2015 Lincoln MKC First Impression review (by auto123.com) - Issue with front seats?

10386 Views 19 Replies 16 Participants Last post by texashill81, 3 mo ago

rbreeze

Discussion Starter · Jun 18, 2014

Another review of the 2015 Lincoln MKC popped up on the internet today, the latest one being posted by auto123.com. Here's the link:

http://www.auto123.com/en/lincoln/mkc/2015/review?carid=1153501501&artid=168605

It is generally a very positive review, with mention of "Lincoln hits one out of the park". However the author does take issue with a "too short" lower seat cushion length on the MKC's front seats. Here's a copy/paste of the specific criticism:

"A massive plus and minus throughout the drive were the seats. The seatbacks demonstrated comfort and support, ideal for holding the occupants in place during the assault on switchbacks. Unfortunately, the lower seat cushions are far too short for the average 5’9” man. They are, however, perfect for the average woman, which will most likely be the buyer of the MKC".

Hmm.. so the average-sized woman will most likely be the typical buyer of the MKC?! Interesting conclusion. It might follow then that the MKC's front seats were principally designed to best accommodate an average-sized woman rather than an average-sized man?

For those forum members who have already sat in and perhaps driven the MKC, what were your impressions of the lower seat cushion with regard to length? Sufficient or insufficient? If the lower seat cushion is indeed too short (for anyone who is 5'9" or taller) that could spell trouble for thigh/leg support and comfort, particularly on long trips. Is this a true issue?.. or is it a non-event /exaggeration?

/RB

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TxTom

· #2 · Jun 18, 2014

Those of us in the long "waiting-period" for our pre-orders to arrive are very fortunate to have this Forum, and the inclusion of the many reviews from the MKC's press event in Santa Barbara, CA a couple of weeks ago.

I need to recheck:

+Length of seat cushion, especially in the front.
+Intrusion of the lower edge of the console on the driver's right leg rest area.
+Rear seat legroom, and rear seat shoulder/hip room.
+Cargo space.
+Jittery S-Mode road behavior.
+Gaps between assembled body parts, especially that specially formed hatch.

Anybody want to add to this list?

Reactions: 1

rocmkc

· #3 · Jun 18, 2014

Just a couple of observations/remembrances from my day or so with a early production MKC:

+ Length of Seat Cushion: I am 5'10", about 160 lbs. Not a big guy by any means. That said, I did not notice any problem with the length of the seat cushion. The front seat was probably the most comfortable car seat I've ever sat in. In all the reviews I've read (and I think I've read them all), this is the first time I've heard this one.

+ Intrusion of Lower Edge of Console: same thoughts as above

+ Rear Seat Room: Mentioned in most reviews as being cramped; from my experience, I would agree 100% (though not really an issue for me; my use of the back seat for passengers is mostly limited to short trips and not that often to begin with).

+ Cargo space: Mentioned in some reviews, but my quick observation was that it seemed reasonable to me. I guess it's smaller than the competition (based on published specs) but it seemed adequate in my book.

+ Jittery S-mode road behavior: Again, mentioned in most reviews and I did sense some of that in my test drive. But as long as I can move from S back to "standard" or "comfort" when needed, don't see this as a big issue.

+ Gaps between assembled body parts: Not mentioned in most reviews; fit and finish generally get good reviews. My vehicle was an early production model, and everything seemed well put together to me. Last week, my dealer received his first MKC and I took a look at it and all looked fine (it was black, which may help cover up some gaps, but really it looked A-OK to me).

Everyone has their own preferences and items they focus on; hence, the many different commentaries throughout these various reviews we read. But I have to say I'm not too worried about the items above (the most common and valid item is the rear seat volume, which just didn't come as a big surprise to me). As others have noted, this is a compact CUV, and because of that I guess I wasn't expecting too much there to start with.

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ronno3346

· #4 · Sep 23, 2015

Definitely agree with the impression

I took one out for the Lincoln Date Night promo. It looked like a very nice vehicle until I got inside. As soon as I sat down, I knew it wasn't going to be my next car. I don't understand it at all. I sat in a neighbor's Escape, and seat cushions seem longer. I also have a 2014 Focus (company car) and if they had covered those seats in leather and put it in the MKC, it might well have been my next car. And I am 5'7", not 5'9".

Very disappointed,

ahttp://www.mkcforum.com/forum/images/MKCForum/smilies/tango_face_sad.pngs I had high hopes.

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dk4500

· #5 · Sep 23, 2015

I am 6' tall and weigh 175lbs and I absolutely agree that the seat bottoms are not long enough, and I knew this in my various test drives, but I bough it anyway. However, I measured the seat against a very comfortable mid sized Murano, and surprisingly enough, the difference was only about 1/2 to 3/4". We have now had the MKC for 3 months and taken a few long trips and I can honestly say that I am totally comfortable...it's not a big deal....you quickly get used to it and don't think about it after the first few weeks of ownership.

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ToyMaker

· #6 · Sep 23, 2015

Interesting discussion that highlights an issue which effects our vehicle purchase.

My wife is 5'4", I'm 6'0' so adjustability and ease of doing so is a major factor in vehicle selection. We require electric with memory seats but seat depth effects my wife's comfort considerably.
Screening cars under consideration is very quick as she sits in the drivers seat and if the front of the seat cushion hits her lower leg while in her preferred driver position the vehicle is eliminated. You wouldn't believe some of the solutions suggested from some of the "quick sales types" - well, you probably would.

She "test-fitted" many and drove a few with the MKC coming out on top. We've ordered a 16 MKC which is expected to arrive the first week of Oct and she looks forward to the many features it has. Yes, it is primarily her car but I have found driving vehicles that meet her requirements to be quite comfortable when you try the variety of seat positions offered. I believe overall comfort is based on many angular factors including seat height from the floor as she is quite comfortable riding (never driving) my 14 Corvette which is obviously a much lower overall position.

Hope we're right................

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blankster

· #7 · Sep 23, 2015

ToyMaker said:
Interesting discussion that highlights an issue which effects our vehicle purchase.

My wife is 5'4", I'm 6'0' so adjustability and ease of doing so is a major factor in vehicle selection. We require electric with memory seats but seat depth effects my wife's comfort considerably.
Screening cars under consideration is very quick as she sits in the drivers seat and if the front of the seat cushion hits her lower leg while in her preferred driver position the vehicle is eliminated. You wouldn't believe some of the solutions suggested from some of the "quick sales types" - well, you probably would.

She "test-fitted" many and drove a few with the MKC coming out on top. We've ordered a 16 MKC which is expected to arrive the first week of Oct and she looks forward to the many features it has. Yes, it is primarily her car but I have found driving vehicles that meet her requirements to be quite comfortable when you try the variety of seat positions offered. I believe overall comfort is based on many angular factors including seat height from the floor as she is quite comfortable riding (never driving) my 14 Corvette which is obviously a much lower overall position.

Hope we're right................

Picking up our Reserve 300 2016 today! We took a long test drive a couple of weeks ago my wife is 5'0" and I'm 5'10" and found the seats to be pretty comfortable. Much better than our 2011 Edge LTD that we are trading in. Its primarily the wife's car but I will drive it on road trips. I think it will be fine for us. I think if you are 6' plus a MKX would be better.

TxTom

· #8 · Sep 23, 2015

Here are some measurements from my '15 MKC Reserve heated/cooled driver's seat and my '15 Escape Titanium. Both taken from back of seat cushion to front of seat cushion...measured same way for each:

MKC: 20 inches
Escape: 21 inches

I noted while visiting a Ford dealer that a '15 Edge Sport and a '16 Explorer Limited measured almost identically the same at roughly 20.25 inches, slightly more than the MKC, but also less than the Escape.

Haven't measured a '16 MKX. Note that it has an optional seat that has an extender making a longer cushion possible.

Haven't driven my MKC nor Escape for more than 1 hour at a time, so really haven't noticed a difference, except that the MKC is much more comfortable, especially due the softness of the leather material.

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DeMarco

· #9 · Sep 23, 2015

Is the leather even real or some fake type of leather?

golferman44

· #10 · Sep 24, 2015

DeMarco said:
Is the leather even real or some fake type of leather?

The MKC brochure advertises that the seats are made of Bridge of Weir Deepsoft leather.

Bridge of Weir is a Scottish based company. They tout themselves as producing leather for high-end luxury.

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KenZ

· #11 · Sep 24, 2015

blankster said:
Picking up our Reserve 300 2016 today! We took a long test drive a couple of weeks ago my wife is 5'0" and I'm 5'10" and found the seats to be pretty comfortable. Much better than our 2011 Edge LTD that we are trading in. Its primarily the wife's car but I will drive it on road trips. I think it will be fine for us. I think if you are 6' plus a MKX would be better.

I think a lot depends on the driving position where you are most comfortable. And maybe a bit on of ration of length of legs and torso. I am 6'2" with a 2015 MKC and don't even drive with the seat all the way back.

fixmdude

· #12 · Nov 8, 2015 (Edited)

KenZ said:
I think a lot depends on the driving position where you are most comfortable. And maybe a bit on of ration of length of legs and torso. I am 6'2" with a 2015 MKC and don't even drive with the seat all the way back.

In any car I drive, no matter how big the seat, I find that the most important feature is the seat bottom's ability to tilt back. I'm 6'2", and when I test drove the MKC I was able to push down on the back of the seat bottom lever to lower it, then pull up on the front of the seat bottom lever to raise it until it hit the back of my legs. That function makes a big difference, because if you can't get a good angle on it, then even a long seat is too low in front and misses my thighs. I was able to move the seat back and tilt it enough to be comfortable. The only problem I had was that by pushing back so far, the steering wheel was further away than I wanted to reach forward. I think I found a solution to that issue, (an issue that I've had on almost every small to mid-sized vehicle,) a steering wheel extender:
Sure-Grip Steering Wheel Extension at IndeMedical.com
It's expensive, but I'm saving thousands more by not getting a bigger vehicle that doesn't even drive as well. I put in a request to a local auto assistance dealer to see if they carry these aides, so I can try which size works best, otherwise I'll have to guess and order one online.

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midnite cruiser

· #13 · Nov 9, 2015

fixmdude- so you need that rig because the steering wheel on the MKC will not telescope out far enough? I share your fit on the bottom cushion- overall it is a bit short but I can always get comfortable. A few 12 hour trips-no problem

fixmdude

· #14 · Nov 11, 2015

midnite cruiser said:
fixmdude- so you need that rig because the steering wheel on the MKC will not telescope out far enough? I share your fit on the bottom cushion- overall it is a bit short but I can always get comfortable. A few 12 hour trips-no problem

Yes, I'd like the steering wheel closer to me when I put the seat far enough to relax my long legs. I can reach out to the wheel fine, but then the weight of my arms held out gets tiring on my shoulder joints during longer drives.

midnite cruiser

· #15 · Nov 23, 2015

If Lincoln combined the telescoping wheel with adjustable pedals (my '06 Mountaineer used those), I bet you could do a little better. It would not open the LH wheel well intrusion though.
From a shoulder dislocation and the modern recommendation to keep hands away from airbag deployment, I have trained myself to grab the bottom half of the wheel more often, 'italiano' style.
That seems to help a lot.

Ike

· #16 · Mar 23, 2016

I have been reading the posts in this thread and wondering if anyone has found a seat rail extender or front rail riser. I have similar problems in my 2015 MKC. I bought it thinking it was fine until the first trip of over an hour. I am 6'0" 180 lbs most of which is legs, As it was mentioned I always use the seat tilt to give the feel of more leg room but have not been able to get enough to support my thighs to any degree of comfort on long trips. Add to that the brake pedal that is much closer to the driver than the accelerator it becomes almost difficult to break smoothly while holding you leg up unsupported. To add to the problem the steering wheel is to far away when the seat is all the way back and tilted. I feel they needed to place the pedals further under the dash to allow for more leg room and still be close enough to hold the wheel or make adjustments to the center council. In previous vehicles (MKX) I could fool the car by raising the seat giving me more leg room as well as tilting it, however when you raise the seat in the MKC it also pendulums forward defeating any good you would get from the height be bringing the seat forward at the same time.

I have seen aftermarket products out there for other models but nothing for the MKC to add length which again wont do much good as I already cant comfortably reach the wheel or dash controls as well as spacers to lift the seat which would allow for the height adding leg room without bringing the seat forward at the same time like the power mechanism does.

Anything anyone has found would be greatly appreciated. I have to think I spent this money on a car that is only good for short trips. I love everything else about it and plan to drive it for quite a while.

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blankster

· #17 · Mar 23, 2016

The steering wheel angle and distance is a tricky subject... Since you have an airbag in the center of the wheel, I would suspect the distance the wheel can be tilted and extended is limited (engineered) so someone short does not get too close to the airbag causing injury.

Regarding the seats, I'm 5' 10" and find the seats to be pretty comfortable... it would be nice if the wheel tilted down more but that might mean broken ribs caused by the airbag. My former 2011 Ford Edge had a wheel that hardly tilted down at all - I always felt like I was driving a minivan.

countryguy

· #18 · Mar 23, 2016

I am 5'10" also and I find the seats/wheel combination very comfortable. Last summer I drove 10 hours to Pittsburgh in 1 day and was not sore/tired at all after the drive. Normally after a few hours I would have problems with aching thighs but that didn't happen in the MKC.

5.0 Candy REDCS

· #19 · Mar 24, 2016

I'm 5'9" and find the front seats extremely comfortable ...once you take some time and go through all the available adjustments,you will find the perfect position....the sales man ( he's a tall gent, 6'2" easy!) had the front seat adjusted straight up on the back, which I found pushed my butt out toward the front and make it feel very short, I adjusted it to suit me, and had zero complaints since!

texashill81

· #20 · 3 mo ago

rbreeze said:
Another review of the 2015 Lincoln MKC popped up on the internet today, the latest one being posted by auto123.com. Here's the link:

2015 Lincoln MKC | Car News | Auto123

It is generally a very positive review, with mention of "Lincoln hits one out of the park". However the author does take issue with a "too short" lower seat cushion length on the MKC's front seats. Here's a copy/paste of the specific criticism:

"A massive plus and minus throughout the drive were the seats. The seatbacks demonstrated comfort and support, ideal for holding the occupants in place during the assault on switchbacks. Unfortunately, the lower seat cushions are far too short for the average 5’9” man. They are, however, perfect for the average woman, which will most likely be the buyer of the MKC".

Hmm.. so the average-sized woman will most likely be the typical buyer of the MKC?! Interesting conclusion. It might follow then that the MKC's front seats were principally designed to best accommodate an average-sized woman rather than an average-sized man?

For those forum members who have already sat in and perhaps driven the MKC, what were your impressions of the lower seat cushion with regard to length? Sufficient or insufficient? If the lower seat cushion is indeed too short (for anyone who is 5'9" or taller) that could spell trouble for thigh/leg support and comfort, particularly on long trips. Is this a true issue?.. or is it a non-event /exaggeration?

/RB

I absolutely agree that the front seat cushion on my wife's 2015 MKC is too short for me (6-1 270lbs). I drive a 2009 Mercury Milan and the seats in my car are great and are not too short. I just can't believe that a LINCOLN would be like this. Maybe it is made for women; wife loves hear seats. I am not so sure that other vehicles (Ford Fusion Titanium) are not also too short. Unlike headroom or legroom or wheelbase, it is not something that one can look up.

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