In that context, the impressive new Lincoln MKT is a star at first glance.With its distinctive, slightly hunchback lines behind the rear door, it will be instantly recognizable in the traffic flow.Powered by a 3.7-liter V6 or the stellar new 355-hp twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, and enhanced with all-wheel drive, the MKT boasts the forceful performance and athleticism of all but the hottest performance sedans.

Of course, anyone can put a powerful engine in an SUV and achieve good acceleration, while guzzling too much gas.But the new EcoBoost engine achieves decent EPA City/Highway ratings of 16/22 mpg, while providing full-size, three-row seating and a full list of amenities.

Where the MKT leaves the competition behind, however, is in its over-the-road dynamics.We drove the twisting, hurtling New York State backcountry for a day, and the MKT proved itself completely at home on what would otherwise have been called sports car roads.Our EcoBoost MKT showed a minimum of body roll in curves and its shock-absorber tuning and live-wire electronic rack-and-pinion steering flawlessly communicated road-surface information.Competing full-size Cadillac Escalade, Acura's MDX and the Audi Q7, all variously competent, can't hold a candle to the agility of this three-row sports car.

But MKT buyers aren't looking for a sports car.Why is agility so important? Simple: sudden accident-avoidance maneuvers require exactly the same extreme vehicle dynamics as high-performance driving.In a crisis, family SUVs need the safety option offered by agility.

In addition to exhibiting excellent handling, the Lincoln MKT is a comfortable, lavishly appointed luxury crossover.Its interior is part living room on wheels, part wood-lined room at the club.It even features power second-row seats that leap forward at the touch of a button for easy access to the third row.The second row can be comfy twin buckets, yielding seating for a total of six, or bench seating with seating for seven.You can even choose an available second-row refrigerator to keep family beverages cool and crisp.

Finally, MKT offers the full variety of cyber-connectivity expected from Ford products.A voice-actuated Lincoln Sync communication and entertainment system can be combined with two separate seatback DVD screens.There will be no backseat fighting over what to watch.And Sirius satellite and Travel Link provide entertainment and all relevant traffic, weather and local information, including full listings regional gas stations, arranged by nearness or price per gallon.

A full inventory of airbags is standard, and the MKT received a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.Additional safety equipment includes blind-spot warning, cross-traffic and rear alert for use in parking lots, a rearview camera, gap-sensitive adaptive cruise control with collision warning and brake support and much more.

Standard features include three-zone climate control, cabin-air filtration, premium leather upholstery, 12-way cooled/heated/ lumbar driver and front-passenger seat, heated second-row seats, third-row 50/50 seats, seat memory system, power tilt/telescope steering, leather steering wheel with wood accents and redundant audio and speed controls, touch-screen monitor, illuminated front visors, one-touch up/down four windows, AM/FM audio CD/DVD/MP3 with 10 speakers, Sirius satellite radio, capless fuel filler, reverse sensing system, Lincoln Sync communications and entertainment, speed-sensitive/rain-sensitive front wipers, 2-speed rear wiper, intelligent access with pushbutton start, universal garage door opener, adjustable pedals with memory, second-row sunshades, anti-theft alarm, power door locks with auto-lock, keyless entry keypad, performance-limiting programmable key, fog lamps, second- and third-row privacy glass, glass roof with power front and rear sunshade, adaptive headlamps with auto high beam, heated power mirrors with memory and driver's side auto-dimming, 19-inch painted wheels, genuine wood interior applique, rear-window defroster, courtesy lamps, LED instrumentation, message center, auto-dimming rearview, power liftgate, four 12V powerpoints, rear cargo cover and net.

MKT EcoBoost ($49,200) upgrades with a 355-hp twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter 24-valve EcoBoost V6, all-wheel drive, 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels.

Elite Package ($4,000) adds voice-activated navigation with in-dash DVD/CD/MP3 player, DVD audio and video capability; internal hard-disk drive for map; 10GB Music Jukebox storing up to 100 CDs; Sirius Travel Link and THX II 5.1 audio system; blind-spot information and cross-traffic alert; signal indicator mirrors; power panoramic vista roof.

Options include adaptive cruise control ($1,295) and collision warning with brake support; Class III trailer tow package ($595), including wiring harness, 4/7-pin connector, engine oil cooler (3.7-liter V6), tire mobility kit and trailer-sway control; dual headrest DVD system ($1,995), third-row power-fold seat ($595), second-row heated and cooled power fold-and-tumble bucket seats ($995), second-row refrigerator ($895), active park assist ($595); 20-inch polished-aluminum wheels for 3.7-liter V6 ($1,350).

Safety equipment includes front and side airbags, three-row side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor, safety-belt pretensioners, safety-belt energy management retractors, safety-belt usage sensors, driver-seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, front-passenger sensing system, rearview camera, post-crash alert system, child-safety rear door locks, child-safety seat anchors, electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, tire-pressure monitor.All-wheel drive is available, which enhances traction and stability in adverse conditions.

In profile, the MKT's hunchback character line at the aft side windows adds interest, though the dramatic narrowing of these third windows is fair warning that third-row headroom and space is limited.

The distinctive, somewhat bluff styling of the rear end and power hatch resembles the tail of a Chrysler PT Cruiser on growth hormones.Handsome 19- or 20-inch sport wheels and wide tires give the MKT a sportingly dynamic tone.

But make no mistake, this full-size crossover is figuratively and literally a whale of a vehicle.Bumper to bumper, it is longer than two of its primary full-size rivals, Acura MDX and Audi Q7.It also has a considerably longer wheelbase than either of these offshore entries.The MDX roofline is lower than either the Acura or the Audi, lending it a handsomely modeled and noticeably sleeker stance than its competitors.At 4925 pounds in EcoBoost all-wheel-drive form, it is slightly heavier than the MDX but a massive 500 pounds lighter than the heavy Audi Q7.

The prospect of parallel parking all this bulk in a normal parking space might seem an intimidating chore.For those who need help, and we all do, Lincoln offers an active park-assist option, which will handle all the backing and turning automatically, only asking the driver to operate the brakes.We've tried it and it works well.

Given the burden of the MKT's nearly 5000-pound weight, however, these power figures are well suited to delivering a full-size luxury SUV that has enough performance to match the luxury sedans around it.The MKT may not be a muscle car, but it's no truck, either.

In fact, driven vigorously, it blends smoothly with other competent luxury vehicles, and does so in the most surprising of ways.The MKT design staff is outright boastful about the handling of the MKT, and just for once, we buy every word of it.On back roads, this crossover exhibits extremely accomplished cornering and over-the-road controllability.Its excellent wheel control means the wheels follow the terrain of the road surface with a minimum of bounce, maintaining smooth, constant contact.Its steering is remarkably alive, feeding to the driver constant information about the road being traversed and how much traction is available.And entering a corner, the MKT has almost no roll or lean as it turns in.This encourages an undisturbed, calmly analytic state of mind in the driver.

Pushed harder through a corner, the MKT's front wheels grip tenaciously, closely following the steering wheel's turn commands, a characteristic lacking in most big SUVs.The value of this heightened cornering ability is, if you have to swerve out of someone's way very suddenly in an emergency, the MKT will do a better job of following your commands than some of its most prestigious competitors, including Acura and Audi.This crossover SUV's agility and predictability make driving it both very safe and honestly exhilarating.In fact, against all expectation, we found this Lincoln to be the best-handling large SUV we've driven.Period.

The steering wheel is trimmed with wood and contains all the expected buttons for cruise control and audio adjustment.The audio is powerful, excellent and easy to use.And what is this! The audio system is tuned with genuine, old-fashioned, functional radial knobs.Brilliant! The substantial chrome-and-leather shifter fills your palm, but for those who want to control their six-speed transmission more actively, paddle shifters behind the steering wheel offer gearshift-by-gearshift driving.

To the driver's right in the center stack of the console is a touch-screen monitor, delivering all the countless cyber-communication virtues of navigation, weather information and so on included in Lincoln Sync.With available voice-activation, you can select whatever function you need without removing your hands from the wheel.

The leather-upholstered driver and passenger seats are extremely comfortable, and both feature 12-way adjustment and lumbar support.Your passenger has no grounds for complaining of second-class service.Both heating and cooling are available, and the front seating is an excellent blend of alert lateral support and well-tailored comfort.

Hand-stitched leather covers all the surfaces not already covered in blonde wood.Deluxe.Two indispensable cupholders are provided for each of the MKT's three rows, and the second row seats are provided with a separate climate-control system.

An available power folding mechanism for the second row seats flops them forward at the touch of a button to allow third-row riders easy access, though as mentioned, the dimensions of the third-row compartment are tight and best suited to mid-sized or smaller children.Yet even with all three rows full, there is still a small but serviceable stowage space aft of the third seat.

Generous interior courtesy lighting is provided, welcoming all passengers.The very roomy second row features available massive twin bucket seats, with adjustable lumbar support.Power takeoffs are distributed throughout the interior for operating personal electronics.

Ted West filed this NewCarTestDrive.com report after his test drive of the MKT.