2010 Lincoln MKZ

Certainly one of the most dramatic transformations this year, Ford’s Fusion went from rental car fleet darling to a genuine class leader by offering an impressive level of engineering and refinement at a decent price. For 2010, Lincoln, not wanting to miss out, gets a refreshed version of its Fusion variant, the MKZ.

Our enthusiasm for earlier MKZs was about as tepid as it was for the first-generation Fusion. Though neither the Fusion nor the MKZ (or Zephyr as it was called for its first year of production) was a bad car, they always seemed a little too cheapened – some would say too “Ford of old” – for the class.

We decided to find out if the improvements made to the MKZ for 2010 were enough to take it from class contender to must-see.

What is it?
Perhaps more than any other automaker, Lincoln has struggled with its identity. Despite some early sales success with the first-generation Navigator, most of the brand’s offerings have floundered in the marketplace, including the MKZ’s predecessor, the much-hyped rear-drive LS sports sedan.

While the LS was a heck of an effort, its tepid styling, both inside and out, didn’t catch on with buyers the way Cadillac’s CTS did. Ford replaced the LS for 2006 with the Zephyr, a resurrected badge first used before World War II on a lower-cost, aerodynamic model. Based heavily on the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, themselves based on the enthusiast-friendly Mazda Mazda6, the Zephyr badge lasted only a year before being renamed MKZ in honor of a new 3.5-liter engine and line-wide naming scheme switch-over.

For 2010, Lincoln kept the MKZ name but responded to critics by revamping the interior and exterior – not to mention adopting the Fusion’s revised suspension.

We were more partial to the historic Zephyr nameplate, which stands out amid the alphabet soup that is the luxury car market.

What’s it up against?
A bit less sport-oriented than the Germans, despite the presence of an optional Sport Appearance package on our tester, the MKZ does battle with the likes of the Acura TL, Cadillac CTS, Lexus ES 350 and Volvo S80.

Any breakthroughs?
For its 2010 update, the MKZ gained a number of unique features already introduced on other members of the Ford product family. Namely, Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Alert (thanks Volvo!), Sync (thanks Microsoft!) and a built-in weather radar map with Travel Link (thanks Sirius!).

More upscale materials show up throughout, including Bridge of Weir leather upholstery, thicker glass and extra sound deadening.

How does it look?
In an effort to introduce a new design language for Lincoln with the introduction of the MKS, Ford’s designers have created a new, beak-like face. Viewed from head-on or even at a slight angle, we’re impressed with the execution on the MKZ – especially when compared to its new, bizarre MKT cousin. Nice chrome details in the enlarged upper and lower grilles, along with a Saab-esque chrome headlamp surround do a nice job of updating the pleasant-enough look of the outgoing model.

Out back, it’s more an obvious evolution of before than an outright redesign. The tail lamps are larger and, again, the detailing a little more refined.

Viewed from the side, the MKZ’s relationship to its downmarket Mercury and Ford siblings becomes painfully obvious. If the doors aren’t direct swaps, they’re darn close. We wish Ford would have done a little more to differentiate the side profile, like Toyota has done to separate the related Toyota Camry and Lexus ES 350.

And on the inside?
The old MKZ’s tall dashboard, hard plastic and vaguely retro-style bits are gone, replaced instead by a more traditional arrangement that borrows the majority of its switchgear from the Ford parts bin. That means you’ll find lots of small buttons for the radio and climate controls, hard-to-reach steering wheel switches and a big, clunky key.

But it mostly improves from there. Materials, with the exception of some cheap plastic on the center console and the lack of leather wrapping for the handbrake lever, are at least equivalent to the Lexus ES 350, if not better in some cases. Unlike the Fusion, the MKZ’s door panels are covered in a nice, soft plastic and vinyl and the pillars are wrapped in the same Audi-esque material as the headliner. A high-zoot THX II sound system was fitted to our tester, as was Ford’s advanced and simple navigation system with Sirius Travel Link.

The firm, well-padded, chair-like seats deserve special discussion because they’re wrapped in beautiful Bridge of Weir leather. The same dead cows (or at least their grand grand calfs) that gave their lives for countless Saabs, Aston Martins and Mercedes-Benzes. Lush and upscale, the seats are heated and cooled up front.

But does it go?
Packing the same 263-horsepower, 3.5-liter Duratec V6 as the top-end Fusion Sport, the MKZ possesses similar refinement and thrust. Well-matched to the stiff chassis, the V6 did not argue with the steering like so many other high-power, front-wheel-drive sedans are wont to do. All-wheel-drive is optional, but wasn’t fitted to our press fleet vehicle.

The 249 lb-ft. of torque peaks at a fairly reasonable 4,500 rpm, meaning the MKZ is happy enough to perform at appropriately-Lincoln low-rpm cruising. Its six-speed automatic transmission features a separate gate for manual-style shifting, but seems perfectly content in drive, where it generally seemed to find the right gear at any time. A refined, low snarl accompanied throttle pedal action.

We averaged close to the EPA figures of 27 mpg highway and 18 mpg city.

Though not as powerful as the related 3.7-liter V6 that powers the MKS, or even the upcoming EcoBoost – which is not set to power the MKZ – the 3.5 still provides ample go that will outrun everything in its class other than the direct-injected Cadillac CTS.

Receiving the same minor suspension modifications seen on the Fusion, namely a revised rear lower control arms and more advanced bushings, the MKZ’s firm ride was similarly refined. Extraordinarily well-damped, the MKZ generally absorbed bumps as well as much, much more expensive vehicles. Only over the roughest of terrain did it seem marginally confused, sending occasionally mixed signals through to the cabin. Overall, though, Ford is to be commended for the impressively solid structure.

Hydraulic rack and pinion steering makes an appearance, instead of the electronic setup we’re starting to see in more and more vehicles. The effort rate, higher than we expected, bordered on European-level, though overall feel can’t quite match the CTS. It also seemed a little too prone to push back to center position in corners.

The 18-inch wheels on the Sport Appearance package our tester do give the MKZ a firm ride some traditional Lincoln buyers might not expect, but they pay off in the twisties. Grip was high and the roughly 3,600 lb. MKZ felt much more tossable than most of its rivals. Not a corner carver like, say, a BMW 3-Series, the MKZ nevertheless impressed us with its handling prowess.

Why you would buy it:
The Cadillac CTS’ wedgy style doesn’t work for you, but you’re not looking for something quite as plush and, uh, bland, as a Lexus.

Why you wouldn’t:
The Ford Fusion Sport offers almost everything the Lincoln does, aside from that nice leather, for a lot less moolah.

Leftlane’s bottom line
The Ford Fusion isn’t a bad place to start for a badge-engineered Lincoln, but we wish the Dearborn automaker would do a little more than just restyle the fascias and interior to set the MKZ apart from its mainstream siblings. For about $10,000 over a loaded Fusion Sport, the MKZ gives you a much nicer interior and a handful of extra luxury items. Feature-wise, it’s a decent value over the Fusion, but compared to the class-leading CTS and even the TL, the MKZ feels just a bit too much like a gussied up Ford to be quite as compelling as we hoped it would be.

If nothing else, that speaks volumes about the Fusion. Dynamically a class above most of its rivals, if the Fusion had half of the MKZ’s interior, Chevrolet, Honda and Toyota would never sell another Malibu, Accord or Camry.

2010 Lincoln MKZ base price, $34,115. As tested, $41,850.
Spec 103A (Ultimate package, moonroof, THX audio, Technology Package, Navigation), $5,595; White Platinum metallic, $495; Sport Appearance package, $795; Destination, $850.

Words and photos by Andrew Ganz.
via: www.leftlanenews.com