2010 LINCOLN MKZ

Ford’s luxury brand is fielding some pretty cool products.  The 2011 Lincoln MKX is a nicely redone crossover with some advanced technology. The MKS is certainly worth noting with its hotter than hot EcoBoost engine. And the new MKT three row crossover is finally bringing some edgy styling to Ford’s finest.

But arguably, the staple of the Lincoln line is the MKZ luxury sedan, which was once known as the Zephyr.  This is the model that put Lincoln back on the road to glamour after years of only fielding the dowdy old Town Car.

The MKZ makes a very interesting counterpoint to the Cadillac CTS, GM’s rowdy, elegant, take no prisoners luxury sedan. Where CTS pushes the envelope, the MKZ sets a course for understated, subdued elegance. Where CTS is setting a course for international notoriety, the MKZ is all cool, all-American luxury.

But as they say, that’s why you have vanilla and chocolate ice cream, and yes, even Rocky Road, too.  The MKZ appeals to a very distinct part of the market: Those who want nothing less than an all-American luxury sedan and prefer it to be tasteful,  bristling with handy features, and not making a lot of styling waves, thank you very much.

Our test model was an all wheel drive 2010 MKT with a 3.5 liter, 263 horsepower V6 Duratec engine.  Base price is $36,005, with a host of standard equipment including a handy, time-saving capless fuel filler, full power accessories, 10 way power driver and passenger seats, both with lumbar adjustments, dual-zone climate control, heated and cooled front seats, Sirius satellite, and Ford’s marvelous sync voice activated system, traction control, advance stability control and lots of other good things. Mileage with this model is 17/24 miles per gallon.

Adding a “Rapid Spec” package with goodies like the THXII sound system, power moonroof navigation,  sport appearance package, interior aluminum trim package, dual zone air conditioning system and a few other items, brought the bottom line to $43,245.

As you cross the lighted “Lincoln” scuff plate when you open the door, you’ll notice a pretty smart looking interior with black leather and gray/white accent stripes.  Lincoln did a nice job remodeling the interior with tasteful aluminum or chrome accents everywhere.  In the rear, all three passengers have head rests, and believe us, the rear seat is a choice spot for anybody who’s riding along on a long journey.

The gauges have a nice white letting against black background design, and the needles have a silvery gray moonlit appearance that makes them especially attractive.  When you engage the engine, all the needles spin around to let you know the car is ready for action.

This car is no showboat; it does what it’s supposed to do quietly, efficiently, and without calling attention from the owner. The MKZ’s arresting charm is in its subtleties, its air of competence, and “I ‘ve got this under control” kind of ambience for drivers.

But it is clear that the MKZ is about due for a major redo, even though this year’s model already has received  a big revamp, with a nice boat prow front end and aggressive headlights that bring the MKZ in line with other members of the Lincoln family.

Yet, the car doesn’t quite match the competition for interior space, the dashboard, even with upgrades looks dated and not quite yup to the luxury label, and there’s an awful lot of plastic in the interior to contend  with, too.

Another issue: the MKZ still looks too much like the ford Fusion and the Mercury Milan, its platform siblings. The MKZ needs its own styling treatment–not just in the front, either, too make it in this field.

But once you hit the open road, you see where the MKZ shines. It has responsive, dead-on steering, and braking is superb, too. Handling is pretty flat, and you can forget about finding any of that wallowing feeling you may have gotten in Lincolns of old.