https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-cars/mkz/


At the D.C. Auto Show, as I do every year, I signed up for both the Ford and Lincoln Dealer Test-Drive offers. Ford gives you a $50 pre-paid Mastercard, to spend anyway you want. Lincoln, in contrast, donates $75, in your name, to one your choice of about 9 or 10 different charities. I used the Ford offer a couple of weeks ago, on an F-150 test-drive for our condo-maintenance man, who is going to need a new truck pretty soon. I was going to use the Lincoln offer, this year, on the new Aviator or Corsair, since both have generated quite a bit of interest on Car Chat, especially the Aviator, which I have review-requests for. But, the time-limit for the offer is May 31 (the end of this week), and, from what the reps tell me, the new Aviators will not arrive for several more weeks yet, and the first new Corsairs probably not untll the end of the summer. So, I saw no sense in driving the existing MKX or MKC, since they are going to be replaced by the Aviator and Corsair, the impressive new Navigator has already been thoroughly discussed in Car Chat, and nobody besides myself seems interested in the Continental, despite its stunning elegance and interior.

So, instead of letting the $75 offer go down the drain this year (I chose to send it to the American Red Cross, as I already am a regular blood-donor), I decided to sample the latest version of the MKZ mid-sized sedan. Since Lincoln prices the Hybrid versions at the same base prices as their FWD gas equivalents (AWD is also available, at extra cost), I decided to sample a Hybrid Reserve I version, with a light smoked-brown-colored paint job, Cappuchino (Beige) leather interior, and, with options, listing for $43,805. I like the MKZ's looks, particularly the Jaguar-esque front grille/headlights (which were added for 2017 during a mid-generation facelift), and, since Lincoln has no plans for its axing the MKX in its immediate future despite Ford axing many of its own sedans, it will be a consideration for my next car, now that GM has axed the Buick Lacrosse and will probably ax the Chevy Impala at the end of the year. I am not impressed with any of the current Cadillac sedans. I also plan to look at upcoming versions of the Genesis G80, Kia Cadenza, and Toyota Avalon....I've already sampled a 2019 Avalon and Cadenza. Though still not as high on the totem pole, I'll consider an ES350 if I find one that is more comfortable and quieter than the one I previously sampled, with 45-series tires.


OK....enough ramblings about me, offers/charities, and my future plans. Now, to the MKZ.


The latest-generation of the MKZ was introduced in 2013, and was face-lifted in 2017 to add (IMO) a much nicer-looking grille/front end and address customer-complaints (mine included) with the Ford MYTouch system and slide-finger sensors on the console for the stereo and climate-control. They had a used 2013 MKZ in the showroom for comparison, and the difference between the controls on the old and new versions, IMO, is just stunning. Nice, firm-feeling rotary-*****, buttons, toggle-switches, and other controls replace those awkward finger-slides. Getting in, this is one of the relatively few vehicles today with front seats that I consider soft and comfortable enough for my tastes....most are simply too firmly padded. The new control layout, for most functions, is light-years ahead of the pre-2017 models, though the so-called "improved" dash-screen and MyTouch systems were still quite complex and required a lot of scrolling and mode-switching to find what you wanted. I was particularly disappointed in that, on the Hybrid model, neither me or the salespeople could find a way to bring up a tachometer on the screen so that I could watch engine-revs....this made manual-shift of the CVT transmission more difficult. (Perhaps there indeed is a way to bring up the electronic tach, but we couldn't find it). An analog-style tach is standard, of course, on the gas versions. Lincoln, however, has made a lot of progress in the fit/finish of the MKZ interiors since I last sampled one a couple of years ago....it seemed more solidly-screwed together, and did not have creaks, rattles or any loose fits.


On the road, there were mixed blessings. It was basically quiet and comfortable, and I could live with this car if I had to, but several things on it were not up to the level of my Lacrosse. The suspension, overall, was soft enough for a relatively comfortable ride overall and over large bumps, but the 19"/40-series tires in front (and 18"/45's in back) simply didn't have enough sidewall to adequately cushion small, sharp bumps. Because they are of two different sizes, you can't rotate them for extended-life...and I'd be concerned about those 40s up front, and their rims, being damaged on some potholes. The 2.0L Atkinson-cycle in-line four (hybrids often use Atkinson-cycle engines) and electric-drive system provide what I consider enough power for most normal use, though I admit I'm not a speed-freak. This car is not designed for aggressive driving, so, of course, handling/steering response/body-roll is relatively sedate. Sound insulation is very good, particularly on the electric-drive...clearly one of the car's best points. Even with the gas engine, though, Lincoln didn't skimp on the soundproofing, though the car would probably be even quieter with softer tires and more sidewall. Like many hybrids, the MKZ uses a stepped-gear CVT, and this is one area where I disagree with Consumer Reports.....I like Lincoln's simple, clear, and easy-to-use push-buttons for the transmission (it beats the electronic joy-stick in my Lacrosse). 50 years ago, I first learned to drive on the Chrysler push-button transmissions of the era, and I guess the memories stayed with me all this time. The car's worst feature on the road, IMO, was probably the brake-proportioning. Hybrids typically have regenerative braking, which is effective, but can sometimes have overly-sensitive brake pedals. I didn't have any problems with the pedal-location and my big clown-shoes, but the pedal did show some of the same over-sensitivity to light brake-pressure that hybrids used to have. And, in the back of the car, on the trunk-lid, another significant complaint......the plastic outside release-button for the lid is about the size of a square dime (honestly....I'm not kidding), and a Munchkin would have trouble putting his or her little pinky on it to push the lid open.


VERDICT:

Basically a nice job, Lincoln. Keep this car in production (without making excuses for dropping it like GM did), put a little more sidewall in the tires (maybe 50s or 55s), reprogram the brake system a little, make the screen-adjustments a little simpler, design a trunk-release-button that doesn't take a microscope to find, and....my checkbook just might be waiting.


And, as Always, Happy Car-Shopping.


MM