2020 Lincoln MKZ

While parent brand, Ford, discontinues sedans in favor of SUVs, the American automaker's luxury arm, Lincoln, slogs away with the upmarket MKZ luxury compact sedan. Against the venerable BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and relative newcomers like the Genesis G70, the Lincoln MKZ falls flat as a performance sedan, focusing instead on comfort and value for money. Despite beginning to age, old-world charmful styling, all-wheel-drive, and an available twin-turbo V6 with up to 400 horsepower in place of the base 2.0-liter turbo-four are all strong selling points. But the base engine is flaccid and the MKZ's perceived upmarket materials fail to live up to expectations upon close inspection. While there are glimmers of brilliance hidden in a comprehensive infotainment suite and an excellent amount of safety features, the MKZ fails to embody the best of the Lincoln brand.

The MKZ carries a very mainstream exterior profile which most vehicles in the luxury class have also adopted: a sophisticated and classy look that is neither unique or truly exciting. Upfront, it's fitted with a wide satin aluminum mesh grille that's flanked by adaptive HID headlamps with LED signature lighting and is underscored by a blacked-out lower air intake with a chrome lower strip and chrome fog light housing borders. While the Standard MKZ rides atop 18-inch five-spoke machined alloy wheels, the Reserve MKZ is fitted with 19-inch seven-spoke satin-finished alloy wheels.

Dimensions for the MKZ are conventional for the midsize sedan class, with an overall body length of 193.9 inches, it's as long as the Cadillac CT5 but around two inches shorter than the Lexus ES. Its height of 58.1 inches makes it around an inch taller than both those comparisons, while its width of 75.1 inches (with mirrors folded) makes it around an inch wider too. At 112.2 inches, its wheelbase is relatively short. A curb weight of 3,739 and 3,899 pounds places the MKZ on the heavier side of the class' spectrum, with the CT5 weighing in at around 3,600-odd pounds, and the ES at around 3,649 lbs.

Three new colors have been added to the MKZ's exterior color palette and four of the old ones have been removed, leaving a total of ten hues available for the MKZ lineup, although only the Reserve gets access to all of them. Available for both trims at no extra cost are Infinite Black, Magma Red, and Magnetic Gray, as well as two of the new options, Empire Blue and Silver Radiance. At an additional cost of $695 either trim can also be hued in either White Platinum, Iced Mocha, Ceramic Pearl, and new for 2020, Red Carpet. Exclusively available for the Reserve MKZ is a Rhapsody Blue which also carries an additional charge of $695. Blue does well for the MKZ, so we recommend the Empire Blue for the Standard MKZ and the Rhapsody Blue for the Reserve MKZ.

Most casual drivers will be content with the performance of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four - it's just fine for propelling the MKZ around without feeling too overloaded or underpowered, whether it be motoring around town or cruising on the highway. Its respectable outputs of 245 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque spur it from 0-60 mph in a time of just under eight seconds in independent tests. While those power outputs are decent for the class, the 0-60 mph time is to no extent impressive, even for a midsize luxury sedan. The 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6, with its output range of 350 hp and 400 lb-ft, spurs the MKZ Reserve from 0-60 mph in a quicker five seconds or so. It can feel overpowered, however, especially with the front-wheel drivetrain in play, which with heavy throttle inputs, causes prominent torque steer in the front wheels. Fortunately, this sensation is quelled a little by optioning in the available all-wheel drivetrain and it comes with an increase in power as well, adding an extra 50 hp. Offerings from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi deliver far superior straight-line performance, and would be the brands to consider if it's a sporty drive experience that you're looking for.

Despite the 2.0-liter turbo mill's weak acceleration times, its outputs of 245 hp and 275 lb-ft are still good enough for tugging the MKZ around at a competent and smooth pace. The outputs are managed well by the MKZ's standard-fit six-speed automatic gearbox - it delivers swift, smooth shifts while also remaining synchronized with the engine's powerband in most scenarios. It can, however, respond with a slight delay when pushed hard for power, which can be a slight hindrance when taking sharp bends.

The 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 is exclusively available for the Reserve, it avails the FWD version with 350 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, improving the MKZ's acceleration times vastly, but at the expense of both handling poise and fuel-efficiency. It shines brighter in the AWD version of the MKZ though, where the power then matches the extra traction, both of which are then also dispersed to all four corners for more balanced propulsion. The six-speed automatic gearbox works great with this engine too, with the engine's extra torque mitigates the need for downshifting when taking bends.

As is often the case in the luxury sedan segment, the Lincoln MKZ's steering is relatively numb, ceding barely any feedback from the wheels to the driver, its light steering effort is otherwise appreciable, especially when driving around town where its nimble responses complement the luxury driving experience. There is a Sport Mode offered in the MKZ which is meant to increase driver engagement overall, but the result is hardly tangible, sticking to the Comfort Mode is just more sensible in the luxury sedan. The MKZ's braking, on the other hand, is consummate: the brake pedal is very communicative of feel and thus easy to modulate when driving, even at top speed, it's responsive and brings the sedan to a stop from 60 mph in just 113 ft. Both the Standard and the Reserve MKZ come equipped with an adaptive suspension that has the MKZ handle impressively well for a luxury vehicle. It's calm and collected through most scenarios, and always feels under control even through sharp bends. Of course, it isn't as apt as any Mercedes, BMW, or Audi, and its considerable heft does prevent it from being as sharp and nimble as competitors. There's no doubt that the MKZ is purpose-built for comfort rather than straight-line performance or handling. That said, however, it could be better.

In general, luxury midsize sedans aren't known for particularly great gas mileage returns, but the MKZ comes through less frugal than even some of its sportier counterparts. With the 2.0-liter turbo-four in play, the FWD MKZ returns EPA gas mileage estimates of 20/31/24 mpg city/highway/combined; throwing in the AWD system diminishes those figures to 20/29/23 mpg. Even the performance-focused BMW M340i with its xDrive system is more fuel-efficient, returning EPA estimates of 22/30/25 mpg. The Cadillac CT5 and Lexus ES are both more frugal too, sharing estimates of 23/32/26 mpg. With the 3.0-liter twin-turbo in action, estimates are just dismal, dropping to 18/27/21 mpg with FWD variants and 17/26/20 mpg with AWD variants.

The 2.0-liter engine comes with a 16.5-gallon gas tank while the 3.0-liter has an 18-gallon tank. In FWD guise, the 2.0-liter should power the MKZ onward for around 346 miles before the tank runs dry, and the 3.0-liter for around 378 miles.

While the MKZ's luxury status shines through on the outside, an entirely different impression is exuded from within the cabin. While the build quality is passable, the materials used, especially in the base trim, are not up to standard for what's expected in a luxury sedan. Offerings from Mercedes-Benz and Audi are far more premium in quality and aesthetics. The cabin layout is otherwise very intuitive and the driver's controls and controls for the myriad of features are ergonomically presented. Interior room is no more than typical for the midsize sedan class, there's just enough room for a passable level of comfort, though the sunroof in the Reserve does compromise headroom a little. Seating space is no more than decent too, and while the 11-speaker premium sound system is good, the 14-speaker Revel surround-sound system in the Reserve is a highlight.

Comfort is prioritized in the MKZ and five passengers should easily occupy all the seats. While the standard seating in both the Standard and Reserve trims is good, it's still average for the class. The optional multi-contoured seats with massage functions are really desirable, if you want something a bit more plush. The standard seats, along with the steering, feature extensive adjustability which makes for effortless position hunting for physiques of any kind. Overall passenger room is decent throughout, legroom is great in both the front and rear seats, but headroom is rather limited in the rear, especially with the optional sunroof equipped. Front seat ingress and egress are easy thanks to wide-opening doors though the rearward sloping roofline can make accessing the rear seats a little awkward. The Reserve also features Lincoln Embrace sequential lighting and fade-up ambient lighting.

The Standard MKZ comes fitted with a Wollsdorf leather-wrapped steering wheel and features Sonata Spin aluminum accents on the instrument and door-trim panels; premium front and rear floor mats are also inclusive. The seats are upholstered in a soft touch synthetic leather upholstery which can be hued in either Ebony or Cappuccino. The Reserve is outfitted with perforated Bridge of Weir leather-trimmed seats, Bridge of Weir being the same company that upholstered the seats in the iconic Delorean DMC-12. They can be hued in Ebony, Cappuccino, or Ebony/Terracotta.

Trunk capacity in the MKZ sedan is middling at best. While many midsize sedans offer upwards of 16 cubes of cargo room in the trunk, the MKZ offers only 15.4 cubes. The Cadillac CT5 offers only 11.9 cubes of cargo room in the trunk, but that's an oddity in the class. The MKZ's 15.4 cubes are still good for lugging around the daily essentials or for stowing a couple of large bags, or for transporting passengers to or from the airport. The rear seats do fold down in a 60/40 split so some versatility is provided if you're willing to shove larger cargo items in your luxury car.

There are a myriad storage points offered within the cabin, including four spacious door side pockets all with bottle holder slots, four large cupholders, a small-items storage tray beneath the center console, a media hub cubby, a cavernous center armrest cubby with a small-item storage tray, and a large passenger-side glove box.

Buyers can enjoy all the specs expected from a luxury vehicle with the MKZ. In the Standard trim, there's a remote start system, Intelligent access with push-button start, push-button shift, 10.1-inch digital instrumentation, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with a manual tilt-and-telescoping steering column is also standard, along with 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats with driver-side memory settings. Assisting the driver is a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot detection with cross-traffic alert, a reverse sensing system, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking. If that's not enough, then perhaps the Reserve trims power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, 14-way power-adjustable heated front seats, fade-up ambient cabin lighting, power trunk lid, and power moonroof with rear-window power sunshade may be. The driver is further assisted by an enhanced automatic park assist and forward sensing system on the top trim.

Lincoln utilizes the same SYNC 3 infotainment software that's used in Ford's offerings, and it's a user-friendly, intuitive, high-quality system that's easily one of the best in the industry. In both the Standard and Reserve trims this software is installed to an eight-inch capacitive touchscreen with an AM/FM stereo featuring MP3 playback capability, with an 11-speaker premium Lincoln sound system covering audio on the base specification. The Reserve trim is additionally installed with a voice-activated navigation system with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link functions, while the stock sound system is swapped out for a 14-speaker Revel surround-sound audio system. There are only two USB charge ports in the Standard trim along with a single auxiliary input jack for audio streaming, but the Reserve is fitted with two additional USB charge ports located in the rear of the cabin. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay functionality are standard across the lineup.

The Lincoln MKZ has proven impressively reliable over the years with the 2018 year model being the last subject to any major recall in the USA, and only one at that, pertaining to an issue where the steering wheel would potentially detach. In review of the MKZ, J.D. Power felt secure in backing it's proven reliability with a rating of 84 out of 100. To further instill buyer confidence, Lincoln offers a new MKZ with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile drivetrain warranty, which is pretty standard for the class.

Crashworthiness reviews for the Lincoln MKZ are good, with the NHTSA availing the 2020 year model with a top-notch overall rating of five-stars. The IIHS gave the Lincoln MKZ the best possible rating of Good for all five the specified crash tests it was evaluated for. The standard frontal crash prevention system scores Superior, too.

Lincoln certainly didn't skimp out on driver-assist tech and passive safety features with the MKZ, according both trims with the full Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assists and with ten advanced airbags including driver and front passenger knee airbags. The Co-Pilot 360 suite comprises auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot detection with cross-traffic alert, a lane keep system, rearview camera, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, and dynamic brake support. A reverse sensing system, AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, and adaptive cruise control with stop and go are all also standard in both trims.

There is undoubtedly plenty of appeal in the 2020 Lincoln MKZ's affordability and in that it's a luxury vehicle at that. It's far more affordable than many other luxury offerings out there, but while there's no obvious reason to think its premium guise has been compromised from the outside, the cost-cutting tactics are clearly revealed once inside the cabin, where the overall impression and material quality set the MKZ alongside only the mid-grade offerings of vehicles such as the Ford Fusion in comparison. Apart from that, which to some would be understandable considering the Lincoln MKZ's price, it's otherwise a pretty decent vehicle. It's nothing special in terms of straight-line performance, handling, or ride comfort, but it delivers an appropriate balance, which is perfect for its purpose as a leisurely daily commuter. Its infotainment system is contemporary and comprehensive, and its standard consignment of features is extensive, including the many driver-assist and safety tech items it's given. It's reasonably commodious and practical too, but nothing about it really stands out in the segment. All in all, the Lincoln MKZ is worth a look if you want the status of owning a premium vehicle along with the features that suggest so, and at a relatively low price, otherwise, it may be worth spending the extra money elsewhere if its true luxury you seek.

For a luxury midsize car, the MKZ comes seriously well priced. It's a truly affordable option within the class, but one that comes at the expense of a truly premium feel. The base-spec MKZ, the Standard, is presented at an MSRP of just $36,750, the top-spec MKZ, the Reserve, at an MSRP of $42,500. Those prices are excluding Lincoln's destination and freight charge of $995, as well as any US tax, registration, or licensing fees. Optioning the available all-wheel-drive system to either of the Lincoln MKZ trims will cost an additional $2,000 on the base prices while optioning the Reserve with the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 will ask an extra $4,000.

The Lincoln MKZ lineup consists of two varying trims, the base-specced Standard MKZ, and the top-specced Reserve MKZ. Both trims come equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's mated to a six-speed automatic gearbox, and both are propelled by the front wheels as standard.

Standard exterior features include adaptive HID headlights with automatic high beams and LED signature lighting, LED taillights, dual integrated chrome exhaust tips, and 18-inch five-spoke machined alloy wheels. On the inside, the Standard MKZ comes installed with a remote start system, Intelligent access with push-button start, push-button shift, 10.1-inch digital instrumentation, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with a manual tilt-and-telescoping steering column is also standard, along with 12-way power-adjustable heated front seats with driver-side memory settings and luxury soft-touch upholstery. Standard driver-assist tech includes a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot detection with cross-traffic alert, a reverse sensing system, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking. An eight-inch LCD touchscreen with SYNC 3 and an 11-speaker premium Lincoln audio system cover infotainment.

The Reserve is equipped with 19-inch seven-spoke satin-finished machined alloy wheels and is upgraded with a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, 14-way power-adjustable heated front seats, perforated leather upholstered seating, fade-up ambient cabin lighting, power trunk lid, and with a power moonroof with rear-window power sunshade. The driver-assist consignment is bolstered with an enhanced automatic park assist and forward sensing system. The SYNC 3 system receives voice-activated navigation with SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link, and is tethered to a 14-speaker Revel surround-sound audio system.

Available for the Standard MKZ is a $2,000 Convenience Package, which comprises steering wheel memory settings, a power tilt/telescope steering column with memory settings, voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, two rear-seat USB ports, 110v/150w power outlet, ambient cabin lighting, power-open trunk with soft-close trunk lid, and dynamic signature lighting and smart power mirrors.

An $800 Elements Package is available for the MKZ Reserve that equips the MKZ with a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and with heated rear seats. There's also a Luxury Package available for the MKZ Reserve, which for $3,000 throws in full premium LED headlights, multi-contour front seats with Active Motion, and a 20-speaker Revel Ultima surround-sound audio system.

The available Monochromatic Package cosmetically alters the MKZ Reserve for a more bespoke aesthetic, this is available only with the Infinite Black and White Platinum exterior colors. With the Infinite Black exterior, the package includes an Infinite Black Metallic grille and additional body-color exterior trim, as well as 19-inch, fully polished black alloy wheels, with the White Platinum exterior, it adds a unique body-color White Platinum upper grille and other body-color exterior trim, along with 19-inch fully polished alloy wheels, for $1,595.

At an MSRP of $36,750 and with its extensive standard consignment of features, the base-specced Standard MKZ is the trim of choice. It comes with all the features and more that one would expect from a daily luxury commuter and is outfitted with a contemporary and comprehensive infotainment system and with an impressive consignment of driver-assists and safety technologies. The optional Convenience Package is recommended for the Standard MKZ for the voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, two rear-seat USB ports, 110v/150w AC power outlet and other conveniences it comprises. The upshot in price to the Reserve MKZ isn't really worth it, but if you want the V6 engine, there's no other choice.

The Lincoln and the Ford are constructed with the same underpinnings, and, despite being in completely different class' share many of the same advantages and disadvantages. The Fusion comes equipped with a rather measly base engine, offering a driving experience a lot more sedate than the already balmy MKZ. The Fusion gets access to a number of engines, none of which has it run faster than the MKZ, but with all of which the Fusion is more fuel-efficient, returning EPA estimates of 23/34/27 mpg at its most frugal. In terms of features, the Fusion gets the same contemporary infotainment system and the same standard inclusion of the Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assists, impressive considering how much cheaper it is than the MKZ, though creature-comforts will, of course, be greater in the MKZ. Considering that a similarly equipped Fusion costs the same as the base MKZ, the Fusion's far superior fuel-efficiency, and a near-equal level of specification at the higher trims, the Fusion is certainly the better value for money buy and a far more sensible sedan for everyday use.

The Lincoln Continental slots into the full-size luxury sedan segment and carries a starting MSRP of $46,305, that's nearly $4,000 more than the highest tier MKZ. The Continental does, however, come equipped with a more competent V6 base engine, though it remains accompanied by the clunky six-speed auto gearbox. It also has access to the 3.0-liter twin-turbo that the MKZ does, but it's slower with it, returning a 0-60 mph sprint time of 5.5 seconds. Both vehicles are otherwise pretty much matched in terms of terrible fuel-efficiency. The Continental, at its price, boasts a far more premium cabin with higher quality materials, but the MKZ is certainly packed with more value in terms of features for its price. If it's luxury you want, then the Continental is the certain bet, but it comes at a premium price to match, otherwise, if you don't mind the obvious cost-saving elements within the cabin of the MKZ, then it would be the suitable, more affordable alternative.