2015 Lincoln MKC Road Test | Edmunds.com


Edmunds' road test of the 2015 Lincoln MKC includes on-road driving impressions, specs, photos and more.
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Edmunds' road test of the 2015 Lincoln MKC includes on-road driving impressions, specs, photos and more.
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Why is it that the captions at the top of the articles always reflect the base engine for the vehicle being tested regardless of the engine actually tested?
And what is with these half-assed "road tests?" A road test doesn't necessarily have as much data as a track test, but I certainly expect more info about the actual driving experience besides a vague reference to how well the suspension works and seat comfort.
Where are impressions about the engine (this is the first "review" I have read with the 2.3) and how it compares on the 'seat dyno' to the 2.0. Where is actual fuel economy, I can get the EPA estimates from the Lincoln website. Where is some commentary on why someone would want to buy this vs the Escape.
90% of the info here I could get from Lincoln's website.
"Fully loaded versions like our tester will top out beyond $50,000."
My how quickly Lincoln forgets (remember the Aviator?) A rebadged Escape with no V6 offered is a recipe for a sales flop.
I thought a $39k VW Tiguan SEL was crazy BUT I guess not vs a $50k Ford Escape. Saw a Canadian production model on the road Friday...Looked good but $50k for a gussied up Escape? No thank you...this will be a tough sell unless they can sell around the Escape factor...GM hasn't been able to fool enough people on the Caddy SRX (gussied up Equinox)...
It's a fat ugly Ford. Dose not live up to Lincoln in any way shape or form.
Ford has created the new Mercury in the Lincoln brand at best luxury is not something you get in Lincoln.
This model is visually recognizable as an Escape from nearly every angle. What would persuade buyers to pay more for this than a well optioned Escape? Certainly not the confusingly named trim levels Premier, Select, and Reserve. (Are these used with any other model yet? I pretty much never see a Lincoln on the road in California nowadays so I can't be sure.)
I'm no Lincoln apologist, but this is no closer to the Ford Escape than the RDX is to the CR-V, or Venza, or Rav4 is to the Lexus RX, or the Q5 is to the Tiguan, or the Nissan Rogue is to the Infiniti EX. Unless you go for BMW or Benz (they don't have a mainstream brand to share) then the comments about this Lincoln being a Ford Escape is unfair. Does people realise that the Lexus ES 350 is essentially a loaded Camry? I guess what i'm saying is, all manufacturers share platform accross different models, nothing new and terrible if this car is related to the Escape. Infiniti G37/Q50 is just a Nissan Skyline in Japan.
The Lexus NX coming this fall will be a bigger hit than this. And it comes after everyone else has shown their cards. It ultra-aggressive style will bring new buyers to Lexus, and don't be surprised if it becomes the #1 seller in the class. Offering the only hybrid in the class, with about 35 MPG, won't hurt either
I see very little Escape in this vehicle. I saw this car at the NY Show and you have to look awfully hard to see any Ford in this car. The interior is very well done and the external panels are different. Lincoln's biggest problem is getting on the shopping list for potential buyers. Marketing has there work cut out for them.
This does not directly compete with the X3 and Q5. Those are larger vehicles, more akin to the MKX. Audi's Q3 when it gets here is the same size class (e.g. sharing architecture with Tiguan). Acura RDX is a direct competitor
Lincoln does seem to be upgrading their newer vehicles a bit and I think the MKC is more differentiated from the Escape than some of their past models. But the big question comes to whether the Escape chassis really is capable of luxury class. I guess time will tell. I think that in the US, lux is primarily MB, BMW and Lexus to most consumers. So Lincoln, and Caddy too for that matter, has to provide products that swing for the fences. The domestics in this segment lost their cachet some time ago. Caddy is much further along that Lincoln, but I'm not sure it is there yet either. Kenny Rogers sang "know when to hold 'em and no when to fold 'em". How much is Ford willing to invest in Lincoln and is the payback really going to be worth it?
My local dealer let me have an MkC for a test drive. A very nice effort on Lincoln's part. Complain all you wish about it being a rebadged Escape or how BMW or Audi is going to beat it to death. It is a solid, well put together vehicle that can serve as both a primary vehicle for a family as well as mom's grocery getter. Much more nimble than the MkX. I wish the 2.3 liter was available without having to go to AWD but the 2.0 and FWD works just fine unless you are in Colorado or some place that gets 100" of snow a year. Never been much of an SUV/crossover type but this one will make the short list once new vehicle time arrives. An added bonus is that my local Lincoln dealer is only about 4 miles from the house. No more 35 mile trips to the BMW, Porsche, Acura, Audi dealers or their prices.
The article shows they are selling around list right now. Give it 6 or 9 months and I think you'll see some promo discounts. But it does look like it may be a decent value (although I don't know what the "options" list looks like).
Had a chance to test drive a 2.0/awd MKC and thought very highly of it. Overall ride, handling, braking, acceleration and reduced NVH were all B+ or better -- strong effort from Lincoln. I don't think it needs the 2.3 but then again, there aren't any hills on the test drive loop. Looked much nicer standing next to it than in the pictures, which do not look bad. Agree with Edmunds that inside Lincoln could have gone with a nicer looking aluminum, brushed would have been better than the satin look. Otherwise, this is pretty close to a q5 inside and much better than the rdx. Living in HOU TX, Lincoln's cooled seats may have more appeal than up North and while we don't have snow, we do have very hard rains where awd is definitely a bonus. I'm moving to a small SUV from an '04 Expy EB (w/cooled seats!) and plan on getting a new ride early next year. Am also pretty sure that while the pricing may seem high today, it will likely go down in the next year. The other car I'll consider is the 2015 Edge which is based on the Fusion and will come with cooled seats in the Titanium package. Have looked at the rdx, escape titanium and q5 and would pick the mkc over any of them. The x3 will get a look and possibly the glk. May want to go diesel as well.
This is as Edmunds writes, not a re-badged escape and a strong effort. It's also an American car which I will give extra credit toward, particularly Ford as we've had a '95 explorer EB and the 0'4 mentioned above with virtually no problems. Our other car is an '11 g37 journey so I'm not looking for a performance ride, just one that supports my sporting life with the occasional Lowes run but with upgraded creature comforts over the old expy -- looks like a strong contender to meet those needs.
I was hoping for a review of the active cruise/blind spot/lane keeping/driver alert system. Somehow I've survived without all these things, but I like the idea of electronics to make up for the foibles of being human. Just don't know how well they work and how intrusive they become.
I would like to see a 2.3EB version of this in the LT fleet. You are overdue for a domestic anyway, and it would be an interesting counterpoint to the Macan, the BMW, and the recently departed (and larger) MDX.