autoevolution
 

2016 Lincoln MKX Crash Tested by the IIHS, Earns Top Safety Pick+ Award

To be rated Top Safety Pick+, a vehicle has to prove to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety that it offers the maximum protection possible in the event of a crash. The latest nameplate to earn the highly coveted award is the 2016 Lincoln MKX, the plusher brother of the second-generation Ford Edge.
2016 Lincoln MKX IIHS crash test 6 photos
Photo: IIHS
2016 Lincoln MKX IIHS crash test2016 Lincoln MKX IIHS crash test2016 Lincoln MKX IIHS crash test2016 Lincoln MKX IIHS crash test2016 Lincoln MKX IIHS crash test
On sale from $38,260 sans the $925 destination charge, the mid-size luxury crossover sport utility vehicle earned across-the-board “good” ratings for its crashworthiness. The front crash prevention system, available as an optional extra in the form of Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Protection, was deemed “superior” in the low-speed autobrake test (12 mph) and high-speed autobrake test (25 mph). On both occasions, the MKX avoided a collision.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes that the previous generation of the Lincoln MKX “had good ratings in the moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint evaluations.” However, it was never put through the small overlap test due to the fact that the IIHS introduced the test in 2012, six years after the first-gen Lincoln MKX made its debut in North America. The all-new MKX, however, aced the small overlap, measuring a maximum intrusion of four inches (10.16 centimeters) at the lower door hinge pillar.

Dummy measures indicated a low risk of injury in all other crash scenarios. Regarding roof strength, the IIHS found out that the 2016 Lincoln MKX Reserve 4WD can sustain a peak force of 23,376 pounds (10,603 kilograms), more than five times as much as the 4,489 lbs (2,036 kg) curb weight of the MKX.

The Ford-branded sibling didn’t fare as well as the MKX's more luxurious brother. When the IIHS tested the redesigned Edge, the model earned an overall evaluation of “average” in the small overlap crash test. The reason? The “dummy’s head remained largely in contact with the frontal airbag, but its head still moved toward the intruding A-pillar because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the dummy's head and torso.”

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mircea Panait
Mircea Panait profile photo

After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories