WASHINGTON — Gone are the days when mid-size Lincoln sedans looked like the Ford Fusion. In the latest redesign, the Lincoln MKZ has gotten different exterior and interior styling and materials to distance itself from the Ford.
The Lincoln MKZ comes two ways — with a normal engine or a hybrid, such as on my test vehicle. And for once they’re the same price — a refreshing change.
I drove the Lincoln 210 miles and managed 41.7 mpg, better than the 38 mpg the sticker touts. For the most part, it runs on the battery in stop-and-go traffic, and sometimes even on the highway.
The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is quiet to drive. The four-cylinder engine seems less noisy than in the Ford Fusion Hybrid I drove in 2014. It takes bumps well and provides a nice ride. The power is just enough, and the battery will also kick in with the gas engine to aid in acceleration — but this isn’t very fast. The steering seemed rather lively. It’s not going to hit the track or storm the back roads, but it was nice to feel the car connected to the road.
Inside, the seats are very comfortable and the warm hazelnut-brown color is a marked improvement from earlier Lincoln MXZs. The trim and dash are made of nicer materials than before, but not as nice as some of the competition. My tester had the optional NAV, and I had a difficult and frustrating time using the voice feature for address input. There is odd placement of the start/stop button — right above the push-button transmission for park. Be careful you don’t hit the wrong button. Those quibbles aside, the interior was a nice place to spend some time.
The Lincoln MXZ Hybrid is a sharp-looking car that returns very good fuel economy for a mid-size premium sedan and is priced lower than some of its competition.
It’s good to see Lincoln producing a more substantial car with different styling and a more luxurious vibe to better differentiate itself from Ford.
Editor’s note: Mike Parris is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association. The vehicles are provided by STI, FMI or Event Solutions for the purpose of this review.
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