The MKZ is the most appealing and well-executed Lincoln in memory. Its ride and handling rival that of a high-end European sports sedans, and it feels substantial. If you took a ride and were blind to identifying cues, you might mistake this car for an Audi. If it weren't for the frustrating MyLincoln Touch controls and some practical shortfalls, including compromised visibility, the MKZ might have been one of our highest scoring midsized luxury sedans.
Nicely finished and quiet inside, the MKZ has comfortable seats, but rear-seat room and access are limited. Controls include a push button shifter, an unusual feature tried and abandoned by various carmakers over the years and that drew some complaints from our staff.
Buyers can choose from four- and six-cylinder engines and front- or all-wheel drive, or a hybrid powertrain that's priced the same as the base four-cylinder and is available only with front-wheel drive.
The turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline engine performs well, but fails to deliver the promised fuel economy benefits Lincoln claims compared to most competitors' V6 engines. An optional six-cylinder adds smoothness, along with $1200 to the bottom line. Fuel economy is an impressive 34 mpg overall with the Hybrid, but short of manufacturer claims.