2009 Lincoln MKT 3.7L V6 AWD 6AT (270 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Lincoln was not in the business of creating station wagons but eagerly embraced the crossover market and launched the three-row MKT in 2009 for the 2010 model year.

With a market badly affected due to the world financial crisis, Lincoln had to find new ideas to increase its income. Unlike other automakers who tried to lower their vehicle prices, Ford’s luxury brand went the other way. It took the platform of the Lincoln MKS, shared with the Ford Flex and Taurus, and produced a three-row crossover that offered a luxurious cabin and enough performance to keep up or overtake its competitors. Unfortunately, sales were below expectations and couldn’t reach 10,000 units delivered in either year of its production until 2019, when the automaker pulled the plug on the model.

The car’s front fascia, with its split-wing design, resembled the one from the 1936 Zephyr but restyled in a modern way. It was flanked by clear-lenses headlight with integrated, corner-mounted turn signal lamps. The wrapped-around plastic bumper housed part of the split grille in the middle, while on the lower side, it had a broad air intake in the middle with rhomboid-shaped clusters for the fog lamps.

From its profile, the 2010 Lincoln MKT revealed a modern-looking bodywork with a higher ground clearance than a regular sedan. Its ascending waistline had a step-like shape above the rear fenders, creating a sporty look for the 207.6-in (5.3 m) crossover. Lincoln also added black trims on the lower side of the side sills and the rear bumper to emphasize the vehicle’s ability to tackle unpaved roads. However, unlike many of its siblings, it featured a chromed trim that surrounded the window line instead of having just one shiny slat on the lower side. At the back, the raked-forward tailgate had a roof spoiler and sported the broad taillights that covered the entire width of the vehicle.

Inside, customers were greeted by a modern-looking dashboard adorned by aluminum and real wood trims. Fronting the driver was a rounded-shaped visor over the three-dial, binocular-styled instrument cluster where the speedometer took center stage. Atop the center stack, the 2010 Lincoln MKT featured an eight-inch touchscreen for the SYNC infotainment unit shared with other vehicles from Ford. It had a 10 Gb HDD storage space, enough for up to 2,400 songs. In addition, the automaker offered a navigation system. Lincoln offered the MKT with standard six seats, where a center console separated the middle row. As an option, customers could get the vehicle with a bench seat. The third row had enough room for two kids and could fold down to increase luggage space.

Under the hood, the MKT was available with a choice of two engines. The base version was powered by a 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V6 that sent its power to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. An all-wheel-drive system was available for this version. However, those who wanted a punchier version could get the 3.5-liter twin-turbo Ecoboost powerhouse that came standard with AWD and the same six-speed automatic gearbox.