How Swanky Is the Lincoln MKC Black Label?
Ford’s luxury brand has needed some help in the way of new product for a while now, and it got a big boost with the 2015 Lincoln MKC compact luxury crossover. An undeniably stylish hatchback, it features a choice of two turbocharged engines, scads of high-tech safety systems, an optional THX premium stereo, and big wheels and tires. The new crossover is slowly helping Lincoln crawl back from oblivion, thanks in no small part to television commercials starring Matthew McConaughey and countless spoofs of said commercials starring everyone from Ellen DeGeneres to Jim Carrey.
Related: 2015 Lincoln MKC Review
But Lincoln has a plan to boost its luxury chops in the eyes of consumers, and it starts with this: the Black Label series. Option up an MKC or MKZ sedan, and you have a perfectly nice car — but check the Black Label box, and you’ll get something a bit more special. The Black Label series is a combination of unique, premium interior materials and colors, and an ownership experience at the dealer level that aims to inject some personalized pampering into the purchase and ownership process.
When buying a Black Label vehicle, you work with specially trained “liaisons” who will either take you into a special lounge at the dealership or visit you at your home or office to configure your car. When you’ve purchased the car, it can be delivered to your home (if you live within 30 miles of the dealer) instead of to the dealer. A four-year 50,000-mile premium maintenance plan is included that covers all maintenance and wear, including free car washes and an annual detailing. All that stuff is nice, but how is the car itself and importantly, how much is it?
Four themes are available on the MKC and MKZ: Oasis (two-tone cream and tan), Center Stage (monotone black with red trim and striped wood), Modern Heritage (two-tone black-and-white with red stitching) and Indulgence (lots and lots of chocolate brown). I sampled Indulgence.
Open the surprisingly heavy door and you’re greeted with what is a genuinely attractive interior. You have to like brown for the Indulgence theme to appeal to you (I might have preferred one of the other contrasting themes), but there’s no denying that Lincoln has spent some money to make this an inviting cabin. Everything is wrapped in high-quality leather, with perforated patterns on the seats and doors, and a lovely Ziricote wood accent on the doors, dash and steering wheel. Alcantara artificial suede wraps the pillars and headliner, and the massive panoramic moonroof lets plenty of light in.
Switch the ambient lighting to yellow at night, and the cabin looks even better. It’s a definite step up from the regular MKC, but I’m not sure it’s a suitable rival for the likes of Mercedes-Benz’ “designo” custom interiors. It’s a shame that the upgrades don’t extend to some of the switches as well, as the buttons (especially the transmission gear selector and the climate controls) feel cheap.
The upscale interior comes at a steep price. The base Lincoln MKC Black Label starts at $47,100 (including destination), for a front-wheel-drive model with the 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine. My test car was loaded, however, featuring all-wheel drive, the more powerful 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost engine, special brown metallic paint, 20-inch wheels, and Climate and Technology packages, all of which boosted my car’s as-tested price to an eye-watering $57,115.
If that sounds like a lot for a four-cylinder compact crossover, it is. But it is possible to option up the competition to those levels as well; small crossovers like the Mercedes-Benz GLK and BMW X3 can reach those prices and more, and the MKC at that price has a fully competitive equipment list. With leasing so prevalent among such high-priced machines, the sticker price may not be as important as the monthly payment plan for the intended customers.
The MKC Black Label is Lincoln’s attempt to elevate the brand into competition with established luxury players — an ambitious goal, and one for which the still-recovering brand faces an uphill challenge.
Cars.com photos by Aaron Bragman
