The new face of Lincoln came into focus as the sleek 2010 MKT luxury crossover zipped by a bloated Lincoln Navigator SUV on the highway.

Like a lion closing on a water buffalo, the MKT toyed with its prey before shooting past, leaving the Navigator to waddle in its wake.

The MKT's fuel economy, style, performance and advanced features make it much more than an alternative to behemoth yester-vehicles like the Navigator, however.

It's the first Lincoln with technology, comfort and sophistication that surpasses competitors from Acura, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.

Prices for the MKT start at $44,200 for a front-drive model with a 268-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6. All-wheel-drive models start at $46,195 with the same engine and rise to $49,200 for an MKT equipped with Ford's muscular and fuel-efficient 355-horsepower twin-turbo, direct-injection, Ecoboost 3.5-liter V-6. All MKTs come with a six-speed automatic transmission.

I tested a very well-equipped Ecoboost MKT that cost $53,795. All prices exclude destination charges.

The MKT's key competitors are luxury crossovers with three rows of seats like the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL-class and Volvo XC90.

Because of the Ecoboost engine's high output, V-8-powered models of the Q7, X5, GL and XC90 are the most direct competitors with the vehicle I tested.

The MKT stacks up favorably, thanks to its fuel economy, performance and many sophisticated features.

Unlike traditional SUVs such as the Navigator, the MKT and other crossover SUVs use a car-type unibody chassis rather than a pickup-style body-on-frame chassis. That reduces weight compared with SUVs built for serious off-roading and to tow horse trailers. The MKT can tow up to 4,500 pounds, less than its key competitors.

The all-wheel-drive MKT compensates for that with more power and higher fuel economy than the V-6-powered MDX and the V-8-powered European competition.

The AWD MKT's twin-turbo V-6 generates a whopping 350 pound-feet of torque from a measly 1,500 rpm. The throttle response is immediate and satisfying, providing confident acceleration from a stop and Navigator-devouring performance in the passing lane. There was a mild wind whistle from the passenger-side A-pillar at highway speed in the car I drove, but the MKT was otherwise quiet and comfortable.

The MKT's smooth ride and responsive handling make it feel considerably smaller than its 207.6-inch overall length.

The MKT offers a wide range of advanced features that include blind-spot alert, a warning of cross traffic when you back out of a parking spot, radar-based adaptive cruise control and front collision alert, voice-controlled navigation and Sync, the system Ford and Microsoft developed for voice control of mobile phones, iPods and other audio devices.

The MKT and for the 2010 model year Lincoln's MKS sedan also offer a very effective system that parallel parks the car automatically. It proved faster and easier to use than the self-parking system Lexus introduced on its LS 460 luxury sedan a couple of years ago.

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