2008 Lincoln MKX Safety Review [ 2007 ]
Based on analysis of 43 MKX reviews and test drives.
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Lincoln MKX receives an excellent safety score based on its abundance of important safety features and stellar crash test scores. Forbes says, "There's nothing missing on the safety front." In fact, the 2008 model receives a "Top Safety Pick" designation for its excellent crash test scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Cars.com calls the MKX "one of the most crashworthy cars on the market," and the 2008 model has received excellent crash test scores to prove it. The MKX earned a score of "Good" in frontal, side- and rear-impact tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In government crash tests, the SUV earns a top score of five out of five stars for driver safety and four stars for front passenger safety in frontal offset crashes. In side crashes, the MKX earns five stars for both the front and back seats.
Accident Avoidance
Anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), stability control and a tire pressure monitoring system are standard on the MKX. The optional all-wheel-drive model also raises the safety bar by providing grip and traction in foul weather situations. Another major safety feature is the MKX's AdvanceTrak with roll stability control (RSC), which improves control on slippery surfaces, detects rollover potential and attempts to stabilize the vehicle.
But a tip-over isn't likely. Cars.com raves that the MKX is "beaten only by cars and wagony models like the Chrysler Pacifica and Ford Freestyle. What's more, the XC90's rollover rating is 17 percent. In sum: crash tests on par with Volvo, the same roll-control feature and a better rollover rating. That's pretty impressive."
For added safety, an optional reverse sensing system -- which is a sonar parking aid, not a rearview camera -- is available. The system is included in the Ultimate Package, which includes another useful safety feature -- adaptive headlamps. These lights turn slightly in the direction the vehicle is turning to illuminate areas that would remain darker with conventional headlights. "This feature was useful in some dark, curving tunnels on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville," says the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. However, Cars.com notes that the headlamps are halogen, rather than the preferred xenon, "a strike against any car claiming luxury. The lights swiveled as intended, but they should be brighter than they are -- apart from the Xenon aspect."
Crash Protection
In the event of rollover or side-impact accident, MKX occupants are protected by Lincoln's Safety Canopy system. According to Lincoln, the system includes rollover detection, seat-mounted side-impact air bags, and side curtain air bags. The seat-mounted side-impact air bags deploy from the outboard seatback to ensure extra protection to occupants no matter how the seat is positioned.
