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While Ford had previously announced a power increase for for the extensively updated 2011 Lincoln MKX luxury SUV, they had previously only been claiming improved fuel economy with no numbers. The EPA test results are now in. The new MKX will have an EPA rating of 19/26 city/highway–up one mpg across the board from the previous EPA numbers. Other changes include a 15 percent increase in horsepower to 305 and 12 percent increase in torque to 280 lb.-ft.

The bump in fuel economy is due to a change in the 3.7-liter V6 engine, which now uses twin independent variable camshaft timing to increase output and efficiency. The engine also has a deceleration fuel shutoff mode to save gasoline, as well. This system turns off the engine when the driver doesn’t need it and can then use the momentum from the torque in the transmission to move the vehicle.

Independent from the EPA and manufacturer claims, Consumer Reports conducts our own fuel tests, which provide real-world figures for comparison. (See how
we test fuel economy.) We use a precise fuel-flow measuring device spliced into the fuel line and run three separate tests to determine highway, city, and overall mileage numbers.

So, how does the MKX compare with other luxury SUVs in its class? Ford is claiming “best-in-class” fuel economy. While we haven’t tested this updated version of the MKX (it’s not on sale yet), we have evaluated its primary competition. This class is not known to have exceptional fuel economy, in fact most upscale and luxury SUVs, perform poorly in our fuel economy tests. The best non-hybrid, non-diesel luxury SUV is the Lexus RX 350, which returned 21 overall in our tests. We’ll see if the MKX can beat that.
To see how this updated model stacks up, check out our fuel economy comparison below based on the EPA figures and our testing.

—Liza
Barth

Filed under: Cars on July 9th, 2010