The MKC is Lincoln's first foray into the popular luxury compact crossover space -- and it's a strong showing.

The MKC shares its bones with a few other Ford products, including the C-Max, Focus and Escape. But beyond its underpinnings, the MKC is distinctly Lincoln. The front grille calls to mind open wings, which culminate in HID headlights with LED running lights, while LED tail lights highlight the back.

Two EcoBoost engines are available in the MKC and both are turbocharged and direct-injected with twin independent variable cam timing. The 2.0L produces 240 horsepower and 270 foot-pounds of torque, while the 2.3L makes an impressive 285 horsepower and 305 foot-pounds. Lincoln claims the 2.3L is the most powerful gasoline engine per cylinder in the segment. Both engines are mated to a 6-speed SelectShift automatic with push-button shifting. The 2.0L is available with either a front-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive powertrain, while the 2.3L pairs with all-wheel drive only.

Three well-appointed MKC trims are offered: Premiere, Select and Reserve. Standard exterior features on the MKC Premiere include 18-inch painted aluminum wheels and power heated mirrors with memory and a blind spot mirror. Inside, the MKC Premiere impresses with a power liftgate, heated front seats and a 10-way power driver's seat with memory, a 60/40 split-fold rear seat, power one-touch up/down on all windows, dual zone automatic climate control, a 9-speaker audio system with single CD and MP3 playback and a tilt/telescopic multifunction leather steering wheel with cruise and audio controls. An 8-inch LCD touchscreen and SYNC 3 with MyLincoln Touch also feature prominently, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. Remote start will help on especially cold mornings, while auto stop/start and auto brake hold come into effect at stoplights.

MKC Select trim adds leather seating and a 10-way power passenger's seat, as well as ambient lighting, a universal garage door opener and turn indicators in power-folding side mirrors. The top-of-the-line Reserve trim brings with it heated and cooled front seats, a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel, a huge panoramic moonroof with power shade and navigation with voice recognition. A blind spot information system is also standard on the Reserve, along with an embedded modem that integrates with smartphones and provides for remote locking and unlocking, remote start and more.

Active park assist, adaptive cruise control with collision warning, a forward sensing system, and a lane keeping system are all standalone options or can be bundled in the Technology Package, while a Class II Tow Package and 19 or 20-inch wheels are also available on the MKC. Enhanced THX audio is another standalone option, as is navigation.

Safety is engineered into every MKC; standard safety features include AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, traction control, a rearview camera, reverse-sensing system and an SOS post-crash alert system.