Ah yes, the midlife makeover. Nearly every car gets one at some point in its life, and it usually comes down to new styling, new gadgets and a few features. The difference is often forgettable.
But the 2007 Lincoln MKZ represents a makeover to remember, if only for its timing. You may recall that Lincoln launched this car only one year ago as the Zephyr, a word that too aptly described its impact on the world of entry-level luxury cars. But don't count it out yet, for Lincoln has applied some worthwhile changes.
Even if you overlook the 2007 Lincoln MKZ's sharpened front visage, it's hard to miss the new engine with lots more power. And to further make the MKZ a livelier car, the suspension is firmer and all-wheel drive is now available as an option. Is this a Lincoln to remember?
Not Your Father's Lincoln
If Lincoln truly intends for the MKZ to attract new and younger customers to its sales showroom, these are steps in the right direction. Last year's Zephyr might have been far from slow, but many griped that its 221 horsepower just didn't pass for upwardly mobile in today's world. In response, Lincoln has dropped in a reworked 3.5-liter version of last year's Duratec V6, resulting in a leap to 263 horses and 249 pound-feet of torque.
Problem solved. While our all-wheel-drive test car's 7.7-second dash to 60 mph is only decent, a front-drive version would have easily pulled faster times. Furthermore, a stopwatch can't convey how forceful the new engine feels; it takes but one foot-to-the-floor shove to realize that the MKZ zooms ahead with abandon compared to last year's Zephyr. There's even a faint snarl from the exhaust as you reach the quarter-mile mark in 15.7 seconds at 89.6 mph.
But what this car has really needed is a chassis with sharper responses. The MKZ's mechanicals may have sprung from the Mazda 6 and Ford Fusion, but feeding them through the Lincoln filter originally resulted in a tamer animal.
The Lincoln That Zigs?
Compared to the Zephyr, the MKZ is, well, less tame. Sure, hard acceleration still makes the car squat on its hind legs, and carving through fast corners will make the front tires cry out for dear life. But this is no dynamic dud. Quick steering and 50-series tires put a fair degree of eagerness in the car's cornering attitude, and the MKZ's double-wishbone suspension has been stiffened enough to keep body roll under control. Factor in a fairly smooth ride and powerful disc brakes, and you have the essentials of a capable daily driver.
There are some minor foibles, however. While this Lincoln's pothole-swallowing suspension is usually something to appreciate, it occasionally leads to undulating, nautical ride motions on the freeway. And though the automatic transmission upshifts smoothly, it occasionally kicks down unexpectedly and unpleasantly at low speed. Finally, the MKZ's ungainly 40-foot turning circle recalls classic Lincolns in all the wrong ways.
In general, the MKZ is livelier, but you can't expect anything really sporting. The Michelin Energy MXV4 tires just aren't up to the challenge of this surprisingly heavy 3,809-pound car, as the MKZ's 0.76g capability on the skid pad and relatively unimpressive 130-foot stop from 60 mph both suggest.
Discount Luxury
Of course, plenty of luxury sedans drive with average competence, yet manage to be charming through inner beauty. Too bad this isn't one of them. Everything within the MKZ hints that it's been built to a price, from the thin, cold leather upholstery to the poorly presented plastics. And who can forget an analog clock that chirps like a cricket 60 times an hour?
Furthermore, the rectilinear Lincolnesque dashboard design seems out of place in a car like this, and this car's optional package of satin-nickel trim produced too many surfaces that tried and failed to pass for metal. The MKZ instrumentation is an aesthetic highlight with its cool, crisp presentation, but much of the dash is overrun by flat-faced, look-alike buttons. Overall, the cabin is unsettlingly reminiscent of the Ford Fusion, the MKZ's downmarket twin.
For the record, this Lincoln's navigation system has been recognized by others for outstanding customer satisfaction. It is pleasantly intuitive to use, and its ability to pronounce street names correctly is a rare feature. But it lacks a joystick control and still clings to an alphabetical (non-QWERTY) keyboard. Also, it abandons its navigational responsibilities farther away from the destination (a half block or more) than we'd prefer.
The MKZ has also been honored elsewhere for its audio system. The specifications are impressive, as this THX-branded system features an in-dash six-disc CD changer and an MP3 input jack, plus 14 speakers and a jaw-dropping 600 watts. Taking advantage of such specifications is another thing, because the sound quality seems bland regardless of the music genre.
Back to Basics
For all its compromises in refinement, the MKZ's cabin is still a relaxing place to pass the time. The front seats might not offer a huge amount of headroom, but they offer comfort that lasts for the long haul, and their seat coolers are addicting in hot weather.
The rear bench is mounted too low for optimal thigh support (a common flaw in this segment), but it's a spacious place. It also folds down to expand the trunk, which, at an impressive 15.8 cubic feet, should rarely need expansion.
The cold hand of cost-cutting makes one final stroke in the interior, though. The MKZ's backseat lacks a head restraint in the center, and the ones at the sides are both shallow in padding and fixed in height. When you factor this with the MKZ's lack of stability control, this Lincoln doesn't measure up to the standard set by its competitors.
Taking on the Titans
In the end, the way in which Lincoln has skimped on the MKZ's presentation handicaps this car against its primary competitors in the entry-level luxury category, the Acura TL and Lexus ES 350. While the Lincoln can match these stalwarts in driving quality and passenger comfort, they feel expensive in all the ways the MKZ doesn't. Their interiors are warm, colorful and appear high-class and high-tech. Their stereos sound more engaging at any volume, as do their engines. Their rosters of safety equipment are also more comprehensive. The MKZ's only real point of performance distinction lies in its optional all-wheel drive.
This leaves the Lincoln MKZ to compete primarily in terms of price. While the sticker price of a base-model Acura TL or Lexus ES 350 starts at about $34,000, the Lincoln limbos in very close to $30 grand. Even our test car with its long list of options — including all-wheel drive, the THX audio and satellite radio, a navigation system, front-seat coolers and xenon headlights (basically, every option but the sunroof) — ducked in under $35,000.
Given the magnitude of the price difference, the 2007 Lincoln MKZ might make a fine choice for drivers willing to settle for a little less richness and refinement for a little less money. But aren't luxury sedans supposed to offer more?
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
But the 2007 Lincoln MKZ represents a makeover to remember, if only for its timing. You may recall that Lincoln launched this car only one year ago as the Zephyr, a word that too aptly described its impact on the world of entry-level luxury cars. But don't count it out yet, for Lincoln has applied some worthwhile changes.
Even if you overlook the 2007 Lincoln MKZ's sharpened front visage, it's hard to miss the new engine with lots more power. And to further make the MKZ a livelier car, the suspension is firmer and all-wheel drive is now available as an option. Is this a Lincoln to remember?
Not Your Father's Lincoln
If Lincoln truly intends for the MKZ to attract new and younger customers to its sales showroom, these are steps in the right direction. Last year's Zephyr might have been far from slow, but many griped that its 221 horsepower just didn't pass for upwardly mobile in today's world. In response, Lincoln has dropped in a reworked 3.5-liter version of last year's Duratec V6, resulting in a leap to 263 horses and 249 pound-feet of torque.
Problem solved. While our all-wheel-drive test car's 7.7-second dash to 60 mph is only decent, a front-drive version would have easily pulled faster times. Furthermore, a stopwatch can't convey how forceful the new engine feels; it takes but one foot-to-the-floor shove to realize that the MKZ zooms ahead with abandon compared to last year's Zephyr. There's even a faint snarl from the exhaust as you reach the quarter-mile mark in 15.7 seconds at 89.6 mph.
But what this car has really needed is a chassis with sharper responses. The MKZ's mechanicals may have sprung from the Mazda 6 and Ford Fusion, but feeding them through the Lincoln filter originally resulted in a tamer animal.
The Lincoln That Zigs?
Compared to the Zephyr, the MKZ is, well, less tame. Sure, hard acceleration still makes the car squat on its hind legs, and carving through fast corners will make the front tires cry out for dear life. But this is no dynamic dud. Quick steering and 50-series tires put a fair degree of eagerness in the car's cornering attitude, and the MKZ's double-wishbone suspension has been stiffened enough to keep body roll under control. Factor in a fairly smooth ride and powerful disc brakes, and you have the essentials of a capable daily driver.
There are some minor foibles, however. While this Lincoln's pothole-swallowing suspension is usually something to appreciate, it occasionally leads to undulating, nautical ride motions on the freeway. And though the automatic transmission upshifts smoothly, it occasionally kicks down unexpectedly and unpleasantly at low speed. Finally, the MKZ's ungainly 40-foot turning circle recalls classic Lincolns in all the wrong ways.
In general, the MKZ is livelier, but you can't expect anything really sporting. The Michelin Energy MXV4 tires just aren't up to the challenge of this surprisingly heavy 3,809-pound car, as the MKZ's 0.76g capability on the skid pad and relatively unimpressive 130-foot stop from 60 mph both suggest.
Discount Luxury
Of course, plenty of luxury sedans drive with average competence, yet manage to be charming through inner beauty. Too bad this isn't one of them. Everything within the MKZ hints that it's been built to a price, from the thin, cold leather upholstery to the poorly presented plastics. And who can forget an analog clock that chirps like a cricket 60 times an hour?
Furthermore, the rectilinear Lincolnesque dashboard design seems out of place in a car like this, and this car's optional package of satin-nickel trim produced too many surfaces that tried and failed to pass for metal. The MKZ instrumentation is an aesthetic highlight with its cool, crisp presentation, but much of the dash is overrun by flat-faced, look-alike buttons. Overall, the cabin is unsettlingly reminiscent of the Ford Fusion, the MKZ's downmarket twin.
For the record, this Lincoln's navigation system has been recognized by others for outstanding customer satisfaction. It is pleasantly intuitive to use, and its ability to pronounce street names correctly is a rare feature. But it lacks a joystick control and still clings to an alphabetical (non-QWERTY) keyboard. Also, it abandons its navigational responsibilities farther away from the destination (a half block or more) than we'd prefer.
The MKZ has also been honored elsewhere for its audio system. The specifications are impressive, as this THX-branded system features an in-dash six-disc CD changer and an MP3 input jack, plus 14 speakers and a jaw-dropping 600 watts. Taking advantage of such specifications is another thing, because the sound quality seems bland regardless of the music genre.
Back to Basics
For all its compromises in refinement, the MKZ's cabin is still a relaxing place to pass the time. The front seats might not offer a huge amount of headroom, but they offer comfort that lasts for the long haul, and their seat coolers are addicting in hot weather.
The rear bench is mounted too low for optimal thigh support (a common flaw in this segment), but it's a spacious place. It also folds down to expand the trunk, which, at an impressive 15.8 cubic feet, should rarely need expansion.
The cold hand of cost-cutting makes one final stroke in the interior, though. The MKZ's backseat lacks a head restraint in the center, and the ones at the sides are both shallow in padding and fixed in height. When you factor this with the MKZ's lack of stability control, this Lincoln doesn't measure up to the standard set by its competitors.
Taking on the Titans
In the end, the way in which Lincoln has skimped on the MKZ's presentation handicaps this car against its primary competitors in the entry-level luxury category, the Acura TL and Lexus ES 350. While the Lincoln can match these stalwarts in driving quality and passenger comfort, they feel expensive in all the ways the MKZ doesn't. Their interiors are warm, colorful and appear high-class and high-tech. Their stereos sound more engaging at any volume, as do their engines. Their rosters of safety equipment are also more comprehensive. The MKZ's only real point of performance distinction lies in its optional all-wheel drive.
This leaves the Lincoln MKZ to compete primarily in terms of price. While the sticker price of a base-model Acura TL or Lexus ES 350 starts at about $34,000, the Lincoln limbos in very close to $30 grand. Even our test car with its long list of options — including all-wheel drive, the THX audio and satellite radio, a navigation system, front-seat coolers and xenon headlights (basically, every option but the sunroof) — ducked in under $35,000.
Given the magnitude of the price difference, the 2007 Lincoln MKZ might make a fine choice for drivers willing to settle for a little less richness and refinement for a little less money. But aren't luxury sedans supposed to offer more?
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
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