2011 Lincoln MKX 3.7L V6 Ti-VCT AWD 6AT (305 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Lincoln dramatically improved the MKX for the 2011 model year, trying to compete with other mid-size luxury crossovers on the market by offering softer rides, improved engines, and fresh infotainment systems.

While other Lincoln models tried to survive and get into the five-figure annual sales numbers, the 2011 MKX enjoyed better figures. As a result, the luxury American car manufacturer under the Ford umbrella pushed the skinny pedal harder to make this crossover more competitive in a market where sales started to bounce back after the world financial crisis. To do that, it dramatically improved the exterior and interior design, boosted the infotainment system, offered many standard features, and raised the engine’s power. Last but not least, the car got better ratings from IIHS.

One of the most significant upgrades in terms of design was at the front. There, the automaker introduced the split-wing design theme carried over from the rest of the range and inspired by the 1936 Lincoln Zephyr. The chromed vertical slats flanked a center-mounted body-colored element that supported the carmaker’s badge. In addition, the rectangular headlights from the non-facelifted model were dropped and replaced by a set of swept-back ones with adaptive HID lamps.

The car’s profile looked bolder thanks to the creased lines above the front fenders that emphasized the crossover’s muscular look. However, the flared wheel arches remained similar to those from the 2006 model year. A big improvement for the 2011 Lincoln MKX was the introduction of LED taillights, which were shorter. They adorned the redesigned tailgate that sported a roof spoiler. The dual exhaust system with chromed tips also received an additional treatment to sound better under hard accelerations. Usually, that wasn’t on Lincoln’s “To-do list,” but it was appreciated by younger buyers.

Along with the launch of the refreshed 2011 Lincoln MKX, the automaker introduced the MyLincoln Touch infotainment system. It featured an eight-inch touchscreen placed atop the center stack and was neatly organized into four sections: entertainment, phone, navigation, and climate. From the fourth menu, front occupants could also activate the standard heating and ventilation for their seats. A THX II Certified Audio System with 14 speakers was available and provided an exquisite sound experience. Lincoln also tried to improve and offered a touch-sliding bar for the volume and another for the fan speed. Even though those were not very useful while driving, it was a step forward in terms of technology, and Lincoln tried it.

Under the hood, the 2011 Lincoln MKX received a fresh 3.7-liter V6 engine that was already available on other Ford and Lincoln models. However, on this mid-size luxury crossover, the powerplant provided 305 hp (309 PS), and it was paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. In the standard version, the MKX sent the power to the front wheels, while the all-wheel drive was on the options list.