Lincoln MKZ

SPECIFICATIONS

1. Three engines are offered on the 2013 Lincoln MKZ: a 2.0L EcoBoost 4-cylinder, a 300 horsepower V6 and a 45 MPG hybrid. 2. Engineers dispensed with the traditional console-mounted gear-shifter, replacing it with a lineup of push-buttons on the dashboard. 3. Priced from $36,000 our V6-powered all-wheel-drive model starts at about 40 grand, with our tester at $51,000!

PREVIEW

Lincoln is a brand on the brink of death. At best its parent company Ford has been a neglectful guardian, at worst they’ve been downright abusive. Once a proud company that could go bumper-to-bumper with the world’s best, the Blue Oval’s domestic luxury division has been starved of product for the better part of a decade and a half. The Lincoln of today is an emaciated silhouette of what it once was. 

Ford executives have promised to resuscitate this patient with a phalanx of distinctive new vehicles. The first of this assault to splash ashore on dealership beachheads is the 2013 MKZ. The car sports a striking new design and lots of clever touches, but is that enough to pull the rechristened Lincoln Motor Company out of its perennial quagmire.

INTERIOR

But trumping even its elevated backside is a retractable glass roof. It crowns the MKZ’s top with a pane of glazing large enough to be measured in acres. Actually, it covers 15.2 square feet, which is probably more than some Manhattan apartments. It’s undeniably cool to watch this giant sheet of glass pop up and slide backwards over the rear window. But as neat as the panoramic ceiling is, be warned; it’s a $2,995 option and it significantly hampers rearward visibility when deployed. Still it lets the sunshine in like a convertible with none of rattles or structural jiggles associated with a drop-top.

Push-button start is as common as personal bankruptcies these days, but Lincoln engineers took this idea one step further. They eliminated the traditional gear-selector, replacing it with buttons on the dashboard. It unclutters the cabin and opens up a host of possibilities for the center console’s newfound real estate.The MKZ’s exterior may be equal parts delight and dismay but there are plenty of things to smile about inside. Everything is clean and elegant, especially the sweeping dashboard and cascading center console, the dominant element in the car’s cabin. Even the materials are rich and inviting, particularly the leather on the seats. Add it all up and the MKZ’s cockpit speaks luxury in soft but sincere tones.

Speaking of the rear seat, it’s one of the car’s more disappointing features. It’s cramped back there. If you’re of the gangly persuasion you won’t be comfortable for long. Even more troubling is the headroom situation, with no space if any part of your body approaches the six-foot mark.The devil’s in the details and surprisingly for a domestic automaker Lincoln is paying attention to the little things. For instance, the front-seat headrests ratchet so just about any person can get comfortable. The power seat controls are highlighted in fine chrome details and designers even used the rear-seat reading lamps as an opportunity to do something artistic. The lights and buttons to control them are integrated into the headliner. They actually shine through the woven fabric covering the roof. It’s a clever design flourish, but one that will probably lead to ugly stains over time. Make sure the MKZ’s back bench is a Cheetos-free zone.

UNDER THE HOOD

Fuel economy is not one of the car’s strong suits, either. With the six-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive it stickers at 18 miles per gallon in city driving and 26 on freeway jaunts. Unfortunately in our hands the MKZ only delivered 17 MPG.The test car provided for evaluation was powered by a 3.7-liter V6, the largest and most powerful engine offered in the MKZ. It’s a staple of the Ford lineup and sees duty in the vehicles like the Mustang and F-150. In Lincoln service it delivers an unremarkable 300 horsepower with 277 pound-feet of torque, and plenty of vibration. The blue-collar Duratec V6 engine family has never been known for silky-smoothness and this one continues that unfortunate tradition. It buzzes far more than a luxury-car engine should; it almost feels like a riot is taking place ahead of the firewall. It’s not as harsh as an Osterizer full of walnut shells, but it’s not satisfying to wind out, either.

Giving shoppers some welcome variety in their diet, the car is also offered with a 2.0-liter EcoBoost four-cylinder engine as well as a hybrid drivetrain. The turbo puts out 240 horsepower while the electric allegedly delivers up to 45 mpg in mixed driving.

On paper 300 horsepower sounds impressive but in practice it’s less than awe-inspiring. To be certain, the MKZ is a quick car, but it’s not fast. Undoubtedly part of the problem is weight. As delivered for testing the car clocked in at more than 4,000 pounds!The range-topping MKZ V6 we test drove featured all-wheel drive. This is a great feature if you live in an area that gets smothered in snow, but it’s probably not necessary for most drivers. It adds weight and complexity, plus it seems to blunt the engine’s responsiveness.