Lincoln unveils the new MKT luxury crossover

January 12, 8:40 AMDC Car ExaminerBrady Holt

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 The 2010 Lincoln MKT crossover is based on the boxy
 Ford Flex, but you'd never know from looking at its  sleek  
 shape.

The crossover SUV is still the "in" vehicle for its combination of the styling and practicality of an SUV, the mechanical components and associated comfort, refinement, and fuel economy of a car.

But Ford hasn't had much luck in the popular segment that includes mainstream vehicles like the Toyota Highlander and luxury cars like the BMW X5 and Acura MDX.

Ford's Freestyle failed to sell well and was replaced by the Taurus X, which failed to sell well and was replaced by the new-for-2009 Flex (read full review), which has so far failed to sell well. They've been solid cars, but they never found buyers.

It's easy to understand the Flex's lack of success. Its boxy styling is divisive, love-it-or-hate-it. 

So when Ford designed a high-end Lincoln version of the Ford Flex, boxy was out. The newer, sleeker design carries Lincoln's new massive grille design (shared with the MKS and MKZ sedans) and the one-bar taillight from the existing Lincoln MKX 5-passenger crossover, wrapped around three rows of spacious seating. 

(And in case you were wondering, even many car people can't keep all those Lincoln names straight.)

Inside, the interior appears attractive without being overstyled, a welcome departure from some other luxury vehicles. There's a pleasant blend of wood and metal trim, and larger, clearer gauges than on most other new Fords. 

Lincoln seems to be following the example of Buick, another brand with something of a codger image that had good success with a stylish large crossover, the Enclave. It may also try to pick up buyers who have been abandoning Lincoln's full-size Navigator SUV for something more fuel-efficient. And while Ford hasn't released detailed fuel economy ratings for the MKT, it promises up to 24 miles per gallon on the highway, equal to the Enclave.

The 24-mpg MKT has front-wheel-drive and a 3.7-liter V6 with 268 horsepower, an engine shared with the Lincoln MKS sedan and a few other members of the Ford family. Also available is the first use of Ford's new "EcoBoost" engine: a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 with 355 horsepower that promises V6 fuel economy combined with V8 performance. Ford is very proud of this combination of performance and gas mileage, but not proud enough to say just yet how many miles the "EcoBoost" MKT will go on a gallon of premium gasoline.

As expected in a luxury vehicle, the MKT has many high-end features to boast about. To start, there's Ford's SYNC system that combines Bluetooth hands-free cell phone calling and iPod connectivity using voice-recognition controls. SYNC also now incorporates "911 assist," a feature similar to General Motors's OnStar that calls 911 if the car's airbags deploy. There's also a THX-certified sound system and an automatic parking system, as in other Lincolns, and a small refrigerator between the rear seats like in the Ford Flex.

And with the Ford Flex already offering a high level of refinement and interior quality and plenty of space for seven passengers, you can expect more of the same from the new Lincoln. 

Ford hasn't announced pricing yet, but the cheapest of its intended competitors -- the Buick Enclave -- has a base price of over $35,000. The MKT will almost certainly cost even more when it goes on sale this summer.