Power: 3.4-liter V6 with six-speed automatic transmission
Fuel economy: 20 mpg overall with all-wheel-drive (EPA estimate)
The Lincoln MKX's tailgate not only looks nice, it's actually much better than the tailgate on the Ford Edge.
That's not just because the tailgate in my test vehicle was power-operated. The handle on on the outside of the Ford Edge is about halfway up on the tailgate, hidden just above the license place. That handle placement makes the Edge's tailgate difficult to pull open.
On the MKX, on the other hand, the tailgate handle is easily visible at the bottom of the door where it provides the best leverage and the tailgate doesn't come up into your stomach. The power tailgate is a bit overzealous, though, and sometimes just gets in the way when you'd rather open it yourself.
The MKX's back seats - there is no third row available - fold down with the press of a couple of buttons just inside the tailgate. (The Edge has this feature, too.) That makes it easier to open up maximum cargo space without having to walk around to one side then the other to fold down the back seats.
