2007 Lincoln MKZ Review

Lincoln MKZ – 2007 Review: Lincoln’s historic Zephyr moniker blew in for 2006 and right back out again for 2007 when marketers decided to switch from memorable, iconic nameplates to forgettable alphabet soup badges like MKR, MKS, MKX, and MKZ. The only one spared was Navigator, which apparently still has brand equity in the eyes of Harvard MBAs. Based on the Ford Fusion, the Lincoln MKZ receives significant upgrades after just one year on the market, including a new 3.5-liter V6 engine and optional all-wheel drive. While Lincoln’s marketing morass is terrific fodder for poking fun at the MKZ, the truth is that there’s a decent car here. The trouble is that decent doesn’t quite cut it in a field littered with standouts.

What We Drove

Vivid Red Clearcoat Metallic paint on a Lincoln MKZ helps to hide the largeness of the taillights, but also makes the sedan look like a 55-year-old female realtor with a penchant for knock-off jewelry might drive it. Our all-wheel-drive test car’s base price of $31,765 including the $715 destination charge was inflated to a final sticker of $35,640 by a navigation system (at $2,495, local maps and a national atlas look like bargains), cooled front seats ($495), high-intensity discharge headlights ($495), an interior satin and aluminum package ($195), and Sirius satellite radio ($195). Our test car did not have a power sunroof, and neither parking sensors nor stability control are available on the MKZ.

Performance

Equipped with just what the doctor, and the public, ordered, the Lincoln MKZ has a powerful and responsive 3.5-liter V6 good for 263 horsepower under its hood. Not as refined or gutsy sounding as some competitors’ engines, Lincoln’s new V6 nevertheless produces quick acceleration. Fuel economy could be better; we averaged 19 mpg during a week of mixed driving. The new six-speed automatic transmission sends power to all four of the MKZ’s wheels, shifts smoothly and responds dutifully, but needs a manual shift mode instead of a rudimentary overdrive-off button. Also, on more than one occasion during a rolling stop in traffic the transmission kicked down harshly when getting off the brake and onto the accelerator at speeds less than 10 mph.

Handling

Few auto reviewers may admit it, but the Lincoln MKZ is equipped with a perfectly tuned suspension that deftly blends capable handling and a supple ride quality without filtering communication from the road. L.A.’s Latigo Canyon Road is not the first byway one might think of trying in the MKZ, but we thought the Lincoln managed that kinky, bumpy, pockmarked piece of pavement with grace. The brake pedal is quick to respond and easy to modulate, the Michelin 225/50R17 tires remain quiet under pressure, and the steering provides good feedback. Still, the steering isn’t particularly quick and the transmission lacks a manual shift mode, dulling the MKZ’s fun factor. Around town, this car desperately needs a tighter turning circle for greater maneuverability.

Visibility

Equipped with a tall rear deck and rakish back window, visibility to the rear isn’t terrific. Parking on city streets is particularly difficult because the car behind the Lincoln MKZ disappears from view, making the lack of a park sensing system obvious. Plus, at the bottom of the rear glass, distortions skew the driver’s world view. Large, rectangular side mirrors and a good view forward make it easy to see around corners and change lanes on the freeway. Sun glare frequently makes the lower third of the gauge cluster invisible to the driver.

Fun to Drive

Outright good times elude the Lincoln MKZ’s driver because, at the end of the day, this is a luxury sedan and not a sport sedan. However, the MKZ’s capable suspension, willing engine, substantial brakes, and good road feel give it a European dynamic heretofore lacking in many American luxury cars. With different tires, stiffer anti-roll bars, a manual shift mode for the automatic, and faster steering, the MKZ would definitely be fun to drive.

Front Comfort

Lincoln nailed front seat comfort in the MKZ. The leather upholstered chairs offer a tall seating position, supportive cushions, and a wide range of adjustment to accommodate various body types. Plus, there’s optional heating and cooling. A tilt and telescopic steering wheel, wide upper door panel sills covered in soft material, and a padded center armrest that slides forward for shorter drivers are standard. The driver and front passenger also get plenty of leg and head room. Additionally, the shape of the steering wheel spokes and center airbag pad make for a terrific hand rest during long-distance cruising. If there’s room for improvement, steering effort could be lighter at low speeds to assist parking.

Comfort

It’s too bad that Lincoln didn’t pay as much attention to detail with regard to rear passenger comfort as it did in front. Leg room is fine for this size sedan, and while the rear cushion could be taller for better thigh support, occupants won’t feel like they’re sitting on the floor. The comfort complaints arise with the details. For instance, lumpy wiring and a seat structure bar impede foot room, the rear head restraints are bumps at the top of the backrest that don’t adjust and probably provide little protection in a rear impact accident, and there’s a plastic cupholder insert in the center armrest right where the passenger’s elbow falls.

Interior Noise

Up to 65 mph, the Lincoln MKZ’s cabin is impressively quiet. Above that speed, wind noise erupts around the mirrors and windshield pillars. The Michelin Energy MXV4 tires on our test car contributed to the sense of solitude, and during an abusive mountain run they remained remarkably silent even as we dove into corners hard enough to scrub the sidewalls. Rough pavement added road and suspension noise to the ambience, but not enough to be bothersome.

Loading Cargo

Here again, when it comes to the trunk Lincoln skips the details that could make MKZ ownership more appealing, though we’ll be the first to note that the seatback releases are among the best in the business – just pull the handy lever and the seatbacks flop right down. The amount and shape of the space is not the problem. Rather, it’s the ill-fitting and cheap liner Lincoln uses to finish the luggage compartment, and the lack of a handle or grip to assist with closing the stiff, strut-supported trunk lid. The result is filthy hands if the MKZ’s decklid is dirty. You’d think designers and engineers based in rainy and snowy Michigan would have addressed this problem.

Build Quality

Before Lincoln has any chance of reviving sales in the face of luxury powerhouses from Asia and Europe, it must focus on build quality. Yes, the MKZ gets favorable ratings from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power for first-year durability, but based on sloppy execution found in our media fleet vehicle – such as a passenger airbag panel that didn’t line up with the right outboard vent panel, an ill-fitting lower dash panel on the driver’s side and inconsistent gap tolerances for the navigation radio – line workers in Mexico need to improve attention to detail. Ditto for the exterior, where gaps are wide, frequently inconsistent, and sometimes obviously misaligned.