2009 Lincoln MKX Review
2009 Lincoln MKX Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Comfortable and quiet ride, lots of standard features, spacious passenger quarters.
Cons
- Low-grade interior materials, no dynamic advantage over the Ford Edge, subpar braking performance, mediocre cargo capacity, inadequately cushioned front seats.
What’s new
The optional navigation system gets a welcome upgrade for the 2009 Lincoln MKX. Graphics and menus have been improved, while voice activation and Sirius Travel Link are new additions this year. The standard Sync system now features 911 Assist, which automatically contacts 911 through your cell phone in the event of an airbag deployment.
Edmunds says
The 2009 Lincoln MKX is a well-equipped luxury crossover, but it comes up far short against similarly priced competitors.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2009 Lincoln MKX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$217/mo for MKX Base
MKX Base
vs
$201/mo
Avg. Midsize SUV
Vehicle overview
There are many successful examples of well-executed luxury vehicles that are based on non-luxury counterparts. The formula usually goes something like this: Take a popular model's platform, give it more sophisticated styling cues, improve its handling and ride, give it more power, add higher-quality interior materials and equip it with an array of high-tech features to cosset both driver and passengers. Unfortunately, the 2009 Lincoln MKX is missing many of this formula's variables.
It gets at least part of it right. The MKX is based on the Ford Edge, a family crossover with a pleasant amount of performance, comfort and driving involvement. The MKX's exterior looks more elegant than the Ford's, thanks to its retro-inspired mesh grille and eye-catching strip of LED taillights. In terms of features, the MKX is a standout, as it comes with more standard features than its pricier competitors, including Ford's voice-activated Sync system. And this year, the MKX gets Ford's new and greatly improved navigation system featuring Sirius Travel Link, which provides real-time traffic, weather, movie times and sports scores.
Beyond that, the MKX boasts no dynamic advantage over the Edge. Handling, ride and performance are virtually identical, including the disappointing braking performance that has at least been improved somewhat for 2009. The Edge isn't exactly a class leader among vehicles wearing more pedestrian Toyota and Nissan badges, which leaves the MKX severely outgunned against luxury crossover SUVs from Acura, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. That goes double for the MKX's interior, which is filled with lackluster materials and parts-bin switchgear. It also provides less cargo space than most of its rivals and has no third-row option.
Those looking for a true luxury crossover SUV should instead consider the Acura MDX, Lexus RX 350 or even the new Mercedes-Benz GLK350. For those who see the MKX as a slightly cheaper alternative to those vehicles (or who want more space), the Buick Enclave, Ford Flex and luxurious Hyundai Veracruz Limited are also worth a look. There are plenty of good choices in the luxury and near-luxury crossover segment. The 2009 Lincoln MKX is missing too many ingredients to be one of them.
Performance & mpg
The Lincoln MKX is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 265 horsepower and 250 pound-feet of torque. There is a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard, but unlike competitor models, there is no manual shift control feature. With the optional Class II towing package, the MKX is able to tow 3,500 pounds. In performance testing, the MKX went to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, which is on the slow side.
Fuel economy for 2009 is 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined for the front-wheel-drive model and 15/22/18 mpg for AWD models.
Safety
Standard safety equipment includes antilock brakes, traction control and stability control (including rollover mitigation technology). Six airbags protect occupants, including front-seat side impact airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. In government crash testing, the 2009 Lincoln MKX got five out of five stars for frontal driver and side impact protection and four stars in frontal passenger collisions. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the MKX its highest rating of "Good" for frontal-offset and side impact protection.
Driving
The 2009 Lincoln MKX's 3.5-liter V6 is smooth and keeps plenty of power on tap -- perhaps more so than any Ford-based V6 in recent memory. Steering is nicely weighted and provides a decent amount of feedback while driving around town. The MKX has the cushy ride part down, and the cabin is very quiet, even at highway speeds. No one would confuse the MKX with any of the segment's sportier and/or refined entries, however. We haven't retested a 2009 MKX to see if Lincoln has corrected the truly awful braking distances it displayed originally two years ago. However, if the virtually identical Edge is any indication, braking performance has improved, but remains prone to fade and a mushy pedal.
Interior
The MKX gives away its Ford roots with plain gauges and low-end plastics. Fit and finish isn't up to par for the class, and the front seats lack the cushiness of most luxury SUVs (in fact, some call them downright hard). On the plus side, the controls are well laid out and intuitive to use, and there are plenty of standard and optional creature comforts like heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and a plethora of entertainment options. Both rows of seats offer plenty of space -- particularly in back, where three people can fit well enough in the MKX's wide body. The cargo area, however, is another story. Its capacity is limited to a maximum of 69 cubic feet, less than what many competing models offer.
2009 Lincoln MKX models
The 2009 Lincoln MKX is a five-passenger luxury crossover SUV that comes in one trim level. Standard features include 18-inch wheels, reverse parking sensors, a power liftgate, auto-dimming rearview and driver sideview mirrors, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and cooled power front seats with driver memory, leather upholstery, the voice-activated Sync system and a six-speaker stereo with six-CD changer, satellite radio and an auxiliary audio jack.
Optional features include 20-inch chrome-clad wheels, a panoramic sunroof, heated rear seats, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a voice-activated, hard-drive-based navigation system with a single CD/DVD player, 10 GB of music storage and a THX II audio system (the sunroof and navigation can also be paired together in the Elite package). The Ultimate package adds chrome-clad 18-inch wheels, adaptive headlights, trunk-mounted folding rear-seat releases, upgraded leather upholstery and a cargo management system. The Limited Edition package includes special exterior and interior appearance items and the chrome-clad 20-inch wheels. The Monochrome Limited Edition package adds the Ultimate package equipment, plus 20-inch wheels, a body-colored grille and black as the only color choice.
Reliability Ratings by RepairPal
4 out of 5 stars4/5Above Average
#6 out of 29 among Luxury Midsize SUVs
RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.
Cost
The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Lincoln MKX from 2008-2022.$489/yr
vs. $602/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV
Frequency
The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).1.04x/yr
vs. 1.09x/yr
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV
Severity
The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).9.5%
vs. 9.4%
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV
for Average Luxury Midsize SUV
powered by RepairPal Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2009 Lincoln MKX.
5 star(78%)
4 star(11%)
3 star(7%)
2 star(1%)
1 star(3%)
89 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
The perfect small SUV
Pete, 11/22/2016
2008 Lincoln MKX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
I'm a coupe kind of guy. I like to be low to the ground and have a grip of where all my tires are. The idea of an SUV has never really intrigued me... that is until I test drove the MKX. It was small enough that I felt like I still had control of it and large enough to handle any extra storage we may need. I loved the black interior with natural-colored wood grain trim. It's the perfect … combination in my opinion. On top of the black exterior. For an '08 the features are pretty outstanding. The white dash lights are very nice as opposed to the green or amber I've been so accustomed to. The ride is very comfortable and the cooled/heated seats make it even more comfortable. The interior lighting is bright, but it's not annoying to the driver. The only thing we had come up with it is the speed sensor went out 1500 miles after owning it. Fortunately, the dealer put a 3000-mile warranty on it, pretty surprising for an 8-year-old vehicle, and it was covered. Otherwise, it was about an $800 expense. Regardless, I love this SUV. I'm very glad we held out and went with Lincoln. Even though I'm a Toyota guy, I have always liked Ford, and I figured Lincoln was the way to go if I wanted all the features.
UPDATE 5/23/19
Still loving this vehicle. The leather has held up very nicely. It still drives great. Other than the speed sensor issue in my initial review, it’s only been in the shop for oil, tires, and a tune-up. We did have to replace the brakes 6 months ago, but that’s it. We’ve put 40k miles on it since my initial review above.
I only have one complaint... sometimes if the Bluetooth won't connect to my phone, I have to turn the car off and back on to get it connected. I wonder if this is a Lincoln and/or Ford thing because my 2011 Lincoln MKZ does the same thing. That’s it for a complaint.
I’m really liking the drive of Lincoln and hope that it remains reliable because I could see us being a life long Lincoln family.
UPDATE 11/24/20
Being a 12, nearly 13 year old vehicle at this point, we've actually received compliments on having a nice car. I do keep it clean and properly take care of its appearance. I'm still very happy with this vehicle.
5 out of 5 stars
Keeps on keeping on!
Carol Anson, 08/25/2018
2008 Lincoln MKX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
After 10 years and 170,000+ miles, I am still pleased with this car. Very few repairs, very dependable and super comfortable!
4.75 out of 5 stars
Sweet Ride
Penney, 08/26/2010
2009 Lincoln MKX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
I gave my husband the MKX for his 50th birthday. He had always wanted a Lincoln and needs AWD to reliably make it to work. He loves this car. It is fun to drive, he likes the height, it is powerful and the computer is great. So far the computer had to be replaced at 15K because the blue tooth failed and the exterior driver side door handle came off in his hand at 17K. Lincoln replaced … everything without charge but it was a hassle.
4.75 out of 5 stars
Top Notch
dontblink, 08/06/2014
2008 Lincoln MKX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
After several horrible experiences with European vehicles, I decided to buy domestic again. I dig the clean crisp styling, strong stance, & front grill reminiscent of Lincoln's past. The ride is firm yet comfortable, it handles well, & mileage is decent. The sound system is great. The clutter free instrumentation with retro gauges is pleasing.
The cabin is roomy with plenty of cargo … space. Quality leather seats are comfortable. Fit & finish is top notch inside & out. It could benefit from a rear view backup camera. The silver painted interior plastic looks like silver painted plastic. I really like the MKX, it is safe, stylish, reliable, & comfortable. It will likely be a favorite of ours.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2009 Lincoln MKX, so we've included reviews for other years of the MKX since its last redesign.
2009 MKX Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $37,845 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 19 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $217/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 32.3 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the MKX include:
- Alarm
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Stability Control
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestAcceptable
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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