Bringing Swagger To Camping: The Luxury 2016 Lincoln MKC
Judy Antell
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The 2016 Lincoln MKC pours on the luxury.
Back in the day, campgrounds were often filled with rusty old cars and leaky tents. Camping now has gone so upscale that it inspired a new word, “glamping” for glamour camping. We drove a Black Label Lincoln MKC to the KOA Campground in Mystic, Ct, and it fit right into this new gen of camping, with luxury RVs and late model trucks decorating the campground.
The luxury 2016 Lincoln MKC fit right in with the cabins at the KOA campground. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
Like just about every other vehicle at the Mystic KOA, the Lincoln MKC has AWD. And while you might not want to go off-roading in a $56,000 luxury crossover, you can drive confidently on the unpaved roads of a campground, or the flooded Hutchinson River Parkway, where a major storm dumped tons of water the day we were passing through.
Room in the back seat; pull down the center console if you don’t have 3 people (or dogs). Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
In fact, even on I-95, treacherous usually just for its traffic, we saw a severe collision with two small sedans colliding and were happy to be safely ensconced in the AWD vehicle.
Safety is not a luxury, but a necessity
The MKC has every safety feature, from rear view camera to blind spot alert, to collisions warning to driver alert if you seem to be ‘driving drowsy.” I got this warning, an icon on the dash, for changing lanes without signaling. I could see that there was absolutely no one else on the road, but technically, I should have signaled.
Heated and cooled leather seats. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
The MKC also gave audible warnings when other cars were too close. I was driving in my Brooklyn neighborhood during alternate side and there were double parked cars, along with illegally parked cars on the other side, leaving just a narrow path down the streets. The car keep warning me about the obstacles on either side. This vehicle truly keeps you on the straight and narrow.
Compact, yet roomy enough
The trunk had plenty of room, and a cover to hide bags. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
The 2016 Lincoln MKC is ideal for small families, or empty nesters, with enough room for five adults if need be. I wouldn’t want to drive across the country with every seat filled, and a dog on the floor, but for a couple of hours, we were quite comfortable. I loved the panoramic sun roof, which let light flow into the front and back seats. The dog enjoyed having the roof open so she could sniff the changing terrain.
Love that luxury
Even the door of the 2016 Lincoln MKC exudes luxury. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
The Black Label edition I test drove had the Modern Heritage theme interior, a black-and-white interior with red stitching and wood trim. The craftsmanship in the vehicle is Lincoln’s highest level of luxury, with hand-wrapped and hand-built premium materials.
The design is for those who like a clean, modern aesthetic. While we certainly felt enveloped in luxury, that white Venetian leather worried me. The MKC had only 400 miles on it when I drove it, yet it already had a couple of stains on the center console. If this were my car, I would feel like I had to scrub down the interior every time I drove. Just the street detritus you accumulate walking around New York would sully the interior.
Close up of the stitching – and the leather. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
But the Black Label experience extends beyond the luxe interior; it includes annual detailing of the vehicle, pick up and return of the car while maintenance is performed (along with a free loaner) and, importantly, ‘anytime car washes.’ So Lincoln will make sure you enjoy that pristine car.
The panoramic sun roof let light and fresh air flow in. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
Black Label also includes a Culinary Collection for specially selected dining experience and personalized shopping for your car; you are truly treated to a premium, ongoing relationship with Lincoln.
Enjoying the quiet – and the tunes
Driving on the highway usually means you have to keep the windows closed so you can hear each other, and the music. But the quiet interior of the Lincoln – all that leather must absorb sound – let us open the sun roof for fresh air while listening to the Sirius XM radio through the the 14 speakers with the premium THX audio system.
Little touches
It’s the little touches that set the 2016 Lincoln MKC apart, like the light in the center console storage well. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
Choosing which luxury car to purchase comes down to what special little touches the vehicle has. I loved the ease of jumping into the car and know ing how to start and shift it – so often I get into a car and can’t figure out the confusing array on the dashboard. And then there are things like the light in the center console well, so you can find the lipstick you dropped in there, or the sunshade that lets you enjoy the fresh air while blocking out the UV rays.
Easy to shift. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
What We Loved
- Panoramic sunroof with sunshade
- Every safety feature
- Soft, luxurious leather
- Flexible cargo area; you can fold down rear seats
- Cooled and heated front seats (just heated in the rear)
A yellow lab enjoying the black lab(el) experience. Credit: Judy Antell for AGirlsGuidetoCars
What You Need To Know
- Base price, $48,700; price for the model we drove, with technology and climate packages, $55,750
- Takes regular gas
- 18 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway; we averaged that on our drive
- That luscious white leather will get dirty fast
