Overview & Reviews

Associated more with cars driven by your grandmother or a New York chauffeur, Lincoln has struggled in recent years to earn a more prestigious image. One of the most important cars to establishing a new course is the Lincoln MKZ, the brand's representative in the ultra-competitive entry-level luxury sedan category.

The first-generation MKZ wasn't especially successful in its mission, as there was little differentiation between the MKZ and the Ford Fusion upon which it was based. However, the second-generation MKZ represents another chance. Though still mechanically based on the Fusion, there are substantially more visual and mechanical delineations between the two. Unlike before, you'd be hard-pressed to tell they're related. More importantly, though, the new Lincoln MKZ is a far more appealing luxury sedan that can legitimately be considered alongside established players.

Current Lincoln MKZ
The Lincoln MKZ is completely redesigned for 2013. It's a car that's going to be hard to miss on the road, as the exterior features a boldly styled rear end and a new look for the Lincoln corporate grille. The cabin is also now suitably upscale for this class of car and adapts Lincoln/Ford's latest electronics controls. Under the skin reside new engines and mechanical underpinnings similar to those in the equally new Ford Fusion.

As is the case with an increasing number of other vehicles in its class, the MKZ's standard engine is a turbocharged four-cylinder. It produces a very healthy 240 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Optional is a 3.7-liter V6 good for 300 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Both engines feature competitive power and fuel economy for the class. They also both come standard with a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive is optional. The MKZ Hybrid gets Ford's latest gasoline-electric powertrain with 188 combined hp and fuel economy in the mid-40 range.

There is no shortage of equipment, with items like adaptive suspension, keyless ignition/entry, leather upholstery, an 11-speaker sound system and the MyLincoln Touch suite of electronics interfaces gracing the standard features list. High-tech options include a lane-keeping system, a collision warning system, rear seatbelt airbags, adaptive cruise control, an automatic parallel parking system and an enormous panoramic roof that essentially retracts its glass panel atop the rear window.

There's no question that Lincoln has packed on a lot of kit for its newest MKZ. But the end result is a little disappointing. You can still get most of those high-end features on the Fusion, for instance, and for a price that's thousands of dollars cheaper. Placed in comparison with other entry-level luxury sedans, the MKZ also suffers from its finicky MyLincoln Touch electronics interface, underwhelming interior quality and more confining seating.

Overall, the MKZ has some nice qualities, and we like the effort put forth to make it more distinctive than in years past. But shoppers in search of a top entry-level luxury sedan should also take a look at other choices such as the Acura TL, Lexus ES 350 and Volvo S60 before going with this newest Lincoln.

Used Lincoln MKZ Models
The previous Lincoln MKZ was sold from 2007-'12. (Technically, the car debuted for 2006 but was called the Zephyr for that first year.) Like the current MKZ, the first-generation MKZ was mechanically similar to the Ford Fusion of its time period, but there was substantially less differentiation between the two cars. Although the Lincoln had unique front and rear ends, in profile they appeared to be carbon copies of each other. Passenger space was no different, and both felt very similar behind the wheel.

It's important to note that the MKZ received a significant refresh for 2010. Cars produced before then can be identified by their more restrained, squared-off grille. The cabin featured a retro-inspired design consisting of an upright dash, sharp angles and a large horizontal strip of wood. Unfortunately, the quality of materials was barely better than that of the Fusion, and the various buttons and knobs were no different from those found in a Ford.

Under the hood, these MKZ models came with the same 3.0-liter V6 found in the Fusion that produced 221 hp and 205 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission were standard, while all-wheel drive was an option for all but '07. That first-year MKZ was also not available with rear parking sensors or the Sync electronics interface. Stability control was also unavailable until '09, which was a glaring omission in the luxury segment.

In general we would not recommend the MKZ in these early years. We don't think the changes made for 2010 were enough to make it a compelling alternate to Audis or BMWs, even though the MKZ was indeed greatly improved.

For that 2010 update, Lincoln ditched the retro feel for a more contemporary approach. The materials were improved, the myriad buttons and knobs were now unique to Lincoln and the number of standard features increased. The exterior transformation was less significant, but it did adopt the more dramatic waterfall grille and bolder headlights inspired by other Lincoln models at the time.

Under the hood, the MKZ received a new 3.5-liter V6 that produced 263 hp and 249 lb-ft of torque. Once again, a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive were standard, with all-wheel drive an option. This powertrain was shared with the special Fusion Sport model, but now it at least produced sufficient power for the class.

Also new was a Sport Appearance package, which despite the name actually provided a sport-tuned suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels that made the MKZ surprisingly fun to drive. The ride was a bit firm, though, so most consumers will likely prefer the more comfortable standard setup that still provides fairly nimble handling.

For 2011, the MKZ Hybrid debuted. This, not surprisingly, applied the MKZ's styling and cabin to the Ford Fusion Hybrid powertrain. A combination of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, electric motor and battery pack produced a total of 191 hp and returned 39 mpg combined. That made it the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan of the time.

In total, a used Lincoln MKZ produced between 2010 and 2012 will get you a lot of equipment for the money and a car that's surprisingly fun to drive despite the reputation of its brand. However, most other luxury sedans are still more desirable overall, and a loaded Ford Fusion will bring with it much of the same attributes for even less money.

User Reviews:

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  Designers need 101 design help - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By TopGun - November 12 - 7:43 pm

  Nice car,good handling however noise insulation could use improvment.Front suspension could be a bit softer.Interior controls are so small they are hard to find and operate.White lighting on instrument panel wash out during daylight operation.In some cases cannot be seen at all.Average MPG on hwy.26

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  Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By Art Sosa - October 25 - 12:29 pm

  I have not owned an American car in almost 40 years. Six months ago my wife purchase the Lincoln MKC and I was very impressed with the car, so I started looking at the MKZ. My last four cars were Mercedes, the very last one was a Mercedes E550 W211 - I love every Mercedes I owned. But I can truly say that I am VERY IMPRESSED with the MKZ. It has a great ride, a very attractive design and lots of features. The My Sync feature is very information, I specially link the FREE My Sync - SERVICE option, which you need to register every year for online, but its free. I also like the Lincoln App, it provides lots of information on the vehicle and the Support Section provides videos on "How - To" use all the vehicle features. Ford has done a fantastic job with their website site support also. You can also run alternative fuel - but none of the manufactures want you to know that :-). Awesome car - and Ford has done a fantastic job on the Support App and their website. Thanks Ford, I will be back for a new one in three years. Miami Lakes, Fl. Art Sosa

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  Great Value for an Outstanding Vehicle - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Kevin F - October 19 - 7:50 am

  The performance, stability and noise control are outstanding for this price range. I compared this to similar vehicles with the same options and the Lincoln was clearly the winner. The bonus is that this is a very nice looking vehicle both in and out and its fun to drive.

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  Love My MKZ Hybrid - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By chicagoeg - October 11 - 11:19 am

  Previous 3 new cars have been Acura TLs. Loved them but wanted better mileage and to get away from premium gas. Ive owned the MKZ for 6 months and put 7,500 Chicago miles on it. Seems winter mileage (mixed city and hiway) 38 to 40. Now, April, running about 42 MPG, Very satisfied with that , but may get even better during summer. Love the lines and ride. Tech controls a bit too sensitive and complex. So far, VERY satisfied.

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  Fun for the money! - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By ioregan - October 9 - 3:13 am

  Ive owned my MKZ for about 3 months, took one 1,000 mile road trip with it. Verdict so far: Excellent. The car is beautiful inside and out, ride is very comfortable, engine can get up and go. THX sound system is the best thing Ive ever heard in a vehicle, and voice-activated music is just hilariously fun. Looked at a Buick and the Cadillac CTS, but the MKZ gave me the most bang for my buck, and Im one satisfied customer.

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  4 months with the car and it exceeds expectations - 2013 Lincoln MKZ
  By dano_pa - October 8 - 5:57 am

  I purchased the car with the panoramic sunroof in late July. On the road I get about 38-40 mpg depending on how fast I am going. Around town, I have gotten 47 mpg on certain trips, it all depends on my speed and the amount of hills. I love almost everything about the car, it does get a lot of comments and lookers. It is my first new American car ever and I am 55. I have owned a BMW, Saab, 2 Volvos, a Cadillac, two Nissans a Toyota, a 2 VWs and a Renault.

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  Love it! - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By angiejo - October 7 - 5:46 pm

  I did a lot of research prior to buying MKZ. I liked what I read about MKZ so I bought one. I love my MKZ. The ride is very nice. Consumer report graded it high also. Gas mileage not too bad (mid 20s). For now there isnt a luxury riding car with outstanding gas mileage. I opted for luxury. Dont have to travel that far.

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  Happy purchaser - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By obee - October 5 - 2:11 pm

  We traded our A6 Audi for the MKZ hybrid and couldnt be happier. We took delivery in Arizona and after about 300 miles drove it to Minnesota. We find the seating more comfortable than the Audi but we did get the messaging seats because of my wifes back trouble. We averaged 40.2 on the trip and now at 3000 miles it is at 41. We have had two shorter trip gas fills with one at 48 and one at 44, but I have to say that we live in a rural area with a lot of 55 mph roads and we have paid close attention to acceleration and braking. I appreciate the lack of a shifter since they only connect to wires anyway. The interior is very attractive and close to the Audis quality.

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  Best car I ever owned - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By thiscarsamazing!!!!! - October 1 - 3:43 pm

  This car is amazing. Even in FWD model it seems to grip the road on curves. On acceleration it gives a powerful purr and takes off like a rocket. By far this is the best luxury sedan I ever owned and Ive owned lots of luxury sedans.

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  Lincoln Has a New Faithful Customer - 2010 Lincoln MKZ
  By J. Raw - August 27 - 7:00 am

  I bought my MKZ with Front Wheel Drive a Month ago. I am just under the 1000 mile mark and Love driving this Car. It has great handling and powerful on the highways. Im Looking foward to taking it on a nice long road trip. I was always into GM Cars and liked Caddys and Buicks, but The Grill of the MKZ caught my eyes. New York had 2 major blizzards so far and the Front wheel drive was more then enough to get me to work on time. Its roomy inside.I always Bought big flag ship GM models and never the smaller model.I looked at the 2010 La Crosse which I think is very Nice along with the CTS but I found that the Lincoln MKZ felt less confining. if You like USA cars the MKZ is a great choice.