi, VW were precise regardless of the angle you viewed them. You can actually see how precise these vehicles truly are. Lincoln on the other hand is anything but precise and this is not due to the man on the floor, but to the business culture created from above at the management level. So if you want absolute manufacturing quality, you have to buy Japanese, European or maybe Korean, but not from North American producers. This fact is exactly what kept me from buying versus leasing. Foreigners really take "6 Sigma" seriously and have for 3 decades and it shows in the fineness of their vehicles. NOW that does not mean the Lincoln won't be dependable or enjoyable. Because I could not find what I wanted NOW, I did a 24 month lease. In 2014 I will buy to replace this vehicle and I doubt I will buy a Lincoln, at least not the one I leased. There is NOT a body panel on this entire vehicle that was set properly. Makes me think the entire unibody chassis was warped and the body panels were adjusted as a work around measure. Again, I like the concept, but by no means am I a fan boy of Lincoln. In my search, I could find nothing from Lexus that would fit my needs. Their GX 460 is just too heavy, narrow and short and gas mileage is poor, especially when you MUST buy Premium Unleaded. However, the Lexus was extremely well built. Of all the choices, Lexus would be at the top of the list if they had a Diesel option. VW was excellent as well, warranty was so so for such an expensive ~$60K vehicle, NAV was only good. If the VW had the Audi-connect Nav that was in the Q7, I would have a VW in my driveway. Mercedes has a NAV that simply is the worst in class. I love their ML 350 Bluetec, but the vehicle was a general disappointment in ride, noise levels and NAV technology and was a non-consideration. Audi Q7 is going to change radically in 2014 and the current model is just too heavy and of course, I fear the depreciation once the new 2014 Q7 hits the market and is built in the U.S. in much larger quantities. I mean you almost can't find a new Q7 in the U.S. and this means paying sticker for a Q7, but that is about to change. I would say the VW Touareg had the hands down best drive of all the vehicles I test drove easily beating the Audi Q7, BMW X5,Mercedes ML350 Bluetec, Lexus GX 460 and MKT. The VW had the most precise steering, and cornering of the group and even acceleration was excellent, but not as good as the MKT. The MKT however, is really a great all around road machine and in many respects provides a unique car like, or even sports car like ride when purchased with the Ecoboost and AWD. The MKT is no slouch and can rocket from 70-100mph in seconds. The MKT will surprise you, if you can get past all the body panel issues. I even tried the Ford Explorer and well, it is a Ford for sure and you can see this. My Explorer Limited test drive vehicle had an exhaust leak of sorts that made me roll my windows down during a test drive. So NO. So when it was all said and done, that left the Lincoln MKT AWD Ecoboost as the survivor of a long test drive process. The 2012 MKT was the best overall value and with an $8K sticker reduction a best buy when compared to the other vehicles mentioned in this review. The MKT, in the end and in spite of some obvious "visual" quality control problems had the best combination of ride, luxury, technology of the group of vehicles I road tested. I really wanted the GREAT Lincoln sun roof and wind deflector design, wonderful interior colors (I purchased a white exterior with Canyon Seats/ black carpets) and features like 2nd Row AC cooled seats just made this vehicle a best buy. The 2011 Ford Explorer introduced "Mytouch" before Lincoln and to me Ford has that introduction process backwards. If Lincoln is a flagship brand, then Technology should funnel through the Lincoln label and not Ford. Anyway, the 2013 will change some of those issues, introduce an "Air Ride" and some needed convenience options like touch handle open and close locks, inflatable 2nd row passenger seat belts and Lincoln mytouch. All and all, I LOVE the way this vehicle drives and the interior is easily a TEN. Even if you don't like the big goofy grille up front, from the inside, this vehicle gives the ultimate "wow factor." Hence, a new 2012 Lincoln MKT is now in my garage."

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