Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Lincoln MKC 2.3 EcoBoost

[Autos_Editor]

Lincoln's credible upscale compact crossover escapes its humble roots.
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[Benhaze]

I do not like to start a fresh thread with a pricing comment but I must... The current MKX fully loaded is $54k$-55k (excluding PDI). MKC pricing may be competitive with the well established German models but this would mean that the new MKX will likely top out at $65-$70k if Lincoln wants to avoid cannibalizing itself... That is just crazy...

As the author mentioned Cadillac has raised his game without direct affiliations to other GM brands. Cadillac has also raised its pricing with limited success; good luck Lincoln... because you are going to need a lot of it.

[tpl]

Without researching the minutiae of pricing and equipment it certainly gives the impression of being a Q5 clone...but then so do many of the current generation of "near luxury" CUVs

[whaddaiknow]

Sorry guys, I stopped reading after seeing this image on the 1st page.
Doesn't scream "luxury" to me, it's so FACKING FUGLY.

[OliverD]

I do not like to start a fresh thread with a pricing comment but I must... The current MKX fully loaded is $54k$-55k (excluding PDI). MKC pricing may be competitive with the well established German models but this would mean that the new MKX will likely top out at $65-$70k if Lincoln wants to avoid cannibalizing itself... That is just crazy...

As the author mentioned Cadillac has raised his game without direct affiliations to other GM brands. Cadillac has also raised its pricing with limited success; good luck Lincoln... because you are going to need a lot of it.

You can actually option an MKX to about $60k but if you remove the rear entertainment system and 22" wheels the price is very similar to a loaded MKC, so I suspect your'e right that the new MKX will creep up in price.

[JohnnyMac]

Lincoln just needs to die already.  Everything they sell is just a Ford with lipstick on, it's really depressing.  The only way I'd ever consider a Lincoln is if they used the chassis and engine out of Mustang and made a proper 4 door RWD sedan, oh and at a reasonable price of course.

[EV-Light]

I like the MKC a lot, but as others here I believe the 2.3 is overpriced for what it is. They do offer the 2.0T model at $39k, but as you start to add some basic necessities the price bumps up by 5k...I'd buy one used or in a super discounted lease offer, otherwise this makes no sense in the luxury segment.

[Noto]

That centre stack...


I think the MKC is one generation off from being an incredible deal.  Quality control needs to come in: materials need to be luxurious throughout, care must be taken to ensure that my beloved Jacob doesn't cut his finger again, the 2.0T needs to be dropped and the 2.3T standard (at the $39k price), and the Matthew McConaughey commercials need to die.

Call me crazy, but I'm rooting for the MKC.  The exterior does look distinct and pretty good.  The interior needs a lot of work.  A lot.  The two-toned interiors look far better than the all-black version, too.

I was in Ithaca last weekend and saw 4 of these.  That's pretty amazing for a small place where I haven't seen a single Ford Escape or Evoque.

[OliverD]

the 2.0T needs to be dropped and the 2.3T standard (at the $39k price)

Why? Most of the competition offer a 2.0T with similar power as the base engine.

[Noto]

the 2.0T needs to be dropped and the 2.3T standard (at the $39k price)

Why? Most of the competition offer a 2.0T with similar power as the base engine.

Exactly.  Make the MKC stand out more and resemble the Escape less.  There's a reason why for a few years, the only engine available in any new Jaguar was a V8.  Luxury is synonymous with moar powah when dolling up the same chassis as is used in a cheaper offering.

[Kris78]

If I am in a Ford-Lincoln dealership, and I'm willing to part with $55k for a crossover, it surely wouldn't be this one.

Not with the built-in-Ontario Ford Edge sitting there. Let alone the new model coming in 2015...

There just isn't enough separating Ford and Lincoln to justify spending more on the latter.

[OliverD]

Exactly.  Make the MKC stand out more and resemble the Escape less.  There's a reason why for a few years, the only engine available in any new Jaguar was a V8.  Luxury is synonymous with moar powah when dolling up the same chassis as is used in a cheaper offering.

That was probably more due to the fact that Jaguar didn't have the resources to develop multiple engines than anything else. 

[Fobroader]

If I am in a Ford-Lincoln dealership, and I'm willing to part with $55k for a crossover, it surely wouldn't be this one.

Not with the built-in-Ontario Ford Edge sitting there. Let alone the new model coming in 2015...

There just isn't enough separating Ford and Lincoln to justify spending more on the latter.

If i have $55k and Im at a Ford dealer....Lincoln is not getting my money.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[Benhaze]

I do not like to start a fresh thread with a pricing comment but I must... The current MKX fully loaded is $54k$-55k (excluding PDI). MKC pricing may be competitive with the well established German models but this would mean that the new MKX will likely top out at $65-$70k if Lincoln wants to avoid cannibalizing itself... That is just crazy...

As the author mentioned Cadillac has raised his game without direct affiliations to other GM brands. Cadillac has also raised its pricing with limited success; good luck Lincoln... because you are going to need a lot of it.

You can actually option an MKX to about $60k but if you remove the rear entertainment system and 22" wheels the price is very similar to a loaded MKC, so I suspect your'e right that the new MKX will creep up in price.

Although Lincoln would like to say it is water under the bridge... You could get a couple of times per year a MKX with options not even available on the Edge at the same selling price or even at a lower monthly payment than an Edge Limited. I was interested in getting one a few years back until doing a test drive during which the sales rep started pounding on the screen frustrated it wouldn't do what he was trying to show me it could do... I thought... no thanks...

So you can already predict that the MKX will likely need incentives to be moved once again (at $65-$70K) and now not only will it compete with the Edge but also with its fraternal little brother. Of course I might be jumping the gun and I hope I am wrong for Lincoln' sake.

[dirtyjeffer]

Lincoln just needs to die already.  Everything they sell is just a Ford with lipstick on, it's really depressing.

this...Lincoln needs specific products...the MKC is really just a "fully loaded" Escape...if you are going to charge premium money, give the customer a specific product, not a $25k Escape with lots of pretty stuff inside.

[bluelines]

I can't see there being really decent lease deals on any Ford products, since the residuals are likely very poor. Leasing makes more sense for the German competition, since at the start of a model year, you're sometimes looking at residuals of almost 60% on three-year lease deals.

I like the MKC a lot, but as others here I believe the 2.3 is overpriced for what it is. They do offer the 2.0T model at $39k, but as you start to add some basic necessities the price bumps up by 5k...I'd buy one used or in a super discounted lease offer, otherwise this makes no sense in the luxury segment.

[Benhaze]

Don't necessarily assume that. Ford (and GM) will at times boost the residual and offer a very low interest rate if not even at 0% so you can get a really good deal, far better than buying a 1-year old same car per example. You just need to really walk away from it at the end of the lease (don't consider buying it).

GM is currently offering more cash incentive and a lower rate on leases than on purchases on some models...

[WRX_Pilot]

Yea... That dash looks like some kind of Tupperware box with Ford knobs and buttons.  The last Lincoln I was interested in was the Mark VIII coupe. I would still buy one today over this.

[Noto]

Lincoln just needs to die already.  Everything they sell is just a Ford with lipstick on, it's really depressing.

this...Lincoln needs specific products...the MKC is really just a "fully loaded" Escape...if you are going to charge premium money, give the customer a specific product, not a $25k Escape with lots of pretty stuff inside.

But that's just it - a fully loaded Escape is >$40,000.  I don't think pricing here is the problem: it's lack of differentiation.  The cheapest AWD 2.0T Escape is $30,949 (SE 2.0T AWD), +++.  The cheapest MKC is $39k.  So, about $8-9k more.  Worth it?  Well, that's up to the buyer to decide based on options, etc.  I'd wager the price gap is not huge when optioned equivalently.

I think the exterior of the MKC looks far and wide different than the Escape, but the interior doesn't.  Especially the rear seat area - it looks identical.  Not a big deal, except that it highlights the deficiencies in the Escape, which in turn become major deficiencies in the MKC.

[EV-Light]

what kills it for me is to find the same MyFord touch used in a Ford Fiesta in these $50k CUV.....like, really?