Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2015 BMW X1 VS 2015 Lincoln MKC Near Scottsdale, AZ

Both the X1 and the MKC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available all wheel drive.

The X1’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the MKC’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X1 for 2 years and 26000 miles longer than Lincoln pays for maintenance for the MKC (4/50,000 vs. 2/24,000).

The battery on the X1 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures which can degrade battery life. By keeping the X1’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The MKC’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2014 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 10th.

The X1 xDrive35i’s standard 3.0 turbo 6 cyl. produces 15 more horsepower (300 vs. 285) than the MKC’s optional 2.3 turbo 4 cyl.

As tested in Motor Trend the BMW X1 is faster than the Lincoln MKC:

On the EPA test cycle the X1 gets better fuel mileage than the MKC:

Regenerative brakes improve the X1’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The MKC doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the X1 s/xDrive28i’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The MKC doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The X1 has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the MKC (16.6 vs. 15.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the X1 xDrive35i’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the MKC:

The X1’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the MKC are solid, not vented.

The X1’s optional 225/35R19 front and 255/30R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the MKC AWD’s optional 40 series tires.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the X1 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The MKC doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the X1’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the MKC (108.7 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The X1 xDrive28i xDrive handles at .81 G’s, while the MKC AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The X1 xDrive35i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the MKC AWD (26.7 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the X1’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the MKC’s (37.1 feet vs. 38 feet).

The BMW X1 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 250 pounds less than the Lincoln MKC.

The X1 is 5.5 inches narrower than the MKC, making the X1 easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The X1 has 1.7 inches more front headroom and 1 inch more rear headroom than the MKC.

The X1 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The MKC doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The X1’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The MKC’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The X1 offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The MKC doesn’t offer headlight washers.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the X1 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The MKC doesn’t offer cornering lights. The X1 also offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW X1, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Consumer Reports performed a comparison test in its January 2015 issue and they ranked the BMW X1 xDrive28i xDrive higher than the Lincoln MKC AWD.