Likes - That fantastic EcoBoost V6
- Great ride
- Good Looks
- A lot of car for the money
Dislikes - Lack of steering feel
- Odd proportions
- Seating comfort not for everyone
- Sits as high as some crossover SUVs
Tech Specs - 3.7 liter 24-Valve DOHC Duratec V6, 273 hp 270 lbs ft torque
- MPG: 17 city/24 highway
- 3.5L EcoBoost V6 twin turbo direct injection, 355 hp 350 lbs ft torque
- MPG: 16 city/23 highway
What's New/Changed - Brand new EcoBoost
- Updated exterior
- Refined interior
The Vehix View - The MKS is a supremely well designed effort from Lincoln. Looks, serious power, performance, luxury and value all in one package - well done Lincoln!
First Impressions
I’m going to say something I once thought impossible: Lincoln has built one of the fastest, most comprehensibly equipped luxury sedans in its bracket. Not only that, the 2010 Lincoln MKS (view photos) punches above its class and soundly outperforms many vehicles nearly twice its price.
It looks good too.
Lincoln designers were careful to point out their creative muse at a lavish Lincoln press event in Northern California. They wanted the automotive press to absorb and regurgitate what they were trying to say with their design language.
It comes down to this: every Lincoln has some design element that dates back to older, attractive Lincolns of the past. It just so happens that the MKS (and to a lesser extent the MKZ) looks the most attractive.
This is a beefy car with thick panels and a very high hood. From some angles it looks like an SUV. Yet, at other angles, such as the rear quarter panel forward, the look is sleek. It is a unique shape that shares its proportions with the Ford Taurus, which the MKS is essentially based on. The taillights are reminiscent of a Maserati Quattroportes’ – which is not a bad thing as they look lovely.
“EcoBoost” is a tad misleading on a vehicle such as this. “Boost” is just fine. The V6 is SO powerful that it feels and performs like a high-end V8 with the gas mileage of a V6. With that said, people who are expecting 4-cylinder gas mileage out of this 6-cylinder may be disappointed.
Pricing, Trims and Options
Prices start at $40,870 for the base model and the MKS AWD is $42,760.
The MKS EcoBoost’s base price is $47,760 and it comes standard with all-wheel drive (AWD).
Options include a 20” polished cast aluminum for $1,195, dual-panel moon roof $1,695, adaptive cruise control $1,310, cargo organizer $160, and active park assist (on EcoBoost only) $535.
Interior Features
The 2010 Lincoln MKS’s interior is luxurious in appearance. Some trim pieces are a bit cheap, but the interior as a whole is competitive with other vehicles in this bracket.
The standard leather, heated and cooled front seats feature three settings for the driver and front passenger. Heated rear seats are standard in all models.
Some options include: dual pane moon roof, power-activated rear sunshade, special perforated leather seats and voice-activated navigation system.
The optional and thoroughly remarkable THX® II Certified 5.1 Surround Audio System has 600 watts of power and 16 speakers (including a 10-inch subwoofer). This is one of the best stereo systems my ears have sampled – ever.
Safety, Quality and Reliability
The Lincoln MKS achieved a “good” score from the IIHS for frontal offset test results. Side impact test results were “good” and the Lincoln MKS achieved an overall “good” rating, which included dynamic rating and seat/head restraint geometry.
The bumper-to-bumper warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles and the powertrain warranty is 6-years, 70,000 miles. These numbers are competitive, but not as robust as General Motors or Chrysler’s.
The Lincoln MKS also comes standard with “SOS Post-Crash Alert System” that automatically triggers the horn and flashers to assist rescue crews in locating the vehicle following an accident.