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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  So far so good, this car is stunning - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By Shay Gipson - October 24 - 3:26 am

  What a fantastic vehicle, for the price too. Unbelievable. Love the car, my salesman is Orson Van Gay at Galpin Lincoln...definitely great person to go to if you are in the market for this car. I love this car.

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  I feel the need to write a review - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By danstr1 - October 2 - 9:00 am

  I recently purchased a new MKZ. I feel compelled to write a review after reading several negative reviews written by "professional" reviewers. Please sit down...Im in my late 30s and traded in a relatively new Audi on the thing. Technology is truly important to some of us along with handling and a nice compliant ride. This has all the above. My Audis handled well but had none of these other qualities. Reliability is also key. Im truly pleased with my purchase and feel that the styling is anything but cookie cutter and offers a great combination of features. Rebadged Ford.. so is Lexus....so is Acura....so is Audi.... so what!

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  2008 MKZ FWD - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By weekst11 - September 12 - 7:27 am

  After having the vehicle for 3 years now with 58K on the odometer I thought that now was a appropriate time for a real world review, and this is what I found. I have had ZERO issues with reliability and have gotten everything I wanted out of the car. True, it is not exactly the most stylish car out there(pales in comparison to say a CTS) but also costs a good 10K less. Gas mileage has been 23.3 avg over highway (80mph) and city. I do about 20K miles a year. The heated and cooled seats are a fovorite in the winter/summer, I know it sounds somewhat rediculous to have A/C seats but trust me...when summer gets here it is a wonderful perk! Great car for the money.

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  Love mine - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By Lois - August 30 - 6:03 pm

  I am very satified with this car. The quality was better than the others in this price range. I love the sync radio system and the sound is clear. I bought the FWD for better gas mileage and have driven it in a few inches of snow and it seems fine. I love the air conditioned seats. Lots of room in the trunk and a quiet ride. It is not as much fun as my BMW 528i was to drive when I was lucky enough to have it running. The oil changes and routine maintenence is cheap compared to BMW. This is the first American made luxury car I have owned in quite a while. I always liked the chrome. This had nice details and a eye catching look.

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  Smooth Ride - 2012 Lincoln MKZ
  By - August 19 - 4:25 am

  Hybrid is the way to go on this model. The ride is very smooth and quiet. Overall, the vehicle is quite refined. I have about 7000 miles on this car and I am averaging 40.5 mpg. I would probable due better, but 95% of my driving is highway. The car has plenty of power for passing, or merging, and handles like a dream. I have owned several Mercedes prior to this Lincoln and they did not drive nearly as nice as this. I would give Mercedes a thumbs up on seat comfort, but that is it. That is not to say the seats on the MKZ are not comfortable, they are, but Mercedes has slightly better side support. Overall, the MKZ is a joy to drive and very reliable!

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  Outstanding Vehicle - 2010 Lincoln MKZ
  By Bob Leitch - August 7 - 3:46 am

  I have driven this car for 2000 miles and have found no issues or concerns. The level of finish and comfort are excellent. AWD was not available on all competing brands.

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  Not Happy - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By pebe98 - July 28 - 6:25 pm

  We bought the 07 MKZ used in 08 with 5,200 miles. It gets parked for the winter and at this time has 20,200 miles on it. Between the air conditioning and the transmission problems, this car spends more time at the dealership getting fixed and I am paying insurance on a lincoln and am driving a focus loaner. The dealer just had this car for 2 wks fixing transmission, had it back 2 days and is currently at the dealer again with no end date for repairs to be finished. It has officially spent more time in the shop than my 10 year old honda odyssey ever has...Would definitely not trust this car on an extended trip any time soon.

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  Third Ford Corporation Hybrid - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By Fred - July 14 - 8:39 am

  This is my third "Ford Corporation" hybrid. First was a 2010 Ford Fusion (great vehicle), Second, a 2012 Lincoln MKZ (another great vehicle) and this one, a 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. I purchased the 2014 Lincoln solely because it has "killer" looks, very eye-catching and the newest battery technology. Ive had no problems with ANY of the hybrids and the gas mileage is fantastic. I really like Fords hybrids because they look like "real" cars, not like "insects" as in the Toyota Prius. Theres only a couple of things I would change, one is the CVT transmission (I dont care for the "drone" sound it makes under hard acceleration {although it does perform well at all highway speeds}), the second is a larger fuel tank and the third is the many touch screen prompts (I prefer buttons/switches and knobs). Dealer service is great, showrooms are high class and personnel are very friendly. Additionally, Lincoln does not charge extra for the hybrid edition. A nice feature is when sitting in traffic, the battery pack heats and cools the interior of the car without running the engine and only comes on temporarily when the battery pack needs to be recharged and that only takes a few minutes. Cant buy a better vehicle.

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  Great buy - 2017 Lincoln MKZ
  By Brian Bossier - June 30 - 1:36 pm

  Aesthetically pleasing car that gets 41mpg. Best ride in its class bar none(I tried them all, the Lincoln is head and shoulders above) if you want to drag race get another car, if you love a smooth ride, great gas mileage, pleasing interior and features the Lincoln is THE BEST in class.

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  My Lincoln MKZ - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By john baverstock - June 6 - 3:44 pm

  This model is very reliable and rides smoothly and has very little road noise, The only visits I have had to the repair shop has been for regular service.