As a luxury crossover, the Lincoln MKT certainly pours on the features. But not everything about the all-new MKT is spot-on. Let’s examine the power lift-gate button, located on the right side rear cargo wall. Of course, it’s handy to press a button and have the lift-gate automatically lower/close, but if the button pusher doesn’t move out-of-the-way quickly, it’s a heavy-hit to the head or back. Just like power windows that stop when a finger or hand is in the window “up” path, a power lift-gate with an automatic stop when human contact is made would be a nice safety attribute. MKT’s interior cargo capacity is reasonable (more than 39 cubic feet behind second row and nearly 18 cubic feet behind third row), and hip and shoulder room is adequate in all three rows. But headroom for third row passengers is a bit tight (33.5 inches), and getting in and out of the third row is easier for people not adverse to a making a few body twists and turns.

For riders wanting a cold beverage, the second-row center console contains a 5-quart cooler. (The cooler compartment is available in the six-passenger seating variation; MKT is also offered in a seven-passenger variation.) The standard fare list includes a fixed-glass panoramic roof with power front and rear sunshades. For a three-row crossover, the ability to let natural sunlight in makes the vehicle seem a bit roomier. Power choices for the front wheel drive MKT are a 3.7-liter V6 (268 horsepower at 6250 rpm and 267 lb-ft torque at 4250 rpm) and a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 (355 horsepower at 5700 rpm and 350 lb-ft torque at 3500 rpm). Both engines mate to six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters on the steering wheel. AWD is optional on MKT. The FWD vehicle with 3.7-liter V6 collects estimated mpg of 17 city/23 highway and carries an MSRP of $44,200.