Lincoln's entry-level Zephyr is back, except it's no longer called the Zephyr -- it's now the MKZ. The improvements go beyond a name change, but do they go far enough? Read on. Base price $30,045, price as tested $35,595, EPA fuel economy estimates 18-19 MPG city, 26-27 MPG highway.
First Glance: A new name and a new face
Larger photos: Front -- rearThe MKZ was first introduced in 2006 as the Lincoln Zephyr. A mechanical twin to the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan (Lincoln is a division of Ford), the car marked Lincoln's first use of the Zephyr nameplate since World War II. (Mercury used the name in the late 70s and early 80s.) The 2006 Lincoln Zephyr was distinguished from the Fusion and Milan mostly by the availability of options such as a high-end stereo and navigation system, a factor that hurt the sales of all three cars.
For 2007, Lincoln decided to give the Zephyr a bit more personality. Along with interior and exterior styling updates (More chrome! More chome!), the littlest Lincoln received a new (optional) all-wheel-drive system, shared with the Fusion and Milan; a new powertrain, unique to Lincoln; and a new name: MKZ.
Though the new front end definitely helps identify the MKZ as a Lincoln, it's hard to get excited about the rest of the design. If I was being kind, I'd call it "understated". If I wasn't, I’d call it "boring". A big grille, extra chrome, and taillights that are almost mind-bogglingly ugly do little to disguise the MKZ's humble Fusion roots. Not that that's a bad thing -- I think the Fusion is an outstanding car -- but a luxury marque should at least be able to turn some heads. With the MKZ, heads don't turn -- they nod.
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In the Driver's Seat: Nifty nav and super stereo
Things do get a wee bit better as you move inside. Lincoln offers a couple of color combinations for the MKZ's interior; my test car had black leather with dark wood (link goes to photo), but I prefer the tan interior with lighter wood. (A $195 "Satin Aluminum Nickel Interior Trim Package" replaces the wood trim with silver, which I think looks better with the black interior.) The darker interior does a better job of showing off the brushed-silver center stack, which adds some interest to the MKZ's interior. The MZK's tiny gauges recall Lincolns of the 1970s, where any connection to your vehicle's mechanicals was considered about as desirable as riding with a bunch of angry hornets.
Two things I really liked were the THX stereo and navigation system, which come bundled together for $2,495. (THX is available separately for $995.) I'm not much of an audiophile, but even AM radio sounded better on the MKZ's stereo. And the navigation system actually attempts to pronounce street names -- while most systems say "Turn left ahead," the MKZ's system says "Turn left on Ventura Boulevard." The synthesized voice's attempts to pronounce obscure street names is actually more accurate and less humorous than I expected.
The MKZ has a family-friendly back seat, and the 15.8 cubic foot trunk is downright impressive. We used the MKZ to move a bunch of my wife Robin's stuff from her sister's closets to ours. I was amazed at how much stuff we were able to pack into the MKZ's cargo bay (and dismayed at the prospect of finding a place to put it all when we got home).
On the Road: Extra power -- but is that what the MKZ needs?
New for 2007 is a 3.5 liter engine V6 engine, which produces 42 more horsepower and 42 more lb-ft of torque than last year's 3.0 liter engine (but uses a bit more fuel -- EPA estimates are down 1 MPG for front-wheel-drive models, and I averaged 20.5 MPG). I didn't think acceleration was really an issue with the 3.0 liter Zephyr; in fact, I think the Fusion and Milan get along just fine with a four-cylinder engine, which is not available in the MKZ. With gas prices as they are, it's not like a bigger engine gives you bragging rights. The MKZ isn't aimed at hot-rodders anyway, so why not offer a 4-cylinder engine like Chrysler and Audi do with the Sebring and A4? At least the MKZ runs on regular fuel; many of its competitors require pricier premium gas.The Lincoln MKZ is tuned for a softer ride than the Fusion and Milan, and indeed its ride does an impressive impression of the "rolling on glass" sensation Lincoln use to tout when talking about the Town Car. And while a soft ride usually comes at the expense of handling, I was surprised to find that with a firm hand on the wheel I could hustle the MKZ through the curves at a pretty good clip -- something that bodes well for its accident-avoidance ability. No doubt the new all-wheel-drive system helped, and it will definitely improve safety in rain and snow. The MZK drives a darn sight better than the Chrysler Sebring, and I even found it more enjoyable than the Lexus IS250. Still, it doesn't have anywhere near the sports-sedan feel of cars like the Infiniti G35 or Audi A4.
Journey's End: All it needs a bit more... everything
It's not that disliked the MKZ. I was impressed by the smooth ride, responsive handling and big trunk. But the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan offer the same upsides (save the smooth ride) with a cheaper price and a fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
As for cars that compete at or near the MKZ's price point... where should I start? The Lexus ES350 has more cachet; the Chrysler Sebring offers more gadgets; the Infiniti G35 is much more enjoyable; the BMW 328i has a more family-friendly interior; and the Cadillac CTS is nicer to look at. The Toyota Camry XLE and Hyundai Azera are two very nice cars that focus on impressing their owners rather than her neighbors. I'd buy any one of these before I plunked down $30-$35k for an MKZ. Bottom line: If Lincoln wants to compete in the entry-level luxury segment, they need a heck of a lot more than a new engine and a new name. -- Aaron Gold
