Driving Impressions

On the road, the Lincoln Zephyr behaves very much as a Lincoln should. A fully independent suspension accentuates ride quality over handling, resulting in road imperfections being seen but not felt. Interior noise levels are no louder than a whisper even at highway speeds. The velvety ride quality is on par with that of the Lexus ES 330. Power from the standard 220-hp 3.0-liter V6 should be good enough for most drivers, although it remains between 35 to 50 horsepower shy of the Acura TL, Infiniti G35 and Cadillac CTS 3.6. The 3.0-liter engine, which Ford calls the Duratec V6, could be smoother and quieter under strong acceleration. Zephyr is only available with front-wheel-drive, and as such is the only Lincoln that does not have rear- or all-wheel drive. The standard six-speed automatic delivers smooth, unnoticeable shifts. However, the transmission does not offer a manual shift mode, as do most of the other offerings in the near-luxury segment, not to mention the Mazda6 on which it's based. The powertrain delivers decent fuel efficiency, however, thanks in no small part to the six-speed automatic's tall top gear. The Zephyr's claimed 20 mpg in the city and 28 on the highway compares favorably within its competitive set, especially to its more powerful competition. Handling, however, suffers as a result of Zephyr's emphasis on ironing out all the bumps. In terms of sportiness, the front-wheel-drive Zephyr simply cannot compete with the rear-wheel-drive Cadillac CTS or the rear-wheel-drive BMW 3 Series or the all-wheel-drive Audi A4. The Zephyr's ride and handling mix is more comparable to that of the Buick LaCrosse, Toyota Avalon, and Lexus ES 330. Specifically, the springs are quite soft, allowing for considerable body roll (lean) in turns. The engine-speed-sensitive, variable-assist power steering tends to be a bit overboosted at most speeds. The turning circle is unimpressive at 40.0 feet, making parking lot maneuvers particularly cumbersome. The Zephyr comes with four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and electronic brake-force distribution. During our test, they proved to be decent, if not world class. The pedal was relatively uncommunicative and stops were accompanied by considerable brake dive. Traction control is offered, but stability control is not. This is surprising, since most everything in this class (as well as many that cost far less) come with this safety feature. Also notably absent from the options list is a reverse sensing system.

Final Word

The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr is a classy, midsize luxury sedan that combines front-wheel-drive dynamics with contemporary styling, a terrific interior and good fuel economy. It is safe and easy to drive, if not super sporty. The attractive price makes it a compelling choice for buyers looking at the Buick Lucerne, Lexus ES 330, Acura TL, or Cadillac CTS. NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Steve Siler filed this report from Hollywood, California.