The 2018 Lincoln MKX places in the top third of our luxury midsize SUV rankings, in part because of its excellent safety scores, solid predicted reliability rating, and pampering ride.
The 2018 Lincoln MKX's #7 ranking is based on its score within the 2018 Luxury Midsize SUVs category. It was a finalist for our 2018 Best Luxury 2-Row SUV for the Money award. Currently the Lincoln MKX has a score of 7.7 out of 10, which is based on our evaluation of 24 pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
Yes, the 2018 MKX is a good used luxury midsize SUV. The MKX is a well-rounded choice for a daily driver, though it's not the most fun to drive.
The 2018 MKX has several practical strengths:
It also has some weaknesses:
We’ve researched 24 Lincoln MKX reviews, as well as hard data points like reliability scores and cost of ownership estimates, to help you make the best car-buying decision possible.
U.S. News & World Report has been ranking cars since 2007, and our team has decades of combined automotive industry experience. While we’re passionate about cars, we’re even more committed to providing helpful consumer advice. To ensure our reviews remain impartial, we refuse expensive gifts and trips from car companies, and an outside team handles the advertising on our site.
Based on listings for the 2018 Lincoln MKX on our site, the average list price is around $34,800. Prices range from about $28,900 to $43,900 and vary depending on the vehicle’s condition, mileage, features, and location.
The 2018 MKX’s five-year costs for gas, insurance, repairs, and maintenance are projected to be about $25,500, or $5,100 per year. That’s the lowest total for a luxury midsize SUV.
The MKX was replaced in Lincoln's lineup by the 2019 Lincoln Nautilus. The Nautilus is a heavily updated version that carries over on the same platform, with refreshed interior and exterior styling.
This new Lincoln crossover has a 250-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder base engine instead of the standard V6 in the 2018 MKX, and it gets a new eight-speed automatic transmission. Lots of driver assistance features are newly standard in the Nautilus, including automatic high beams, blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking. Buying a used 2018 MKX instead of a new Nautilus likely costs less.
Prices for the MKX range from around $29,000 to about $44,000, while the Nautilus starts at $40,340 and can cost more than $66,000.
Read about the new Lincoln Nautilus »
The MKX was fully redesigned for the 2016 model year. The 2017 MKX is a better bet, though, because it features the user-friendly SYNC 3 infotainment system that also includes standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The 2016 MKX features the clunky MyLincoln Touch interface. We suggest going with a 2017 MKX instead of a 2018, since there are no major differences in models from year to year.
Compare the 2017 MKX, 2018 MKX, and 2019 Nautilus »
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The 2018 Lincoln MKX has a slightly above-average predicted reliability rating of 3.5 out of five from J.D. Power.
Read more about MKX reliability »
At the time of writing, there are two recalls for the 2018 Lincoln MKX:
Before buying any used vehicle, make sure all recalls have been addressed.
See more information on Lincoln MKX safety recalls »
The 2018 Lincoln MKX comes in four trims: Premiere, Select, Reserve, and Black Label. Drivetrain combinations for all trims include a V6 or a twin-turbocharged V6 engine and front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
You'll want to skip the base model and start your search with the Select trim, which adds genuine leather upholstery and a power liftgate. Some models may have navigation, heated rear seats, and blind spot monitoring. To get most other driver assistance features, find a Reserve or Black Label model. But even then, additions such as adaptive cruise control and automatic braking still aren't standard in these trims.
See 2018 Lincoln MKX trims and specs »
Lincoln offers a certified pre-owned program for vehicles six years old or less and with fewer than 80,000 miles. Eligibility is determined by the vehicle’s initial sale date. For its certified pre-owned vehicles, Lincoln extends its original new-car warranty to six years from the original sale date or 100,000 miles. Lincoln puts its CPO vehicles through a 200-point inspection. Additional benefits like vehicle history reports, towing, and roadside assistance may be available, so read the Lincoln warranty page carefully.
Lincoln has one of the least robust CPO programs among luxury carmakers, according to our analysis. Better programs are available through competitors like Cadillac, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz.
The 2018 Lincoln MKX has one of the best safety scores in its class. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the MKX an overall rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in both the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover evaluation.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the SUV the highest rating of Good in all six major crash tests conducted. Certain trims of the MKX earned the highest score of Superior for the effectiveness of front crash prevention features, while properly equipped models received the second-lowest rating of Marginal for how well the headlights illuminate the road ahead.
Standard advanced safety features:
Available advanced safety features:
The 2018 Lincoln MKT is another luxury midsize SUV from Lincoln. Both vehicles have solid safety and predicted reliability ratings, similar powertrain options, and the two lowest five-year ownership costs in the class. The major differences between the two are that the MKT can seat up to seven, and it has more cargo space than the MKX. However, the MKX’s easier maneuverability gives it the performance edge. It also has a nicer interior.
There are few advantages that the 2018 Cadillac XT5 offers over the MKX. The Lincoln has a slightly better predicted reliability rating, as well as a bit more cargo space. This Caddy only has one available engine, and like the Lincoln's base powertrain, it's merely OK. Neither SUV is particularly engaging to drive, and both offer similar lists of features with a few infotainment hiccups. The XT5’s average price is a bit higher than that of the MKX, so there's not a lot of reason to spend more for what is really a slightly worse SUV.
Compare the MKX, MKT, and XT5 »
The 2018 Lincoln MKX comes standard with a 3.7-liter V6 engine, and a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 is available. The base powertrain has sufficient power for daily commuting and is a fine choice for most buyers. The twin-turbo V6 is more muscular and provides quicker acceleration from a stop and better passing power on the highway. The standard six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly but still has fewer gears than many competitors. Those extra gears in rivals' transmissions help match power delivery to the driver's needs while also improving fuel economy.
The MKX's primary focus is ride comfort. The suspension easily dispatches rough pieces of pavement, and you shouldn't feel many jitters and bumps in the cabin. The MKX exhibits little body lean or roll. Steering is light, which makes it easy to navigate through parking lots or tight traffic. However, the MKX also lacks steering feedback through turns.
The 2018 MKX has below-average fuel economy for a luxury midsize SUV. The MKX's stronger V6 actually returns better gas mileage as well.
The MKX can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped.
Read more about MKX performance »
The 2018 MKX seats five people in two rows. The front seats are well-cushioned and supportive. Tall adults should enjoy ample legroom in both rows, but for some, the MKX is a little short on headroom in the back seat. The interior stays quiet even at high speeds.
Standard seating features:
Available seating features:
The 2018 MKX has two complete sets of LATCH car-seat connectors on the rear outboard seats and an upper tether on the rear middle seat.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the system the second-highest rating of Acceptable for ease of use. The lower anchors are set deeply in the seats, and you may confuse other hardware for the tether anchors on the back of the seats.
The standard SYNC 3 infotainment system in the Lincoln MKX is easy to use. You can use smartphonelike gestures like pinching or swiping, but screen response times could be quicker. Physical controls on the center stack for quick audio or climate adjustments are arranged intuitively, and they're within close reach for the driver.
Read more about MKX interior »
The 2018 Lincoln MKX has 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, and there's 68.8 cubic feet with the second row folded down. Those values are about average for the class. A hands-free power liftgate is available.
These cargo dimensions are for comparative purposes. There is no substitute for visually examining the storage area in any car you’re considering.
Lincoln built the MKX in Canada.
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#1 in 2018 Luxury Midsize SUVs
#2 in 2018 Luxury Midsize SUVs
#2 in 2018 Luxury Midsize SUVs
#2 in 2018 Luxury Midsize SUVs
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