2007 Lincoln MKZ Review

Specifications

Whats in a Name?

First of all, other than this, my brief intro, Im not going to say anything more about Lincolns new naming scheme (cough… cough). After a year of incurring what are no doubt rather sizable bills from its ad agency to build model recognition through awareness ad campaigns, and simultaneously receiving mostly positive reviews about its new Zephyr, Fords luxury division goes and pulls the rug out from under itself by changing the cars name to MKZ, whatever that means, and thus confusing the marketplace. OK, MKZ pays tribute to the many Lincoln Marks of the past, but really, if they meant it to do so the powers that be wouldnt be insisting on its pronunciation of “M, K, Z,” not “Mark Z”, the way most of those who know anything about Lincolns storied past have been referring to it. Confusing the matter further is an all-new MKX, previously to be named Aviator, which some people initially thought referred to Mark 10, which once again would have paid homage to Lincolns sequential alphanumeric designation process. Worse yet, the all-new Navigator stymies the new name game by keeping its very recognizable nine-letter handle intact, instead of adopting MKN, or something of the like. Ugh! I know that numerous think-tanks of overpaid marketing flunkies attempting to justify their existence by dreaming up schlock like this probably put together a strong business case for disrupting the forward movement of Americas number two luxury brand, but was it really necessary? Because amid the confusion, the Zephyr… er… MKZ is really a fine automobile.

I was glad to get the updated model to test for an entire week recently, as it answered most of the concerns I had after first driving the Zephyr in Manhattan and greater NYC last year (no I dont have any negatively associated feelings towards Fords Fairmont-based Mercury Zephyr of the late 70s and early 80s… 1978 to 1983)… so once again it wasnt a naming issue for me), namely a more powerful engine and the option of all-wheel drive. I dont mind front-wheel drive in this sporty sedan class, as there are benefits with regards to fuel economy, but most luxury makers find it pretty difficult to be taken seriously in todays rear-wheel drive slanted market if at the very least all four wheels arent used for forward movement. Now the MKZ can be uttered in the same sentence as BMWs 3-Series, Mercedes-Benzs C-Class or Audis A4, rather than having to be relegated to the back shelf with a handful of mere pretenders.

But in all fairness, is the MKZ in the same league as the Germans just mentioned? No, not really. Hold on Lincoln fans, Im not saying its not as good, Im just saying that its different. Where the Germans, well, excepting Mercedes, are focused on sport-biased luxury, the Lincoln should appeal to luxury buyers. This was a smart move for Lincoln, being that the MKZs predecessor, the LS sedan, tried too hard to be European, complete with its quad headlamps under glass lenses and bisected twin-kidney grille. It did OK at first, but never really having a personality of its own was tossed to the bottom of most luxury buyers shopping lists if making it on at all. The new MKZ, on the other hand, isnt even trying to lure in 3-Series buyers, a near impossible task even for the likes of Audi, Lexus and Infiniti. Rather, it has its sights on the former Japanese brands ES 350 buyers, offering more for the money plus unique American styling to boot.

No matter which angle I look at it, I cant help but like what I see; and that from a six-time BMW owner, one-time Audi owner, one-time Jaguar owner, and one-time Maserati owner. Ive never owned a Lincoln, and have only really ever had a thing for the 56 through 57 Mark II and 68 - 71 Mark III Continental coupes, plus the 61 through 64 Continental sedans and convertibles. Nothing newer has even remotely interested me, not even a Navigator. Being honest with myself, I probably wouldnt go for a MKZ either, but then again I would hardly be interested in the ES 350 either. I prefer a true drivers car, something with rear-wheel drive (how stereotypical) so that I can hang the tail out once in a while and get my heart-rate pumping.

Thats pretty well impossible with the MKZ, which is probably a good thing. My guess is that its prospective owners would rather all four wheels maintain a trajectory along the course of the road ahead, benefiting from the added traction of front- or all-wheel drive, better in wet and slippery conditions, and when aided by standard traction and stability control plus ABS-enhanced four-wheel disc brakes, as is the case with the MKZ, keeping everyone ultimately safe and comfortable. But safe and comfortable doesnt mean it has to be boring.

On the contrary, the MKZ actually handles tight, weaving corners quite well. Its one of those cars that doesnt feel all that sporting when first getting behind the wheel, but then after feeding the throttle a little more fuel and feeling the surge of its 263 horsepower 3.5-liter V6, all 249 lb-ft of torque coming to life and launching the car forward with self-satisfying zeal, you just have to try and push it a little harder than what seems reasonable when the first set of curves arrive. And it reacts wonderfully, carving up apexes with surprisingly little transitional heft, maintaining a calm balance at the limit and charging forward to the next corner, all the time coercing me to coax out more. Its limit, by the way, is nothing more than gentle understeer, a little plowing of the front end being its way of saying, “Slow down you idiot. What do you think I am… an Audi RS4?” Fair enough.

I drove the front-wheel drive model last year, with the old Duratec 30 V6. This engine, as good as it once was, and with respect to the Fusion, still is, pales in comparison to the new 3.5. The new mills mellifluous power band and sonorous mechanical and exhaust notes make for a much more refined, yet exuberant companion, and the new six-speed automatic, curiously devoid of any do-it-yourself leverage, translates the raw power into usable force. Just why Ford went to all the trouble of building an in-house automatic without giving it any manual-mode capability is beyond me, but spokespeople at the engine and transmission launch program in Dearborn last year told me that its buyers said they had no need for such a device. I suppose this might make some sense, despite being a negative when it comes to marketing against rivals that offer manual mode. Having had many cars with the option of manually actuating the shift lever, I hardly ever bother fiddling around with the transmission once its in Drive. If a car has paddle-shifters next to the steering column, well, I can barely keep my hands away from them, but Ill only stoop to flick an auto-shifter if the car has a ton of power plus the sport-tuned suspension to harness it, like Chryslers sinfully delicious 300C SRT8.

This brings up Lincolns competitors, once again. Auburn Hills 300 is definitely high on the list, and while its not selling with the same gusto as it once did, my guess is that it will still substantially outstrip the MKZ in yearly deliveries. I expect an update to this car will make things worse for Lincoln and all class rivals, but the real threat may come from a more unlikely foe. Lexus wont have too much trouble hanging onto its ES 350 buyers, as the updated ES hasnt done anything to turn them off but rather everything to keep them satisfied, although Hyundais surprisingly good Azera could make for an odd match. Really? An entry-level brand causing problems for a luxury marque? The once defined lines between mass market and luxury have become vaguer in recent years, with starter cars hitting the entry-level class from Audi, Mercedes-Benz and now Volvo, to name just a few. At the other end, Volkswagens new Passat is better than some luxury offerings, as is the new Azera and Kias recently revised Amanti. Toyotas Avalon also poses a threat, as does Buicks attractive and V8-powered Lucerne. Lincoln has to realize, if it hasnt already, that its been outside of the luxury car mainstream for so long, other that the Town Car which is considered no more than a taxi by the frequent flyer crowd (that buys its fair share of luxury cars) that many dont consider it a full-fledged luxury brand anymore. On the contrary, once heated rival Cadillac has done a good job of reconstructed its image, with most of its cars and SUVs holding a fair bit of respect amongst premium buyers, but even it cant seem to break the $70K barrier by selling a significant number of its new STS-V and extremely sexy XLR and XLR-V models; the sign of true luxury success.

Still, until it can build back respect in the top-tier luxury segment Lincoln can do well in the entry-level luxury class, joining some of the aforementioned mainstream brands as well as other mid-luxury companies such as Acura, Saab, Volkswagen, and to some extent, Volvo. Theres probably less competition in this group, and considering that Lincoln has done an extremely good job put together the new MKZ, theres greater opportunity in luring in fence sitters wanting to upgrade. And those not sure what to buy next should definitely take a look at this car.

Theyll be surprised at how nice the interior is, with high quality, soft-touch plastics, satin-finish and chrome accented trim plus real aluminum surfaces. Sumptuous leathers cover the seats, steering wheel, shift knob and door panels, while most of the switchgear is well executed. The THX audio system is a real surprise, complete with two must-haves in any new car, satellite radio (this one being SIRIUS) and an external jack for iPods and MP3 players. Im an addict for Alternative Nation, SIRIUS 21, and/or Lucy, XM 54, and any new car I were to purchase would have to have a connection to either beacon in the sky. My test car also featured navigation, which was easy to sort out and featured a nice, clear map.

The Lincolns seats are quite comfortable and reasonably supportive unless throwing it through the corners, plus theres more than ample room in back for large, tall passengers. Again, the trunk is also roomy, boasting 15.8 cubic feet of storage and a large aperture to stuff things through, plus a low lift-over height so that you wont overstrain your back when hefting awkwardly large and heavy items onboard.

I could go on spelling out the lists and lists of standard and optional features that Lincoln offers, but Ill let you search the buyers guide of this site or a look over a new vehicle preview that I wrote on this car some time ago… or for that matter tell you to visit the corporate web site at www.lincoln.com and get all this info in easy to read point form. They even have a side-by-side comparison tool so that you can see how well the MKZ stacks up beside its competitors. Rather, Id like to leave you with a summary of my thoughts after spending a week in the car.

The new MKZ is a very good sedan, but it isnt mind numbingly brilliant. I think that Lincoln will sell a reasonably good number of them and thoroughly satisfy these new owners, one of which may be you, and if so you may enjoy some exclusivity, unlike Lexus ES 350 owners, as the MKZ wont be a clear, runaway hit. Im no Nostradamus or any such pontificator, but judging from a year of Zephyr sales, which showed promise but theres hardly one on every street corner, its safe to say that a name change, the addition of all-wheel drive and a boost in power wont change things all that much.

It may over time though. The new MKZ brings much needed respect back to Lincoln, extending the foundation laid by the LS by adding more distinctive styling and greater refinement, and in so doing it should slowly rebuild Lincolns image in the luxury class. If the domestic brand can follow the MKZ up with a full-size luxury car that truly competes with the heavyweights in the premium segment, then it will be well on its way to full luxury status once again. Perceptions will take time to change, but given ten or twenty years of continued respect developed by serious attention to raising its game, Lincoln will once again regain its lost glory. I certainly would like to see this happen, and believe that the MKZ, alpha designation or not, puts Lincoln on the right trajectory.