2010 Lincoln MKZ

February 3, 2009

Vehicle Overview
Lincoln's MKZ has been updated for 2010 with a vastly changed interior, new front-end styling and a revised drivetrain. Related to the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan, the MKZ goes against entry-level luxury cars like the Cadillac CTS and Lexus ES 350. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive optional.


Exterior
For 2010, the MKZ's face combines the old MKZ's visor-like headlights and the larger MKS sedan's sleeker nose. From the doors back, not a lot has changed — so if you want to convince your neighbors you have the new MKZ and not the old one, you'll want to back into your driveway.

Seventeen-inch alloy wheels are standard. A Sport Appearance Package includes 18-inch wheels, a unique grille and darker headlights. At 190 inches long, the MKZ is just slightly shorter than the ES and CTS. Its 37.5-foot turning circle is a foot or two wider than either competitor, however.


Interior
Inside, the old MKZ's boxy dash has been smoothed out to something closer to that of the MKS, complete with genuine wood trim and upscale leather. The center controls have smaller dials and buttons than before. The optional navigation system comes with Sirius Travel Link, which can track, among other things, nearby movie listings, weather forecasts and gas stations with regularly updated fuel prices. Also optional are a moonroof and a backup camera.

Ambient interior lighting can switch between five color schemes. Standard features include heated and cooled front seats with 10-way power adjustments, an 11-speaker audio system and dual-zone automatic climate control. A THX-certified surround-sound stereo with 14 speakers is optional.

At 16.5 cubic feet, the MKZ's cargo area beats the ES (14.7 cubic feet) and CTS (13.6) by significant margins. Folding rear seats are standard, a feature Cadillac offers but Lexus doesn't.



Under the Hood
Though the MKZ continues to use last year's 263-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6, Lincoln says it revised the six-speed automatic's gearing to trim zero-to-60-mph acceleration times to 7.1 seconds. Last year's MKZ did the sprint in 7.7 seconds; Lexus says the ES makes the same sprint in just under 7 seconds.

Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive optional. The Sport Appearance Package includes a sport-tuned suspension with stiffer springs and beefier stabilizer bars.

Safety
Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control and an electronic stability system are standard. The MKZ's six standard airbags include side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for both rows. An optional blind spot warning system senses cars in the adjacent lane and warns drivers with an indicator light in the side mirror.