This year Lincoln came out with its own crossover SUV for the American market. It's a good car that is exactly what it purports to be, but it's faced some pretty harsh attention from the critics. Not because it pretends to be something it isn't, or because it isn't a good car, but I think it's because they just don't like Lincoln. Car critics drive everything, but they don't buy much, and they certainly don't take the town car to the airport. What I'll do, rather than review it straight up or heap on to the nitpicking, is address the gripes raised and give you my take on it.One of the strangest criticisms I've seen is that it's a crossover SUV, and that the market doesn't want one. It's peculiar since it's the exact opposite criticism they faced last year. Car reviewers pointed out Lincoln didn't have a crossover, and that people wanted one, so they created one. Let's not criticize Lincoln for not having a crossover, then criticize them for making one, that's just silly. If a crossover isn't your speed, you don't need to consider this car, or this review for that matter. Crossovers are popular because they're smaller than minivans or full-sized SUVs, but they drive more like a car, are easier to park and offer better economy than their full-sized cousins.
Some reviews have pointed out that it's just a Ford Edge with a handful of luxury add-ons. That's true, but that's how costs are kept in line. If it's a valid criticism, which I argue it isn't, then we need to have a problem with Lexus rebadging the Toyota Camry, or Infiniti with rebranding the Nissan Altima. I like all those cars because you start with something pretty good and make it pretty great, and you get it without the added cost of engineering a whole new car from scratch. The Ford Edge is a sharp ride with more than its fair share of innovative features, like the panoramic sunroof. I'm not just towing the Ford corporate line here, as I get paid the same for good reviews as bad (Ford doesn't pay me, publishers do,) but I'd say it's a "bold" car. No, the trim panels don't line up to "precision engineered" standards, but are you buying the subtleties of the interior lines, or a car?
I've read that the luxury is insufficient, but trimmed out, that's not the case. The seat chillers are fantastic on a hot day, and the rear-seat warmers even have controls in the back, where they're actually needed. It's a big enough frame that the rear windows roll all the way down, and the power liftgate is nice when you've got groceries. There's plenty of room behind the second row for a double-stroller and enough groceries to feed as many people, and plenty of room in the second row for three car seats and kicking room to boot.
Further on the luxury front, you've got THX Certified sound, six-disc in-dash CD, navigation, smart headlights that track your angle of approach, and more airbags than you can shake a collision at.
I've read that the climate control is too noisy, and it can be if you crank it to the max, which I did on a sunny day. Call me a simple man, but I turned it down. The AC is robust, so you don't need it blasting even on a sunny 90-degree day, so if the noise is a bit much, adjust it.
The ride has been reported as rough, but not sports car stiff. Well, yes, that sounds about right. With the Advanced Traction Control with roll stability & All Wheel Drive, it's got plenty of handling, whether for the stopping or the going, even in line with import contemporaries. As for one claim I read that the backseat is so rough you can hear freeway vibrations rattling in your voice, I didn't experience anything like it, but then again, I didn't sit in the back seat.
Another criticism is that the engine isn't a raging V8, but a more reasonable powerplant. It's not race-car fast, but it's got plenty of merging power. A test drive will tell you otherwise. Don't be afraid to get on the throttle a bit, and don't be surprised it jumps when you just tell it how high. This is another odd criticism. Lines like Ford and Lincoln have been criticized for their lack of fuel efficiency, but the second they ratchet the horsepower back down a bit, the same writers criticize it just the same. The power struck a fine balance for me, and I had no real want for more oomph.
The second most peculiar criticism, and it's a long list, really it is, is that the styling is ugly. That's just not true. Over the week's course of driving it, I turned more heads than I have in a long time, and it ain't for my stylish new sunburn. We don't need to talk about the styling on the outside, since even just a glimpse at it will tell you that it looks nice and perfectly contemporary. As for the inside, it's nicely appointed. To say the seats look like Band-Aid tape is unfair, but the color scheme is something you can look at for yourself. I'm no designer, but the two-tone beige/brown configuration with light wood and a gray center console doesn't come off as too little, or too much. I think the people who make a fortune designing these things know better than I do, but not one to take that as good enough, I decided instead to just look around a bit. Looks nice to me, but again, you don't have to take anybody's word for it, you can just open your eyes and see for yourself.
But topping the list of criticisms I read, and I do mean it tops the list, is the most ridiculous one of all. The question of "who buys a Lincoln?" What an odd question. People, that's who. Who buys anything? I think "consumers" would be the answer, but I challenge other reviewers to get a bit real. The Lincoln Town Car is ubiquitous in every major city, and it's not a "cheap" car. You can get a Cadillac as cheap as a Town Car, but they're still everywhere. They're the very definition of urban luxury. People buy Lincolns because they like them, because they're nice and comfortable, because they're safe, and let's face it, because they're Lincolns.
If you're in the market for a luxury crossover and you don't like the RX series from Lexus, give it a test drive and decide for yourself. I'll vouch there's nothing wrong with it, even specifically any of the nonsensical complaints I've seen around the Lincoln-hating sites. The warranty is good, the creature comforts are plenty, and from there it strikes a fair balance of luxury and economy, and all of it starts under $36,000, which is right in line with the crossover counterparts.
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