2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Volvo XC90 - Comparison Review
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Volvo XC90 - Comfort Comparison
The six-passenger version turns the second-row bench into twin buckets just as comfortably upholstered as those in front–and with a refrigerator tucked between them for all kinds of beverages, adult or not. 2012 Volvo XC90 remains a solid alternative for folks who need more room for passengers, cargo or both.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Volvo XC90 - Convenience Comparison
It can truly hustle, as an EcoBoost–and if it didn’t weigh so much, or sit so long, its handling would come off as even more capable. Fuel economy isn’t a strong suit, though–it’s as low as 16/22 mpg with the turbo versions. The XC90 last year’s available V8 engine has been dropped, and this leaves the underwhelming 3.2-liter six-cylinder as the only motivation for this large family crossover. Its fuel economy isn’t impressive, either.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Volvo XC90 – Cost Comparison
Priced from the mid-$40,000 range, the MKT isn’t an inexpensive family utility vehicle. The 2012 Volvo XC90 has a Suggested Retail Price of $38,400 and destination charges of $875.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Volvo XC90 – Dimensions Comparison
The MKT’s huge, classy interior can seat six or seven passengers, and even three adults across the second row will find some air between themselves. The XC90 doesn’t offer as much space for people and cargo as the non-luxury-branded.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Volvo XC90 – Drivetrain Comparison
The base 3.7-liter V-6 isn’t bad or good, it’s just indifferent in the way it gathers speed, especially when it’s laden with the extra few hundred pounds of all-wheel drive. All 2012 Volvo XC90 models are powered by a 3.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine that puts out 240 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Volvo XC90 – Handling Comparison
The MKT’s road manners are anything but loose and loping, more continental than Continental. The XC90 will go from zero to 60 mph in 8.7 seconds, which is slow for the class.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Volvo XC90 - Utility Comparison
When the seats are folded down, the MKT has over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The SRX should be just as useful as about any other crossover on the road. When folding down the XC90, 40/20/40-split second-row and 50/50-split third-row seat backs results in a flat load floor and 85.1 cubic feet of cargo room.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Volvo XC90 – Warranty Comparison
Both the MKT and the XC90 come with fundamentally the same basic warranty.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Lexus RX – Comparison Review
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Lexus RX – Comfort Comparison
The six-passenger version turns the second-row bench into twin buckets just as comfortably upholstered as those in front–and with a refrigerator tucked between them for all kinds of beverages, adult or not. The 2012 Lexus RX’s comfortable ride, upscale interior and above-average fuel economy keep it at the top of its class.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Lexus RX – Convenience Comparison
It can truly hustle, as an EcoBoost–and if it didn’t weigh so much, or sit so long, its handling would come off as even more capable. Fuel economy isn’t a strong suit, though–it’s as low as 16/22 mpg with the turbo versions. The Lexus RX achieves excellent fuel economy ratings for its class. According to the EPA, the front-wheel drive RX nets 18/25 mpg city/highway, but all-wheel drive comes with a penalty of only 1 highway mpg.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Lexus RX – Cost Comparison
Priced from the mid-$40,000 range, the MKT isn’t an inexpensive family utility vehicle. The RX starts out at about $39,000 making it just a little cheaper than the MKT.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Lexus RX – Dimensions Comparison
The MKT’s huge, classy interior can seat six or seven passengers, and even three adults across the second row will find some air between themselves. The 2012 Lexus RX’s interior is well-made and comfortable, though some competitors come equipped with more standard features
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Lexus RX – Drivetrain Comparison
The base 3.7-liter V-6 isn’t bad or good, it’s just indifferent in the way it gathers speed, especially when it’s laden with the extra few hundred pounds of all-wheel drive. The 2012 RX comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 270 horsepower.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Lexus RX – Handling Comparison
The MKT’s road manners are anything but loose and loping, more continental than Continental. The Lexus RX’s smooth ride receives plenty of praise. It’s no sports-car wannabe, and test drivers say it drives more like a luxury sedan.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Lexus RX – Utility Comparison
When the seats are folded down, the MKT has over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The Lexus RX provides 40 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats or 80.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Lexus RX – Warranty Comparison
Both the MKT and the RX come with fundamentally the same basic warranty.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Cadillac SRX – Comparison Review
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Cadillac SRX – Comfort Comparison
The six-passenger version turns the second-row bench into twin buckets just as comfortably upholstered as those in front–and with a refrigerator tucked between them for all kinds of beverages, adult or not. Inside the SRX there’s a lot to like, with great front seats, a nice driving position, and a second-row seat that’s usable for adults.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Cadillac SRX – Convenience Comparison
It can truly hustle, as an EcoBoost–and if it didn’t weigh so much, or sit so long, its handling would come off as even more capable. Fuel economy isn’t a strong suit, though–it’s as low as 16/22 mpg with the turbo versions. Overall, the SRX is neither a particularly rewarding vehicle to drive, nor a particularly space-efficient or fuel-efficient one.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Cadillac SRX – Cost Comparison
Priced from the mid-$40,000 range, the MKT isn’t an inexpensive family utility vehicle. If you dip into the SRX’s options list, or go with one of the somewhat more expensive Performance Collection or Premium Collection versions of the SRX.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Cadillac SRX – Dimensions Comparison
The MKT’s huge, classy interior can seat six or seven passengers, and even three adults across the second row will find some air between themselves. Inside the SRX there’s a lot to like, with great front seats, a nice driving position, and a second-row seat that’s usable for adults.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Cadillac SRX – Drivetrain Comparison
The base 3.7-liter V-6 isn’t bad or good, it’s just indifferent in the way it gathers speed, especially when it’s laden with the extra few hundred pounds of all-wheel drive. While the former SRX base engine had to be revved well into its rev band during normal acceleration, the new engine’s 265 pound-foot torque plateau at just 2,400 rpm.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Cadillac SRX – Handling Comparison
The MKT’s road manners are anything but loose and loping, more continental than Continental. Ride quality isn’t pillowy soft, but it’s well muted while maintaining enough firmness for crisp handling control.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Cadillac SRX – Utility Comparison
When the seats are folded down, the MKT has over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The SRX should be just as useful as about any other crossover on the road. The 60/40-split back seat can fold flat, and a power lift gate and an cargo-anchor system are on the options list.
2012 Lincoln MKT vs 2012 Cadillac SRX – Warranty Comparison
Both the MKT and the SRX come with fundamentally the same basic warranty.
As times change and formerly popular large truck-based SUVs morph into more efficient crossover alternatives, the big American wagon appears to be staging a renaissance. This new utility breed, the CUV, is car-based like the wagons of old but features the taller body style of traditional sport-utilities. One of the leading entrants in this field is the Ford Flex, which has spawned an even bolder luxury crossover from Ford’s luxury division: the three-row, six- or seven-passenger Lincoln MKT.
The big news here, aside from the Lincoln MKT’s expansive 208-inch length, is the available EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6, which saddles up 355 horsepower and all-wheel drive to move the MKT’s substantial heft smartly. But every MKT offers a quiet, finely trimmed cabin and all the amenities you’d expect in a luxury ride. Question marks include the MKT’s tight third-row quarters and much higher price compared to its Flex platform mate. Even so, the Lincoln MKT easily has the credentials to compete favorably with its three-row rivals.
Current Lincoln MKT
The Lincoln MKT is a full-size luxury crossover SUV that seats six or seven. Entry-level MKTs get a 3.7-liter V6 that puts out 268 hp and 267 pound-feet of torque. The MKT EcoBoost receives a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 that whips up 355 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Both models feature a six-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift feature that can be accessed via steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles. On the base MKT, front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available as an option, whereas the MKT EcoBoost has standard all-wheel drive.
Standard equipment on all Lincoln MKTs includes 19-inch alloy wheels (20-inch alloys on the EcoBoost), adaptive xenon headlights, keyless entry/ignition, seven-passenger seating, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen display, a rearview camera, Ford’s Sync system for MP3 players and cell phones, and a 10-speaker audio system with 10 gigabytes of hard drive storage and satellite radio. Options include a panoramic sunroof, second-row sliding captain’s chairs (reducing seating capacity to six), a second-row center console with a built-in refrigerator/freezer, blind-spot warning system, an automated parallel-parking system, a voice-operated navigation system with Sirius Travel Link, adaptive cruise control, a 14-speaker surround-sound audio system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a power-folding third-row seat.
In reviews, our editors have been impressed by the MKT EcoBoost’s effortless power, particularly given that the turbocharged engine exacts no fuel economy penalty. Other than the mechanically identical Ford Flex EcoBoost, there’s no other three-row crossover quite like it. The base engine, however, is just adequate relative to the competition. When it’s time to turn the wheel, this Lincoln surprises with reasonably capable handling, yet it doesn’t sacrifice the smooth and refined ride quality expected in a premium vehicle of this sort.
Inside, we’ve applauded the Lincoln MKT’s fashionable design and fine materials. The standard seven-passenger version can carry three in its middle-row 60/40-split-bench, while the six-passenger model substitutes a pair of optional bucket seats that slide fore and aft. One place the living isn’t easy is the two-person third-row seat, however, as the sloping rear roof subtracts valuable headroom compared to the squarish Flex.
The first-generation Acura MDX arrived at a time when most luxury SUVs still featured body-on-frame construction and the term “crossover” was but a glimmer in some marketer’s eye. At the same time, the midsize MDX bettered other car-based luxury SUVs by offering a standard third row of seats that folded neatly into the cargo floor. It also made no qualms about being a dedicated on-road SUV with a clever all-wheel-drive system. Though we thought it lacked a little in terms of personality and prestige, the original Acura MDX nonetheless became a favorite among families looking for a comfortable and upscale seven-passenger vehicle.
For the second-generation MDX, Acura maintained the family-friendly packaging but spiced up the recipe with styling, performance and handling enhancements. Most significantly, this model has a more powerful V6 and a new all-wheel-drive system called Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD). Improvements were also made to the interior, where materials and technology were upgraded to bring the MDX in line with the rest of Acura’s high-tech lineup.
New or used, the Acura MDX is one of our top recommendations. In areas that are most important to the midsize luxury SUV consumer, such as comfort, versatility and refinement, the MDX excels. And with the second-generation model, Acura has created an exciting driver’s SUV that can easily be mentioned in the same sentence as BMW’s new X5 or the Porsche Cayenne.
Current Acura MDX
The Acura MDX offers both sporty performance and handling characteristics along with respectable practicality. At 78.5 inches from shoulder to shoulder, the midsize MDX sits on a wide track, giving it an athletic, hunkered-down appearance that conveys its sporting character.
The MDX comes with a 300-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 and a six-speed automatic transmission. Also standard is Acura’s “Super-Handling” All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD) system. Besides improving traction in bad weather, SH-AWD is capable of transferring up to 100 percent of power to one wheel depending on conditions. Specifically, it allows the outer wheels to accelerate more quickly through a turn to give the MDX greater handling ability.
For every MDX, standard features include leather seating, a sunroof, a power tailgate, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, satellite radio, a rearview camera and Bluetooth phone connectivity. There are also a number of packages available whose highlights include a multi-angle rearview camera, a hard-drive-based navigation system, an active sport suspension, ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot detection system and Acura’s Collision Mitigating Braking System. The latter will warn the driver via visual and auditory warnings if a collision seems imminent, and if it is, will automatically apply full braking power.
The MDX’s mix of sport sedan handling and crossover utility certainly makes it one of the best luxury SUVs around. Its only real weak point concerns the third-row accommodations. Though it offers respectable room for children or smaller adults (certainly more than the BMW X5), it isn’t as roomy as non-luxury branded large crossovers such as the Buick Enclave/GMC Acadia or the Mazda CX-9. When the third-row seats are folded flat, cargo capacity swells to 43 cubic feet. Dropping the second row yields a max of 84 cubic feet.
