2010 Lincoln MKX Review
2010 Lincoln MKX Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Lots of standard features, ample passenger space, comfortable and quiet ride.
Cons
- Low-grade interior materials, no dynamic advantage over the related Ford Edge, subpar braking performance.
What’s new
The Lincoln MKX gets updated option packages for 2010.
Edmunds says
The 2010 Lincoln MKX is a well-equipped luxury crossover, but its appeal ends at its features list.
2010 MKX Highlights
- Combined MPG
- 20 MPG
- Cost to Drive
- $196/month
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- front wheel drive
- Engine Type
- Gas
- Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
Vehicle overview
Indulge us for a moment and picture a chocolate cake made with cocoa and bittersweet chocolate chips and drizzled with a butter-cream icing. It would look delicious, right? As for taste, though, we wouldn't really know whether it was homemade or a preservative-laden store-bought cake. Indeed, an appealing mix of ingredients doesn't necessarily mean that they come together tastily. The same goes for the 2010 Lincoln MKX. This luxury crossover SUV looks enticing and boasts lots of appealing features, but the end result comes together in an unsatisfying way.
To Lincoln's credit, the MKX looks right, with a tasteful yet eye-catching exterior that's highlighted by a grille that evokes the 1960s Lincoln Continental without looking cartoonishly retro and a distinctive rear strip of LED taillights. The standard features list is also a standout. The MKX comes packed to its roof with goodies that are often options on other luxury crossovers, such as a power tailgate, power front seats with heating and cooling, driver memory functions, leather upholstery, rear parking sensors and Ford's Sync electronics interface system. Several eye-catching appearance packages are also available (including the new-for-2010 Midnight Limited Edition), while the high-tech navigation system is one of the better units out there thanks to its Sirius Travel Link, which includes real-time info for traffic, weather, sports scores and even movie times.
So the MKX is appealing on paper and in pictures, but the actual driving and ownership experience is a letdown. This Lincoln is the mechanical twin of the Ford Edge, a perfectly nice crossover SUV that could nevertheless use some improvement itself. And it stands to reason that if the Edge isn't a class leader against entries from Nissan and Toyota, the MKX is even more outclassed against the likes of Infiniti or Lexus. In general, the MKX is slower and less refined, has worse brakes and has, for the luxury-badged segment, subpar interior materials and construction.
Overall, the 2010 Lincoln MKX just isn't a compelling choice over other similarly priced luxury crossovers. The Audi Q5, BMW X3, Cadillac SRX, Mercedes-Benz GLK350 and Volvo XC60 are all a little smaller than the MKX, but they are much better vehicles for roughly the same price or even less. The Lexus RX 350 is similar in size to the MKX, and since it was completely redesigned for 2010, is now even more superior. The larger Acura MDX would also be worth considering. In other words, you can do better than the Lincoln MKX.
Performance & mpg
The 2010 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 the transmissions on competing models, there is no manual override feature. In performance testing, the MKX went from zero to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds, which is about the same as the Ford Edge but slower than most competitors.
Fuel economy ratings are 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 17/23/19 for all-wheel-drive models. With the optional Trailer Tow Package, the MKX can tow as much as 3,500 pounds when properly equipped.
Safety
Standard safety equipment for the MKX includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags and side curtain airbags. In government crash testing, the MKX achieved a perfect five stars for frontal driver and side-impact protection. Front passenger protection in frontal impacts earned a four-star rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the MKX its highest rating of "Good" for frontal-offset and side impact protection.
We haven't retested a 2010 MKX to see if Lincoln has corrected the truly awful braking distances it displayed three years ago at the vehicle's debut. However, if the virtually identical Edge is any indication, braking performance has improved, but remains prone to fade and a mushy pedal.
Driving
The 2010 Lincoln MKX's 3.5-liter V6 is smooth but hardly provides the sort of performance we've come to expect from this luxury SUV class. The transmission doesn't help matters, exhibiting a stubbornness that often requires a full foot to the floor to summon a proper highway on-ramp downshift. A lack of any manual override frustrates this problem, as Lincoln provides only a useless L gear. Steering is decently weighted, but again, it doesn't provide the confidence engendered by competing models. The MKX does offer a cushy ride, and the cabin is very quiet even at highway speeds (a rare class-competitive area). In total, it drives like a Ford Edge -- which is fine if you're paying Ford Edge money, but not if you could also afford a Mercedes GLK.
Interior
The 2010 Lincoln MKX gives away its Ford roots with plain gauges, downmarket stereo/climate controls and low-end plastics. It hasn't been given the same makeover that the Lincoln MKZ received for 2010 (and it isn't as nice as the Ford Flex). Fit, finish and overall quality is below par for the class, and the front seats lack the cushiness of many luxury SUVs (in fact, some would call them rock hard). The cabin manages to look luxurious, but looks are deceiving.
Looking on the bright side of things, there are plenty of standard and optional creature comforts like heated and cooled front seats, optional 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 comfortably in the MKX's wide body. With the rear seats lowered, the cargo area expands to a maximum of 69 cubic feet, which is more than what's available from models like the Audi Q5 and Mercedes GLK, but smaller than the cargo capacities of the Acura MDX and Lexus RX 350.
2010 Lincoln MKX models
The 2010 Lincoln MKX is a five-passenger crossover SUV available in one trim level. Standard equipment includes 18-inch wheels, rear parking sensors, auto-dimming interior and driver-side exterior mirrors, a power liftgate, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seating, heated and cooled power front seats, driver memory functions, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, the Sync electronics interface (includes Bluetooth and iPod interface) and a six-speaker stereo with in-dash six-CD changer, satellite radio, USB/iPod audio jack and a traditional auxiliary audio jack.
The Ultimate Package adds 18-inch polished alloy wheels, adaptive headlights, interior mood lighting, a remote folding second-row bench seat (there's a handle in the cargo area) and upgraded leather upholstery. To this the Elite Package adds a panoramic sunroof, an upgraded THX-certified audio system and a hard-drive-based navigation system that features a single-CD player (replacing the six-CD changer), 10GB of digital music storage and Sirius Travel Link. The Elite's upgrades are also offered as stand-alone options. Other à la carte items include 20-inch chrome-clad wheels, heated rear seats and a DVD rear entertainment system.
Finally, the Limited Edition, Monochrome and Midnight Limited Edition packages include a number of unique color and trim features. The first two feature 20-inch wheels, while the Midnight has massive 22s as well as a sport-tuned suspension.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2010 Lincoln MKX.
5 star(70%)
4 star(19%)
3 star(8%)
2 star(3%)
1 star(0%)
37 reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Practical sizeand reliable, solid design
Skip, 03/27/2018
2010 Lincoln MKX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
Be sure top of dash board does not reflect onto window, as you will need dull black $100. 'rug' to stop driving through the reflection.
5 out of 5 stars
2010 Let's Do it Again!!!!
Tracy Race, 11/24/2017
2010 Lincoln MKX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
I was in the market for an SUV, I intended to purchase a Volvo XC60. My sister talked me into going to test drive an MKX....I loved the vehicle as soon as I sat in the drivers seat! I absolutely love the cooling and heating seats too!! I've had no mechanical problems, other than normal required maintenance. My only improvement would've been automatic side windows, (I have to reach in … or out of the vehicle to close the side mirrors). This is one of the best vehicles I've had the pleasure of driving, I plan to drive this SUV until the wheels fall off (hopefully I'm not in it at that time) LOL!!! I love it!
4.88 out of 5 stars
2nd Lincoln owner
harnettg, 04/14/2010
2010 Lincoln MKX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
I traded from a Lincoln LS V8 for the 2010 MKX; I was looking for all wheel drive, and I liked all of the included features of the MKX. A similar equipped import would have cost $20,000 more than the MKX. Trust the reviews of the owners and not auto reviewers. Real owners seem to like the vehicle more than the car reviewers.
4.88 out of 5 stars
American Luxury
nat, 10/05/2010
2010 Lincoln MKX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
We traded our beloved Ford Fusion for something bigger and more luxurious. We are very pleased with our choice. The MKX is large enough to haul our family and our things, but it is not difficult to drive around town. The handling in inclement weather is great. We had our MKX for a few weeks before a blizzard struck. It handled the snow and ice without any problems.
More about the 2010 Lincoln MKX
Used 2010 Lincoln MKX Overview
The Used 2010 Lincoln MKX is offered in the following submodels: MKX SUV. Available styles include 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 6A), and 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A). The Used 2010 Lincoln MKX comes with front wheel drive, and all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed automatic.
What's a good price on a Used 2010 Lincoln MKX?
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Should I lease or buy a 2010 Lincoln MKX?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Lincoln lease specials
Check out Lincoln MKX lease specials
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