If the hype left room for disappointment in last year's overhaul, the sophomore year for the second-generation MKX will be no different - the 2012 MKX carries over from 2011 with zero changes. That said, Lincoln definitely addressed owners of the first generation's concerns with braking distance, performance and style last year with better components, 40 more horses and improved cabin materials, leaving few better choices for a tech-laden luxury midsize crossover with ample comfort for five.

Birthed for 2007, the MKX was touched by the knife for its second year of life to improve braking distance with a tire tweak - but it didn't do much to help this hefty ute manage its weight. The 2011 overhaul changed that with a complete redesign and new components, while a few new gadgets joined the options list and others migrated to the standard offering - making today's MKX the stock brainiac of the bunch.

The lone MKX trim is loaded with features like keyless ignition/entry, rear parking sensors, power liftgate, auto-dimming mirrors, heated and cooled power front seats, driver memory, MyKey, MyLincoln Touch and Sync, among others, by default - which, in sum, allows for some amazing things like limiting top speed and radio volume plus Bluetooth and iPod interfacing.

Major options include a panoramic sunroof, rear-view camera, rear DVD entertainment, heated rear seats, rain-sensing wipers and a voice-activated navigation system with CD/DVD player, 10GB of music storage and a THX II audio system. Fully loaded, the MKX is truly a tech-lover's dream come true, but safety is certainly not neglected with antilock brakes, stability and traction control standard alongside front side and side curtain airbags. A blind-spot warning system is also available as an option.

With 305 horses and 280 lb-ft of torque under the hood, an all-wheel (AWD) or front-wheel-drive (FWD) MKX can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, but lazily hoists itself to 60 mph in 8 seconds. At best, the sole engine choice in the FWD MKX snags 19 mpg city/26 highway and sacrifices about 2 to 3 mpg with AWD.

Cargo carrying capacity is a possible sticking point, but rear legroom was not sacrificed one bit to offer 32 cubic feet with the seats up and just shy of 70 cubic feet with the seats folded away. The ride is certainly what you would expect of a luxury line however, with a superbly quiet cabin, ample room and silky stride, but some have noted that the wood-accented interior doesn't quite have the typical wow factor of its class. There also appears to be some problems with the manufacturing consistency, and more than a few MKXs shipped last year with noisy cabins and a bumpy ride.

MyLincoln Touch is also a bit of a downer for some, with its tiny buttons and massively customizable voice-command complexities, but any true geek should have little trouble figuring it out in time. Again some defects exist in the gadget systems for some MKX owners, most notably with certain Bluetooth frequencies - but updating the system frequently and waiting until it is fully loaded up (about 45 seconds) before using it seems to take care of those issues.