Sleek styling; quiet, comfortable ride; peppy turbocharged acceleration; uptown interior appointments
Small back seat and cargo hold
For 2019, the Lincoln MKC adds pedestrian detection to its collision avoidance system, gets new connectivity and enhanced ownership services, plus a redesigned front face and rear end.
The MKC is at its best with adaptive dampers and the THX II Certified Audio system, but we could do without many of the other add-ons. If you can find one with just those options, you'll have a lot of car for under $40,000.
The 2019 Lincoln MKC is offered in four trim levels: Base, Select, Reserve and Black Label. Note that the 2.3-liter engine can be added only to the Reserve and Black Label trims.
The base MKC ($34,920 FWD; $37,330 AWD) comes standard with 18-inch wheels, xenon headlights, LED headlight and taillight accents, keyless entry with push-button start, heated front seats with power adjustments (12-way for the driver and 6-way for the passenger), a power liftgate, leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a backup camera, a 9-speaker stereo with the SYNC 3 system with an 8-in touchscreen, 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, voice controls, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and USB- and SD-card connectivity.
The Select ($37,675 FWD; $40,085 AWD) throws in different 18-in wheels, a universal garage-door opener, auto-folding side mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators, exclusive Bridge of Weir leather seating surfaces, a power adjustable steering wheel with its own upgraded leather and an 8-way power passenger seat with 4-way lumbar.
The Reserve ($41,550 FWD; $43,9603 AWD) goes to town with another 18-in wheel design, heated and cooled front seats, a panoramic sunroof, a hands-free liftgate with a foot sensor, a blind spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, 110-volt outlet, a navigation system and compatibility with a special Lincoln smartphone app providing vehicle status reports, GPS location services and more.
The Black Label ($48,125 FWD; $50,535 AWD) expands on the Reserve by adding 19-in wheels, an adaptive suspension, an Alcantara headliner, Venetian leather seating, additional leather covering the dash, doors and console, an upgraded audio system and a choice of unique Black Label interior-design themes. Owners also have full access to the Black Label service, which includes a personal shopping liaison, complimentary car washes and detailing and a premium maintenance plan.
Options include 19- or 20-in wheels, a 14-speaker THX II Certified Audio system, a panoramic sunroof, Lincoln Drive Control adaptive suspension and three packages: The Select Plus package (navigation and BLIS), the Technology package (adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning and self-parking systems) and the Climate package (heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a windshield de-icer, automatic high beams and rain-sensing front wipers).
Cargo capacity behind the MKC's rear seats measures a modest 25.2 cu ft., while folding down the rear seatbacks only opens up 53.1 cu ft. That's more on par with hatchbacks or small wagons than comparable luxury crossovers. The same goes for the MKC's back seat, which is adequate by default but quickly shrinks when the front occupants slide their seats back. "Compact" is the word for the MKC's cabin.
| Sport Utility | Original MSRP / Price | Engine | Horsepower | City MPG / Hwy MPG | Transmission | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC Black Label AWD | $49,610 / $46,633 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 245 | 19 / 25 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| MKC Black Label FWD | $47,200 / $44,368 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 245 | 20 / 27 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| MKC Reserve AWD | $43,035 / $40,669 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 245 | 19 / 25 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| MKC Reserve FWD | $40,625 / $38,390 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 245 | 20 / 27 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| MKC Select AWD | $39,160 / $37,202 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 245 | 19 / 25 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| MKC Select FWD | $36,750 / $34,912 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 245 | 20 / 27 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| MKC Standard AWD | $36,405 / $34,767 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 245 | 19 / 25 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
| MKC Standard FWD | $33,995 / $32,465 | 4 Cylinder Turbo | 245 | 20 / 27 | 6-Speed Shiftable Automatic | FWD / AWD4WD |
The 2019 MKC earns four out of five stars in the government's front and rollover crash tests, and five stars in the side-impact test. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the MKC its best rating of Good in the moderate-overlap front- and side-impact crash tests.
The MKC comes with standard stability control, 4-wheel antilock disc brakes and seven airbags (front, front-side, driver's-knee and full-length side-curtain). Optional safety features include adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning and self-parking systems. Interestingly, the lane-departure warning system can provide gentle steering inputs to correct a wayward course, though it will not assume full control of the vehicle.
| Basic | 4 Years/50,000 Miles |
| Drivetrain | 6 Years/70,000 Miles |
| Corrosion | 5 Years/Unlimited Miles |
| Roadside Assistance | Unlimited Years/Unlimited Miles |
| Maintenance | 4 Years/50,000 Miles |
2019 Audi Q3 -- The Q3 isn't as powerful as the MKC, nor does it offer as many high-tech goodies, but the Audi name holds more clout than Lincoln.
2019 BMW X3 -- The X3 is a formidable all-around competitor with generous interior dimensions, and it offers a high-powered 355-hp model (the turbocharged 6-cylinder X3 M40i) for those so inclined.
2019 Lexus NX -- The NX 300 presents a sharper image, more luxury and performance features and superior resale. There's also a hybrid NX 300h model delivering a combined 33 mpg fuel economy rating.
Used Lexus RX 350 -- Considered the gold standard for luxury SUVs, a 2012-2016 Lexus RX 350 will give you more interior room, a smoother ride, better acceleration and better long-term resale value.
Here are the 10 best used compact luxury SUVs you can find for under $30,000.
