Unlike badge-engineered, Ford-based Lincolns of the past, the 2007 MKX is about more than chrome and leather on the inside. This CUV is packed with comfort and convenience items, from adaptive front lighting and a panoramic Vista Roof to heated and cooled front seats and a 14-speaker THX-certified sound system with DVD navigation. Even the rear seats are heated, and riders in back can recline up to 15 degrees while they enjoy the available DVD entertainment system. The dash is trimmed in tasteful maple wood and satin nickel trim, and the square gauge surrounds also hearken back to the classic 1960s Lincoln Continental.

Any CUV worth its salt is also about utility, and the 2007 Lincoln MKX comes to market with a center console that includes configurable dividers to allow it to carry items as widely varied as a laptop computer, a purse, or CDs. There’s an MP3 audio jack in there, and the MKX is loaded with no less than four power points. The second-row seats can be quickly folded using releases located in the cargo area, but maximum cargo capacity is an unimpressive 68.7 cubic feet, which lands the MKX in the small CUV category.

Safety gear for the Lincoln MKX includes ABS, traction control, and Roll Stability Control. Six airbags come standard, including side-curtain airbags for both rows of seats that include the Safety Canopy feature, which allows the airbags to remain inflated for an extended period of time for added protection in a rollover accident.