The 2014 Lincoln MKX offers the kind of standard features, plush cabin, comfortable seats and smooth ride you would expect in a luxury sedan, but delivers it with the added size of an SUV.

The MXK was last redesigned in 2011 and it only receives some minor tweaks for 2014 – a few small cosmetic changes, available polished aluminum 20- and 22-inch wheels, and a new Limited Edition Package that includes contrasting red stitching, dark tuxedo stripes and piping, leather seats and unique leather trim for the steering wheel, center console and instrument panel.

While the oversized, double-wing grille is both prominent and polarizing, there's not much to complain about with the rest of the MKX's exterior or interior styling. The side and rear profiles are smooth bordering on understated. The interior is also conservative, but its obvious craftsmanship, tasteful wood and metallic trim and appealing soft-touch materials give the cabin an unmistakable luxury. The front bucket seats are exceptionally comfortable, even on long rides, and the driver's side seat has two memory settings that also adjust the power mirrors and power tilt/telescoping steering wheel. The rear seats, which recline a few degrees, also provide long-distance support, even for three adults.

That high-end interior feel is complemented by an impressive list of standard features that includes heated and cooled front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, remote start, push-button ignition, cruise control with steering wheel-mounted controls, four 12-volt outlets, universal garage door opener, auto-dimming rearview mirror, air filtration system, a 10-speaker CD audio system with six months of SiriusXM satellite radio, two USB ports and an SD card reader. The MyLincoln infotainment and connectivity system was a point of contention when first introduced, but it has been upgraded over the years and is now simpler to use with the help of a touch screen, configurable gauge cluster, voice control and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. Optional features include a navigation system, heated rear seats, rearview camera, panoramic moonroof, blind-spot monitoring, heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, cross traffic warning, adaptive HID headlights and a THX-II sound system with HD Radio.

The MKX has 32.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, a number which is slightly below average for the class thanks in large part to the high cargo area floor. A standard power liftgate does make loading cargo easy, and the space expands to 68.6 cubic foot when the rear seats are folded. The MKX also makes good use of its door panels, center console and glove box to provide a plethora of handy storage nooks.

Under the hood lies a 3.7-liter V6 that spits out a whopping 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque and is the same engine that powers Ford's Mustang. That beast is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that can be manually operated with steering wheel-mounted paddles. The front-wheel drive versions of the MKX get 19 city/26 highway mpg, which are very good numbers considering the amount of horsepower the engine generates. The efficiency for the all-wheel drive models does take a hit, however, and comes in at 17/23 mpg.

With a curb weight in excess of 4,200 pounds, the MKX isn't exactly quick or nimble, but the engine provides enough power for reasonable passing situations, even with a full load of cargo. This SUV definitely handles like one – there's no mistaking it for a luxury sedan in that realm – but the steering has a solid feel and the ride is smooth and quiet.

Standard safety features include stability control, traction control, roll stability control, anti-lock brakes, side impact beams, rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, trailer-sway control, hill start assist, curtain canopy air bags for the first and second row and frontal airbags for the driver and passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety labels the MKX a Top Safety Pick, but it only received four out of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including a three-star rating in frontal crash tests.