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Never Buy This Used Lincoln SUV if You Want a Good Luxury Vehicle

It's tempting to look into used cars when you're going car shopping. Buying a used car can be a smart choice, as long as you do your research beforehand. There are a few used cars that you should stay away from. The Lincoln MKT is one of them.

Used cars can give you everything you want in a new car, but at a lower price. It’s tempting to look into used cars when you’re going car shopping. Buying a used car can be a smart choice, as long as you do your research beforehand. There are a few used cars that you should stay away from. The Lincoln MKT is one of them.

Where does the Lincoln MKT fall on the list?

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In 2019, the Lincoln MKT was listed by Forbes as a new car to avoid, and it hasn’t gotten any better. Out of 32 vehicles listed, the Lincoln MKT took the number 14 spot. It shares a drivetrain with the MKS, though the MKS is a sedan, and the MKT is an SUV. 

Other 2019 vehicles to avoid include the Nissan Pathfinder, BMW 7 Series, Infiniti Q50, and Cadillac ATS. If you’re in the market for a used SUV or luxury sedan, 2019 doesn’t have an excellent track record. 

The list also included five Jeep models: the Cherokee, the Compass, the Patriot, the Wrangler, and the newly released Wrangler JK. Sister company models like the Chrysler 200 and the Dodge Dart and Journey also made the list. The Fiat 500X and Fiat 500 took numbers three and four. The Dodge Caravan was number two. 2019 was not a great year for FCA. The Chevy Suburban was also on the list, as was the Nissan Armada and Titan.

Rounding out the list of worst vehicles of 2019 was the Acura ILX at number one. Acura also took the number 32 spot with the Acura RLX.

Why did the Lincoln MKT make the list? 

Forbes points out that neither the MKS nor MKT feels like the luxury brand they are supposed to be. The MyLincoln Touch infotainment system was also cited as an issue. It isn’t user-friendly. It was also last updated in 2013, says Car and Driver, and that is apparent. It looks dated.

Car and Driver did say that the Lincoln MKT may have made up for the dated controls with its spaciousness and a long list of standard features. There’s ambient lighting, zoned climate controls, leather upholstery, and a heated steering wheel. 

It’s a serviceable large SUV for a family, but if you’re looking for something that feels like luxury, which Lincoln bills itself as, you might want to give the 2019 MKT a hard pass. 

Lincoln thought the same. The MKT was discontinued after the 2019 model year. The Aviator was released shortly after and had all the updated luxury that the MKT lacked. 

KBB called the exterior styling “frumpy” and suggested that the Acura MDX may be a good alternative. KBB also said that the 2020 Lincoln Aviator was a better buy.

The 2019 MKT does have some pros

It’s not all bad, though. Despite the reliability being less than impressive, the standard 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 does give the SUV a good amount of power, and the all-wheel drive system offers confident handling. 

A seven-passenger luxury SUV can break the bank, but the Lincoln MKT came in at a lower price than some. With the amenities that it does have, some might be willing to overlook the dated infotainment system and less than stellar reliability rating. 

The list of standard features is impressive, and it primarily focuses on driver comfort. 12-way heated and cooled seats, along with power foot pedals, allow you to adjust as needed. Safety features like rear cross-traffic detection complete the package. KBB rates it at a 3.4, while customers are far more forgiving with a 4.6 rating.

A used 2019 Lincoln MKT can start at $30,000. It was $57,500 when new and with the upgraded Reserve package, which included more safety features and larger wheels.

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