For anyone seeking quiet luxury, the Lincoln MKZ is a midsize sedan that places comfort and relaxation ahead of any sporting pretenses. Striking design, inside and out, aims to attract buyers who prefer to stand apart from the German-sedan crowd, providing more of a modern take on American luxury. The MKZ is available with a heap of technology, much of it aimed at making driving easier and perhaps impressing passengers.
What's New for 2017
Substantially freshened for the 2017 model year, the MKZ gets a new grille that eliminates the previous “split wing” theme. It also helps establish Lincoln’s next design generation. Adaptive LED headlights are available. Inside is a new “floating” center console, joined by a pushbutton gear selector. New switches and dials have replaced the prior sliders to control ventilation and audio. A newly available 3-liter V6 engine develops up to 400 horsepower.
Choosing Your Lincoln MKZ
The MKZ comes with a choice of two gasoline engines (the MKZ Hybrid is covered in a separate overview). Standard is again a 2-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine that makes 240 horsepower. For 2017, the newly optional twin-turbo 3-liter V6 generates 400 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, when installed in an MKZ with all-wheel drive. With standard front-wheel drive, V6 output drops to 350 horsepower. Both engines mate with a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive costs nearly $1,900 extra with either engine.
Lincoln offers the MKZ in three trim levels, and with a Black Label equipment group.
Considering the new V6 makes sense, because that's the MKZ's main advantage over the Ford Fusion on which it's based. Upgrading from the four-cylinder engine to the new V6 adds $4,000 to the price of an all-wheel-drive model, or $2,750 to the front-drive sedan. Mid-level Select trim delivers most of the features expected in this price class, whereas a loaded Reserve or Black Label can get expensive. If you like open-roofed driving, you may as well go all the way with that spectacular panoramic glass roof option.