The Lincoln MKX has been named a top safety pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

IIHS conducts vehicle tests to determine crashworthiness — how well a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash. It also rates vehicles for front-crash prevention, systems that warn the driver or brake automatically to avoid or mitigate a frontal collision. The vehicles that perform best in the tests qualify for Top Safety Pick which has been awarded since the 2006 model year, or Top Safety Pick+, which was inaugurated in 2013.

According to IIHS, to qualify for 2017 Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn good ratings in five crashworthiness tests—small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints—as well as a basic rating for front crash prevention. Also, IIHS says, a vehicle must earn good ratings in the five crashworthiness tests and an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.

The new Lincoln MKX further strengthens Lincoln's position in the midsize luxury utility segment, one of the largest luxury segments in the U.S., representing about one-quarter of the retail luxury automotive market.

Engine

Leading the engine choices for the Lincoln MKX is the available advanced 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged Ti-VCT EcoBoost V6, which is SAE-rated at 335 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 380 lb.-ft. of torque at 3,000 rpm on premium fuel.

The standard 3.7-liter V6 is SAE-rated at 303 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 278 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,000 rpm.

Both engines are mated to a six-speed SelectShift automatic transmission with push-button shift. Front-wheel drive is standard, Intelligent All-Wheel Drive optional.

Safety

Available semi-autonomous features include the first Lincoln implementation of technology that may help avoid or lessen the severity of some frontal crashes: Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection.

If no corrective action is taken and the system detects a collision is imminent, the brakes are automatically applied.

Available adaptive steering adjusts the ratio between a driver's steering input and the steering angle of the front wheels.

Drive control

Available Lincoln Drive Control, a suite of ride-enhancing technologies that customize the driving experience and optimize performance, orchestrates available continuously controlled damping, electric power-assisted steering and active noise control. Drivers can select among normal, sport and comfort modes. Active noise control enhances overall sound quality by cancelling unwanted noises, resulting in a comfortable cabin.