2017 Lincoln MKZ Road Test and Review

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ poses this question: What defines luxury?

Is it a price tag, a badge, a platform, or a collection of technology? Or is it simply how a car makes you feel? Although some folks might consider the MKZ to be nothing more than a stylish Ford Fusion, the most important attribute of a luxury car is its ability to lower stress levels, to provide sanctuary from the storm. With the revised 2017 Lincoln MKZ, the company sought “quiet luxury,” not ostentatious excess. Affordability and attainability are key. Features such as auto-hold and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go make traffic less stressful. A reasonable price tag and a wide selection of support options provide accessibility and peace of mind.

The previous version of the Lincoln MKZ caught flack for being too close to the Fusion in looks. The 2017 MKZ takes a significant away from that Ford, thanks to a handsome grille and front-end treatment that clearly differentiates this Lincoln from its corporate cousin (and the competition). The twin “waterfall” grilles have been vanquished, in favor of a massive single grille with Lincoln’s logo mesh design and a tastefully sized star, located front and center. Distinctive and thoughtful lighting features are used throughout. The adaptive headlamps are accented with LED signature running lights, and the exterior mirrors feature security approach lamps. Step near your MKZ in the dark (with key fob in hand) and it reassuringly awakens upon your arrival, lighting the way with logo-emblazoned puddle lights.

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ is offered in four trim levels—Premiere, Select, Reserve, and Black Label—in both conventional and hybrid drivetrains. The conventional and hybrid models are priced identically, a practice all luxury hybrid manufacturers should follow. The Select model adds leather upholstery, wood trim, a configurable LCD gauge cluster, ambient lighting, and a pair of rear-seat USB ports. The Reserve model features perforated leather upholstery, ventilated front bucket seats, and 19-inch alloy wheels with 20 spokes. The Black Label takes the MKZ to the highest level with exquisite materials and themed interior finishes (Black Label Chalet shown above). We tested a nicely appointed 3.0-liter MKZ Reserve in Ingot Silver Metallic with an Ebony leather interior.

The conventionally powered MKZ (non-hybrid) is available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. A 2.0-liter turbocharged direct-injected 4-cylinder engine rated at 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque is standard. In a Fusion, you’d know this engine as an EcoBoost. Our front-drive MKZ tester was equipped with the mighty 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 (shown above), which is optional ($2750) in the Select and Reserve models. It’s rated at a healthy 350 horsepower (with front-wheel drive) and a whopping 400 horsepower with all-wheel drive. We think the AWD MKZ with that V6 is the sleeper of the year. Torque, of note, is rated at 400 pound-feet for the V6 in both FWD and AWD versions. The V6 is detuned in front-drive MKZs to lessen torque steer. The 6-speed automatic transmission is controlled via pushbuttons and paddle shifters. 

The trio of engine choices in the 2017 Lincoln MKZ offers something for everyone. The 2.0-liter MKZ is EPA-rated at 21 mpg city/31 mpg highway with FWD or 20/28 with AWD. The MKZ Hybrid is only available with FWD and is EPA-rated at 41/38. The big bad twin-turbo V6 is rated at 18/27 with FWD or 17/26 with AWD.

The MKZ’s turbocharged engines are tuned to use high-octane fuel. Running 93-octane premium gasoline will deliver the stated performance and fuel economy. Running low-octane regular gas will not hurt the car, but its will affect horsepower and gas mileage. We saw fuel economy in line with the EPA figures during our week with the FWD MKZ, which hits 60 mph in a tick under six seconds. For you drag racers, it's all about the fuel and the hookup. We suspect the AWD V6 MKZ will hit 60 in less than five seconds.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates the 2017 MKZ a Top Safety Pick when it's   equipped with the optional front crash-prevention technology. The only factor holding the MKZ back in the IIHS ratings is a marginal score for headlights, which is odd, considering that they’re adaptive. Blind-spot mirrors, rear cross-traffic alert, a rearview camera, and a reverse sensing system are standard on the MKZ Reserve. The Technology option package ($2395) features a slew of advanced safety features, including pedestrian detection, pre-collision assist, active lane keep, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and active parking assist. Optional rear inflatable seat belts ($225) are offered on the Select and Reserve models.

The MKZ’s interior is wonderfully quiet and tastefully appointed. The Reserve model is fitted with 10-way power adjustable front bucket seats that feature three-level seat heating and ventilation,  along with four-way power lumbar. Multi-contour front buckets with Active Motion massage are optional. The back seat provides 37 inches of legroom, 55.3 inches of shoulder room, and 36.6 inches of head room. The MKZ’s low roofline makes rear-seat entry a bit tight. Our tester was equipped with a power moonroof ($1200), power rear sunshade ($305), and the attractively priced MKZ Climate option package ($695) that includes rear heated seats, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, automatic high beams, and a windshield wiper de-icer. Want to bring more of the outside into the cabin? Lincoln says the massive fully retractable panoramic glass roof, offered at $2995, has the “largest opening among sedans.”

The center screen is a big step up over the previous MKZ, with voice-controlled SYNC 3 now standard on all 2017 MKZs. The SYNC 3 interface is more elegant and faster, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. SYNC AppLink also provides support for apps including Pandora, Spotify, Glympse, and iHeartRadio. You can also use Siri Eyes Free without Apple CarPlay. Our test MKZ was outfitted with the optional 14-speaker Revel audio system ($1180). The top-of-the-line Revel Ultima audio system uses 20 speakers. Two handy USB input ports are found in the center console.

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ is a joy to drive. It's smooth, quiet, and composed...until you put your foot into it. With the front-wheel-drive V6, that's when things get—what shall we say?—a little interesting. It’s puzzling that Lincoln would offer a 350-horsepower V6 MKZ with FWD, detuned though it may be, when the 325-horsepower 2.7-liter V6 Ford Fusion Sport is available only with all-wheel drive.

The MKZ has continuously controlled damping to maintain a smooth ride, and active noise control to mask road din. Dynamic Torque Vectoring and a sport-tuned suspension are optional in AWD Reserve models. Bottom line: If you hanker for the power of the V6, pony up and get AWD.

While big and comfortable 4-door cruisers are less in favor these days, there’s a lot to love in the entry-level luxury sedan class. The MKZ’s domestic competition can be found in the Chrysler 300, the Buick LaCrosse, and the Cadillac CTS, along with the Lexus ES, Infiniti Q50, and Genesis G80 from Asia. The Jaguar XE is a marvelous new alternative from Europe, and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class is always a formidable competitor. With the availability of all-wheel drive and spacious trunks, luxury sedans offer a compelling reason to forgo the SUV for superior ride quality, handling, and elegance. The 2017 Lincoln MKZ also does well in the golf bag battle, offering 15.4 cubic feet of cargo capacity, a notable advantage over the C-Class (12.6) and Q50 (13.5), but slightly less than the Chrysler (16.3) and Jaguar XE (15.9).

The MKZ’s 400-horsepower engine is there to get the job done, not to provide bragging rights at the 19th hole. And with refinements sure to come, the value proposition is strong with the 2017 Lincoln MKZ.

Some pundits wrote Lincoln off long ago, but the current market is proving them wrong. While Lincoln was the biggest selling luxury brand in America as recently as 1998, a turnaround is quietly under way. There has been a marked improvement in 2016 sales over 2015, at a time when some imported luxury brands have seen their figures fall.