Crossover SUVs continue to be all the rage, and Lincoln is getting into the game finally. I recently spent some time in its new crossover offering, the Lincoln MKC, and I’m back with a full report on what this brand-new vehicle has to offer.

LOOKS
The MKC falls into the category of compact crossover -- there’s not a lot of room in the back (you should hope for short folks up front if you sit in the rear), but decent trunk space.

The quality of materials (wood grain/stylish inside and out) are true to the Lincoln name -- high-class. You get comforts like heated front seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel, and memory for the setting of the driver’s seat.

From the outside, the MKC has a unique profile compared to other crossovers on the market. It’s mechanics are based in part on the Ford Escape, but you won’t be confusing those two vehicles on the road -- this is definitely its own ride and appeals to those seeking a more luxurious look.

One more note on the interior: You won’t find a shifter. Instead, it’s all buttons, making for a unique setup on the center console. The shifting is different at first, but something you get used to quickly.

ENGINE, HORSEPOWER
You get two engine options in the Lincoln MKC -- one is a 2.0-liter Ecoboost option and the other a 2.3-liter Ecoboost option. I had the 2.3-liter option on my ride, and it produces 285 horsepower and 305 lb.-ft. of torque.
Power was there, especially once you get going; but not necessarily off the line.

In terms of overall ride quality, the all-wheel-drive MKC I tested handled well in the rain; and it’s a solid option for driving year-round in various weather scenarios.

The handling impressed (a level of responsiveness you might expect from a smaller car), and you aren’t going to be complaining about road noise in the MKC -- as they’ve done well to keep the outside from seeping in.

TECHNOLOGY, SAFETY
One thing the MKC has going for it is lots of standard equipment: including:
-- MyLincoln Touch interface
-- Rearview camera
-- Nine-speaker audio system
-- Two USB ports, SD card reader
-- Xenon headlights and LED taillights
-- Heated front seat and leatherette (premium vinyl) upholstery.
-- 8-inch touchscreen
-- Heated mirrors
-- Rear parking sensors
-- Keyless ignition and entry
-- Dual-zone automatic climate control

The MKC responds well to voice commands, and Ford had long been an innovator in this area.

My test vehicle had lots of other helpful safety features, but many were part of the packages that bumped the price up. I’d like to see more of these features included as standard (blind spot warning; lane departure, etc.), and considering this is a new car that would have been a nice way to attract customers away from other automakers.

And in a somewhat random move, there are also “bat signal”-ish Lincoln logos that project onto the ground when you unlock the car (for whatever reason). Looks cool, I suppose.

MPG
I got about 21 mpg -- official numbers are 18 city, 26 highway, 21 combined for the all-wheel-drive model. Numbers improve slightly if you skip AWD. Not amazing numbers, but this is not a small vehicle.

PRICE
Base price on the 2015 Lincoln MKC is $35,595. By the time several packages (including navigation and the safety features) were added to my test vehicle, it finished up at $49,370, so there’s a lot of price flexibility here depending how many features/options you want or need in the vehicle.

BOTTOM LINE
So who will want this car? One option is people who want to get a little bigger with their Lincoln and try something other than a regular sedan or the larger Lincoln offerings like the Navigator.

But as with anything new, Lincoln needs to be realistic in their expectations as far as luring buyers from other luxury automakers. There’s lots of competition for the MKC in the luxury crossover segment (from big names like Audi, Acura and more), so they shouldn’t expect to explode straight out the gate.

The 2015 Lincoln MKC is definitely a quality vehicle worthy of checking out and comparing to all of its opposition in the luxury crossover market, but building recognition for the model will take some time.

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