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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  2017 MKZ Best looking car in its class - 2017 Lincoln MKZ
  By Elliot Samuelson - October 20 - 7:15 pm

  The car is beautiful inside and out . Ride is superior, as is steering and brakes. The anti collision feature is worthless. Does not slow down or stop until within a foot of obstacle. Should work as well as braking for cruise control.

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  2016 MKZ Hybrid - NOT worth the money! - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By Benjamin Jones - October 13 - 5:36 pm

  1. MKZ Hybrid is advertised as getting 40+ mpg city/highway. I promise you it will never, ever do that. The best my wife and I ever get is 36.6. Our average is between 30 and 35. So dont be fooled by the salesman. 2. The style is actually incredible. We both love the look and feel of the interior. The outside is pretty sleek as well, but the "white" version is not a true white - more of a pearlescent white. 3. At a full tank the dash reads 500 miles to empty, give or take some. We get maybe 350 miles before we have to actually fill up, so do not be fooled into thinking that a brand new car is any more advanced than its predecessors. My old pickup truck is more accurate in fuel estimation. 4. Heres the biggest freaking problem we had with this car: It has had 2 mechanical repairs and 1 fuel efficiency evaluation done on it since we drove it off the lot a few months ago. The dealership in Stockton put up a huge fuss about how this couldnt be really happening, it never happens to these cars, and we must be mistaken. Well we were not mistaken. A fuel fumes leak was repaired, a purge valve was replaced, and we insisted they give us an extra 10,000 miles on the lease because of the incredible disappointment this car has been for us. It will not get the amazing gas mileage promised, it has a very slow and low performing engine, there is minimal trunk space, and our dealership (even though they make it seem like Lincoln owners get treated SO much better) treated us like trash. I am not kidding when I say that I had to call them countless time to even get an answer on our problems. It was a full-scale disaster. My suggestion: buy Ford Fusion hybrid if you want the American made car. Its the same engine system as the MKZ Hybrid and its like 30% cheaper! Dont fork out big money for something that doesnt deserve it and wont earn it.

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  Classy Brooklyn Style - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By JoEy MiGs - October 5 - 4:13 pm

  This is a great car. I saw it online and fell in love with it. I called the dealership, I told them the deal I wanted and they acomodated me. The next day I went in a bought the car. The body style and the ride is wonderful and the interior is amazing. Affordable, and a lot of options that you would normally pay extra for come standard. Lincoln did a great job on the car, I am 23 years old and all my boys are raving about it. It has a young look to it and I think the MKZ and The Navigator are going to be the two hottest cars that Lincoln puts out!

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  2014 Mkz with 5k driven miles - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By Russ - August 31 - 7:01 pm

  First off I got really lucky with finding a MKZ with everything I wanted with only 5000 miles on it. The other MKZs had over 20k on them. so far Ive had the car for 3 weeks and its been nothing but a dream its almost brand new the ride is super comfortable I came out of a Cadillac CTS and before that I had a Mercedes Benz 350 so I know what Comfort feels like in this MKZ is perfect when it comes to comfort and styling the interior is super quiet the exterior is strikingly beautiful. I love the I4 ecoboost engine gives you the power when you need it I feel like Im still in my V6 and when you go into sport mode it is really phenomenal on how it handles the technology package is not for everybody but I love it some of the older people dont like it they want knots and youll see the 2017 MKZ they went back to knobs but I prefer the Sleek styling that they have an in MKZ. You will not go wrong with a MKZ. Lincoln did a great job in this car..

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  Great car, a well-kept secret - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By austin1814 - August 8 - 1:30 am

  I purchased my 2007 AWD MKZ a month ago. I traded an Acura RSX. I tested an Acura TL, a BMW 328xi, and an Infiniti G35x. Each vehicle was good, but none of the competitors moved me: the TL felt like an Accord; the 3-series drives great but its so common now; the Infiniti was nice, but it too is becoming common. After the 1st test drive of the Lincoln, I was sold. The exterior is subtle and classy. The interior is easily the best in its class. The car is more luxury than sport, but its not boring. The stereo is great. Every day I have random people stop me to compliment me on the car. I am very pleased with this car. It is the nicest car Ive ever purchased.

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  Excellent value for a hybrid vehicle - 2013 Lincoln MKZ
  By lincolnmkz2013 - August 3 - 12:53 pm

  Purchased the hybrid in June 2013. What can I say - this is a very fine car! I looked at all hybrids in its class and Lincoln had the quietest ride among all. Lincoln invested in whats not available in other 40K range cars: improved sound insulation and, consequently, reduced wind noise. Looking at its expensive looking elegant exterior, its hard to guess that its most practical and versatile hybrid in a class, due to its folded seats capacity. I have no problems picking up relatives from the airport or even loading small furniture/bycicles in the car! I love the audio sound quality, the trip report and mpg screen, Lincoln Mobile apps and push-buttons star.

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  Glad I got it - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By driver130 - July 6 - 3:54 pm

  I almost brought a Cadillac until I saw that Lincoln Hybrid was the same price as the non Hyb. I have this car three months and it is comfortable, fun to drive looks good too. The electronics are not at all confusing as some pro reviewers have suggested, nor does it make noise when converting to gas from battery. Study the manual a bit and the electronics will become intuitive. The extra space provided by push button gears and no shift handle is awesome. I have compared this to friends BMW and Benz and the Lincoln actually has some better features. The audio system being one. THX audio rocks. Crisp and clear sound.

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  Luxury Sedan for Grownups - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By randygrenier - June 10 - 3:10 am

  I previously owned a Cadillac CTS, but I like the MKZ Hybrid much more. Im glad someone finally recognizes there is a market for this kind of car. I respect that others want high-performance road racing cars, but I prefer a quiet, posh ride. The technology is unbelievable. The reviewers mention the computerized continually adjusting dampening system, but they dont mention that it "learns" along with brakes, acceleration, you driving habits, and road conditions to improve over time. The cabin tech is out of this world--not enough space here to even begin.

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  I bought it after the 39 month lease - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By bigbaby - June 2 - 12:32 am

  "Test drove" it for the 39 month lease, then bought it for the residual price, which was thousands less than similar retail prices on used ones. Its just a great car. Many features for the buck, and everything works. Quiet, comfortable, spacious trunk with fold down rear seats, A/C seats are wonderful in North Texas.

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  Nice Automobile - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Abner - June 1 - 8:26 pm

  Compared to previous owned Jaguar S Type this vehicle comes close to the Jaguar. A very nicely designed Vehicle, with performance equal to the 4.2 Jaguar.