Lincoln's Budget Bling Crossover

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But comfort, not sport, is the intention, and the MKX delivers a silky smooth, pleasant ride. The front McPherson struts and four-link independent rear suspension proved selflessly absorbent over the pockmarked streets of Lower Manhattan.

Two marginal areas distinguish the look of the MKX from the Edge. The front grille is like an iced-out toothy grin, worthy of Lincolns past. The rear lamps stretch from side to side, giving the minivan-ish backside a distinguished air. I have to say, in all black the MKX does make for a very sexy package, a sort of minimalist urban bling. In fact, my test car drew an uncommon number of stares and—in New Jersey—a few people even rolled down their windows me to ask about it.

Inside, the MKX delivers as well. Everything feels solid and well put together; details like the door sills and center console appear well crafted. And, the customary Lincoln interior styling, a mixture of retro lines and analog fonts, comes off classier than in any other model besides perhaps the Navigator. As in other Lincolns so equipped, the THX II-certified sound system is a powerhouse.

I hope the executive at Ford who pushed the development of the panoramic roof system got a promotion. That single $1,895 option does more to move the MKX's interior upscale than any other feature. Either open or closed, the gigantic sunroof that stretches from front to aft endows the cabin with a penthouse-like quality, giving great views all around.

The government hasn't crash-tested an Edge or MKX yet. However, the similar CX-7 earned stellar marks, earning five stars—the maximum available—in all tests, front and side impacts. It also has a low likelihood of rollovers, unlike some traditional, truck-based SUVs. I'd eventually expect very similar results in all the government's safety tests from the MKX—six airbags and stability control are standard features.

The biggest impetus, of course, to move from an SUV to a crossover is fuel economy. The MKX is rated to get between 18 and 25 miles per gallon—not astonishing, but much better than midsize SUVs like the Explorer that routinely turn in real-world numbers in the low teens. In mixed city and highway driving I earned 22.4 miles per gallon average, more than reasonable in the all-wheel-drive version.

Buy It or Bag It?

I can't decide whether the MKX's awkward pricing between the top-of-the-line models from the likes of Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, on the one hand, and entry luxury crossovers from Infiniti, Acura, and Lexus on the other, is genius or not. It seems to me, on both sides of $35,000, the MKX has a hard time coming out on top. However its luxury trappings and high-bling factor do set it apart from less expensive fare.

The vehicle's bona fide Achilles' heel, though, is its close association with the Edge. Until Ford is capable of differentiating the two more significantly, the Edge—by virtue of its similar features and better pricing—is likely to, well, maintain an edge over the MKX.

Click here for slideshow to see more of the 2007 Lincoln MKX.

Matt Vella is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in New York.