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If you were tempted by the MKC’s optional 285hp 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, Consumer Reports’ Tom Mutchler says you shouldn’t bother. To him, the engine is not worth the premium over the base 240hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost unit.
Consumer Reports Finds Lincoln MKC Too Expensive, Not Fun to Drive
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If you were tempted by the MKC’s optional 285hp 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, Consumer Reports’ Tom Mutchler says you shouldn’t bother. To him, the engine is not worth the premium over the base 240hp 2.0-liter EcoBoost unit.
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Thats nothing new, if the MKC was 10 grand, got 100 miles per gallon, had a pull out sofa for sleeping and a television set, Consumers reports would complain there was no refrigerator and not enough outlets. Case in point is the mkx review cited by them as unreliable, yet if you look at the user ratings for that car the vast majority are in the red no problems area. They are highly biased against Lincoln.
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I brought a car years ago that was highly recommended by these people. It was a very bad choice on my part to say the least to believe the were NOT biased.
Since that time I don't even brother to glance at that rag. Most of these magazines with their younger staff are not interested in MADE IN USA .
I concur with the other MKCForum commentators. CR seems to bash anything American. In the 1970's and 1980's this made sense; but they still retain an undeserved positive bias to Toyota and Honda. Their quick video review did not find a difference between the MKC 2.0 and 2.3 engines. I test drove both yesterday and I found a huge difference in responsiveness and ended up starting the order process for the 2.3.
For the MKC, there seems to be an endless comparison to the Q5 where it is superior, yet I have not seen a single price comparison of a fully loaded MKC to Q5, about $49k vs $59k. Similar story for the X3 at $54k and the GLK at $59k; the comparison including 20" wheels, ACC, cooled seats, top audio system, leather, keyless start, GPS, metallic paint, and auto-park. I have test driven them all and cannot find $10k of difference or any significant advantage between them for the normal city/highway driving that I do (the 6 vs 7 vs 8 gearbox hardly makes a difference in driving, maybe in mpg, but a 1 or 2 additional mpg adds up to a couple hundred $ over my three year lease). These are all very fine, well put together, vehicles; I drive solo 95% of the time, don't haul bricks from HomeDepot (mulch yes), and don't drive any SUV like a low center of gravity sports car.
What I did notice is that I actually favor the MKC exterior and interior styling and technology. Now, maybe if wanted to impress people with a German badge on my key fob, then the $10k might have some value.
The Acura RDX, it is full of hard plastic bits and does not offer ACC; at least CR does not put it on a pedestal.
Based on the comparison of the Escape vs RAV4 and given these are donor platforms, the MKC will likely have better handling than the Lexus NX.
For the MKC, there seems to be an endless comparison to the Q5 where it is superior, yet I have not seen a single price comparison of a fully loaded MKC to Q5, about $49k vs $59k. Similar story for the X3 at $54k and the GLK at $59k; the comparison including 20" wheels, ACC, cooled seats, top audio system, leather, keyless start, GPS, metallic paint, and auto-park. I have test driven them all and cannot find $10k of difference or any significant advantage between them for the normal city/highway driving that I do (the 6 vs 7 vs 8 gearbox hardly makes a difference in driving, maybe in mpg, but a 1 or 2 additional mpg adds up to a couple hundred $ over my three year lease). These are all very fine, well put together, vehicles; I drive solo 95% of the time, don't haul bricks from HomeDepot (mulch yes), and don't drive any SUV like a low center of gravity sports car.
What I did notice is that I actually favor the MKC exterior and interior styling and technology. Now, maybe if wanted to impress people with a German badge on my key fob, then the $10k might have some value.
The Acura RDX, it is full of hard plastic bits and does not offer ACC; at least CR does not put it on a pedestal.
Based on the comparison of the Escape vs RAV4 and given these are donor platforms, the MKC will likely have better handling than the Lexus NX.
This guy is so bias it's a joke. This from the organization that for years gave Toyota a free ride in quality testing. I have test driven all the SUV's in its class and know his "opinion" is off base. My test drives include the Acua, Q5, GLC, X3, Lexus and other and have found that the MKC is one of the best values in this class. If you configure them with the similar higher end options the MKC is thousands less then almost all the them with the exception of the Acura. The GLC and the X3 are way over priced**. FYI, I current drive a Land Rover LR2. All these SUVs have pluses and minuses and you have to pick the things that are most important to you.
I find it disheartening that many writers over emphasis that the platform is shared with the Escape. All car manufactures share platforms and they don't seem to discuss that fact with other brands. Maybe they are just not smart enough to do the research, or just can't look overseas to see what they are based on.
I guess Lincoln is still paying the price for so many years of not investing in the Brand.
I am looking forward to my date night that is coming up next month.
** I lived in Germany for 3 years and when I went shopping for a MB or BMW to take back with me to the States I found that they played games with US spec cars to keep the prices high. MB will only allow the purchase of a US spece car thru a US Dealer and the BMW will price a US spec car higher in Europe than they do in the US. The Dealers got a bill passed in Congress that you cannot import a Europe spec car into the US and change it to US specs. I bought a MB 300E, that was ranked the best sedan in its class that year, and it was a maintenance nightmare.
I find it disheartening that many writers over emphasis that the platform is shared with the Escape. All car manufactures share platforms and they don't seem to discuss that fact with other brands. Maybe they are just not smart enough to do the research, or just can't look overseas to see what they are based on.
I guess Lincoln is still paying the price for so many years of not investing in the Brand.
I am looking forward to my date night that is coming up next month.
** I lived in Germany for 3 years and when I went shopping for a MB or BMW to take back with me to the States I found that they played games with US spec cars to keep the prices high. MB will only allow the purchase of a US spece car thru a US Dealer and the BMW will price a US spec car higher in Europe than they do in the US. The Dealers got a bill passed in Congress that you cannot import a Europe spec car into the US and change it to US specs. I bought a MB 300E, that was ranked the best sedan in its class that year, and it was a maintenance nightmare.
Consumer Reports just published their full review on the MKC and it was no surprise to read the onerous reporting (look at the initial CR video review and see the smug look on Tom Mutchler's smirking face as a premature verdict). I finally concluded that Tom's target car audience market is likely a Camry or Lexus driver or anyone that won't notice a CVT and you can see how he delights trashing nearly every American brand model. Tom's review for the Lexus RX350 is close to glowing, but having carpooled in a new one for nearly a year the real-world mpg is about 18 and the bouncing ride on the highway made most passengers car sick at times; this SUV is lethargic and has no soul (even with the 255 cross section sport tires the MKC quieter than the Lexus RX350). There are more balanced reviews for the MKC elsewhere on the net. I'll reward Tom by cancelling my CR subscription.
I have a fully loaded 2.3 Reserve with 20" wheels and find the ride firm and accurate. Given the features for the price the MKC comes in at $10k to $15k below the competition. Like the GLK and GLA, this vehicle was not designed for larger/wider people. So yes, Tom, it is a compact ride, and no, it is not for hauling large adults in the back or loading up on 50 bags of mulch (there are bigger vehicles for all this things).
With a brand new engine I averaged 24 mpg over 200 miles of 75 mph highway combined with 30% nasty bumper to bumper traffic. I guess car testers like Tom feel like every start must be a drag race; I find this to be rampant among journalist who insist on pushing the limits at every occasion then complain about crappy mpg. The point is that the engine really is Eco or Boost; ask it to perform like a high output six and it will drink gas accordingly.
The big knock against the MKC is the transmission. Yes, it is sleepy against the latest ZF 8 speed. But then again, I found the X3 / 4 coupe turbo 4 shift way too often. For 99% of my driving needs the MKC transmission is simply transparent. The RX350 has the same transmission guts as the Camry and shifts about as fast as the Ford/GM six speed. The Evoque just graduated from a six speed to a nine speed and aside from bragging rights I didn't read that a major improvement in performance or comfort took place.
Having just visited the Miami Auto show, I can honestly state that I am perfectly happy with my MKC decision. The Q3 is a really well done re-execution of the Tiguan at a high price without the MKC optional features. The Q5/X3 are really nice, but so common in south Florida and so much more money to get the same MKC features. The X3/X4/GLK/GLA/V60 all remind me of tall wagon versions of their sedan counterparts and most of the interiors are pure carry-overs. Compare the design on top of the dash and you'll see the MKC has the best/model specific sculpting. The Acura RDX is bigger but is completely uninspiring and lacks the MKC optional features. The NX was roped off, so it was hard to evaluate. Like the RDX, it seems like NX designers favored lots of protrusions in the dash. The Evoque is really nice and just as small as the MKC, but high priced without the MKC optional features. The SRX and Grand Cherokee remain favorites with a new favorite, the Porsche Macan at over $70,000.
Message to Tom... your reporting is making CR less credible by the year.
I have a fully loaded 2.3 Reserve with 20" wheels and find the ride firm and accurate. Given the features for the price the MKC comes in at $10k to $15k below the competition. Like the GLK and GLA, this vehicle was not designed for larger/wider people. So yes, Tom, it is a compact ride, and no, it is not for hauling large adults in the back or loading up on 50 bags of mulch (there are bigger vehicles for all this things).
With a brand new engine I averaged 24 mpg over 200 miles of 75 mph highway combined with 30% nasty bumper to bumper traffic. I guess car testers like Tom feel like every start must be a drag race; I find this to be rampant among journalist who insist on pushing the limits at every occasion then complain about crappy mpg. The point is that the engine really is Eco or Boost; ask it to perform like a high output six and it will drink gas accordingly.
The big knock against the MKC is the transmission. Yes, it is sleepy against the latest ZF 8 speed. But then again, I found the X3 / 4 coupe turbo 4 shift way too often. For 99% of my driving needs the MKC transmission is simply transparent. The RX350 has the same transmission guts as the Camry and shifts about as fast as the Ford/GM six speed. The Evoque just graduated from a six speed to a nine speed and aside from bragging rights I didn't read that a major improvement in performance or comfort took place.
Having just visited the Miami Auto show, I can honestly state that I am perfectly happy with my MKC decision. The Q3 is a really well done re-execution of the Tiguan at a high price without the MKC optional features. The Q5/X3 are really nice, but so common in south Florida and so much more money to get the same MKC features. The X3/X4/GLK/GLA/V60 all remind me of tall wagon versions of their sedan counterparts and most of the interiors are pure carry-overs. Compare the design on top of the dash and you'll see the MKC has the best/model specific sculpting. The Acura RDX is bigger but is completely uninspiring and lacks the MKC optional features. The NX was roped off, so it was hard to evaluate. Like the RDX, it seems like NX designers favored lots of protrusions in the dash. The Evoque is really nice and just as small as the MKC, but high priced without the MKC optional features. The SRX and Grand Cherokee remain favorites with a new favorite, the Porsche Macan at over $70,000.
Message to Tom... your reporting is making CR less credible by the year.
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280 Posts
CR is useful for rating toasters and dishwashers. If you view your car as a hated but necessary appliance, go read which Toyota or Honda you need to suffer with.
Reading the MKC reviews from various sources, you can hear:
Ride is terrible- or it rides well
Back seat is too small- it is roomy
Handling is vague vs Escape - handling is competitive
It is noisy- it is wonderfully quiet
Et. Cetera
Even the 'objective' data, such as acceleration times varies quite a bit.
Reviews are opinions, opinions are like noses-everybody has one.
The most interesting thing I noticed is reviewers are all over the map on what to compare the MKC to. Xs 1 through 5, Qs3 and 5(Vimish did a great job leading us around this). This vacillating universe of 'competitors' leads to some very different tones when reviewers sit down to pound out their wisdom in an article.
I am fairly sure few folks commit a major investment such as an auto based on a single review, and it is fair to say (apart from the endless hand-wringing and mud-slinging about the Lincoln brand), the majority of the ten or so reviews I have found are very complimentary of the MKC.
People that are comfortable ignoring brand-name-status 'norms', and not need their egos stroked by visiting showrooms that emulate the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel, are target Lincoln customers.
Lincoln is earning a raise their profile.
Reading the MKC reviews from various sources, you can hear:
Ride is terrible- or it rides well
Back seat is too small- it is roomy
Handling is vague vs Escape - handling is competitive
It is noisy- it is wonderfully quiet
Et. Cetera
Even the 'objective' data, such as acceleration times varies quite a bit.
Reviews are opinions, opinions are like noses-everybody has one.
The most interesting thing I noticed is reviewers are all over the map on what to compare the MKC to. Xs 1 through 5, Qs3 and 5(Vimish did a great job leading us around this). This vacillating universe of 'competitors' leads to some very different tones when reviewers sit down to pound out their wisdom in an article.
I am fairly sure few folks commit a major investment such as an auto based on a single review, and it is fair to say (apart from the endless hand-wringing and mud-slinging about the Lincoln brand), the majority of the ten or so reviews I have found are very complimentary of the MKC.
People that are comfortable ignoring brand-name-status 'norms', and not need their egos stroked by visiting showrooms that emulate the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel, are target Lincoln customers.
Lincoln is earning a raise their profile.
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