Nip, tuck for 2019 Lincoln MKC

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(November 25, 2017) The MKC was the last new Lincoln to launch with the old waterfall grille. Though in line with the rest of the Lincoln family in 2014, it looked increasingly out of place as everything from the Continental to the Navigator adopted the brand’s new squared-off “horseshoe” design.  For the 2019 model year, all that is about to change.


As part of the compact SUV’s mid-cycle refresh, it has been given a new nose flanked by LED headlights. As a vehicle that appeals to younger buyers, the grille is laid back, and flows into the new hood. A more upright design would have been at odds with the flowing sheetmetal aft of the nose, and looked like more of a pig’s snout.

The rear has been subtly updated, but little else has changed on the exterior. And the interior is largely carried over, though Lincoln has added detail changes here and there.

There are three Black Label themes for 2019: Modern Heritage, Indulgence, and Center Stage. The first features seats covered in Vianca White Venetian leather with the Lincoln Black Label star and Argento wood accents.

Ordering the Indulgence theme mixes Venetian leather and Alcantara cloth and Zircicote wood accents, and colors like Truffle and Ganache.

Meanwhile, Center Stage perforates the Alcantara cloth inserts with a diamond-L pattern unique to Lincoln and Foxfire Red piping, coupled with Jet Black Venetian leather with Firefox Red accents, and exotic wood accents on the doors and instrument panel. Order a Reserve model, and one of the options is a deep Rialto Green with contrasting black ash wood accents.

The 2019 MKC goes on sale this summer, and should continue to bring new buyers to the brand. More than half of these come from other brands, and women account for more than half of MKC sales.

The Virtual Driver