Mid-size crossover groomed for the long haul
Finicky infotainment system one of biggest frustrations
In a sign of these digital times, Bluetooth connectivity and voice recognition hiccups are the most common problems reported by the owners of three-year-old vehicles, a key finding of J.D. Power’s dependability study this year.
“Consumers today do not necessarily define dependability as things not breaking, but rather, as performing the way customers expect them to,” David Sargent, J.D. Power’s vicepresident of global automotive, said of how quality is perceived.
By frustrating owners with its finicky MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch infotainment systems, the scourge is partly to blame for Ford languishing below the industry average in the 2015 study.
“Indexing music is like having a root canal,” a Lincoln owner posted online, hoping to join an angry mob. Configuration Lincoln’s MKX is the aspirational derivative of the Ford Edge, both of which rolled off the Ford of Canada’s Oakville assembly line, beginning with the 2007 model year. Configured as a five-door, five-passenger crossover, the MKX was groomed to compete in the burgeoning mid-size luxury ute segment.
Using the rigid, Mazda-designed CD3 unibody platform, the MKX featured a double-wishbone front suspension and a four-link independent rear suspension with stamped steel control blades and monotube shocks. Both ends benefited from an isolating subframe and stabilizer bar.
The MKX received an ambitious mid-cycle freshening in 2011 to further distance it from its middle-class brethren. The bold, winged grille treatment and split LED taillamps were distinctive enough, but it was the new cabin design that really upped the MKX’s game.
The retro square instrument faces were jettisoned in favour of a mod- ern dash, door panels boasted classy stitching and comfy heated-and-cooled leather seats were set off with contrasting piping. Genuine wood trim or, alternatively, real aluminum pieces completed the quality setting.
The centre stack housed the standard MyLincoln Touch system, which employed a touchscreen, “capacitive” sliders instead of knobs, and responded to 10,000-plus voice commands — sometimes.
Available in front-drive and allwheel-drive, the sole power plant for 2011 was Ford’s new 3.7-L DOHC V6 (replacing the previous 3.5-L V6) with variable camshaft phasing and true dual exhaust, good for 305 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque. It mated with a six-speed automatic transmission, a joint product of Ford and General Motors. Properly equipped, it could tow 1,587 kilograms with ease.
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes and an anti-skid system with rollover sensors were standard, along with front-side and curtain-side airbags. A panoramic glass roof and steering-linked adaptable headlamps were two of the interesting options.
The MKX did not receive any significant updates in subsequent model years, beyond an improved version of MyLincoln Touch that attempted to address usability concerns starting in 2013. Driving and owning the MKX Despite the MKX’s considerable mass — at about two metric tonnes — the new engine thrust it squarely in the hunt with competitors such as the Lexus RX 350. The front-drive model could accelerate from zero to 97 km/h in 6.4 seconds and under seven seconds with the heavier AWD hardware.
While the shocks and springs preserved comfort as a priority, the cornering attitude was reasonably flat and ride quality was noticeably firm — especially with the optional 20inch dubs. The nicely weighted steering was communicative and the braking performance had distinctly improved over earlier MKXs.
Lincoln’s mid-size crossover was best suited to long-distance marathons, where it could eat up the miles in comfort and supreme quiet. Owners did question Lincoln’s assertion that its CUV was fuel-efficient.
“With conservative driving, I only average between 19 and 22 miles per gallon (12.7 L/100 km),” one owner posted. Another called Ford’s economy ratings a “gross misrepresentation.” At least the MKX uses regulargrade gas.
Drivers raved about the Lincoln’s comfy wide-body cabin — adults can sit three abreast on the rear split-bench — the lofty view of the road, gratifying sense of safety and the thoughtful luxury touches.
On the reliability front, the MKX is not overly troublesome — if owners are willing to overlook the driver interface.
“I’ve had three software updates, the CPU replaced, rear sensors all reprogrammed at the dealer. And it’s still terrible,” posted one owner. Some owners documented brown fluid seeping from the power transfer unit (PTU) on AWD models. Leaks are commonly from the axle seal or PTU cover seal.
Other quality lapses included faulty power-steering units, malfunctioning door locks and seat heaters, recalcitrant power liftgates, peeling chrome wheels and uneven body panel gaps. Tell us about your ownership experience with these models: Mitsubishi Lancer and Chevrolet Avalanche. Email: toljagic@ca.inter.net.