MKS Charms Mom With its Roominess, Comfort

2009 Lincoln MKS AWD

model as tested $45,270

Test Drove 10/30/08 – 11/6/08
reviewed by Courtney Messenbaugh

When I was a tween, my older brother had a late-1960s Ford LTD. It was gold, HUGE in a sort of exaggerated way, and it had an old-school charm and soulfulness about it that was unforgettable. I hadn’t been in another car with that sort of vibe until I stepped into the 2009 Lincoln MKS.

Let me be clear: The MKS is far posher than my brother’s car, but the MKS’ vibe is the same for me. While driving the 2009 MKS, I forewent my usual NPR station and kept the Sirius Satellite Radio tuned to Hip Hop Nation and The Heat channels so I could properly groove to the sounds of Kanye, Mary J. and Lil’ Wayne. If you’re wondering why I didn’t go with the Soul Town channel with its 1960s and ’70s hits, it’s because the 2009 MKS — while soulful with an old-school charm — is a totally modern piece of machinery that deserves a modern soundtrack.

The 2009 Lincoln MKS is comfy, safe and roomy (in fact, it’s HUGE, just like my bro’s LTD), and it offers a smooth ride. It has plenty of luxury amenities, and I enjoyed my time with it. But there are a few things preventing the MKS from being the quintessential mom-mobile: The gas mileage isn’t great (I averaged about 19 mpg); something as simple as changing the clock’s time isn’t quite so simple; the doors are pretty heavy; and there’s no auto-close button for the hefty trunk. With all of that said, however, I had to face the fact that this isn’t a car that was designed with moms in mind. The MKS is geared toward a slightly older, more urbane demographic; so I tempered my mom-centric attitude and ultimately enjoyed my ride in what could eventually become an urbane legend.

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