2010 Lincoln MKZ - Review

By Nelson Ireson

Nelson Ireson

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Nelson is an Editor at High Gear Media focusing on reviewing cars and covering the hottest topics in luxury and performance cars, car culture, and... More

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2010 Lincoln MKZ

Gauges are clear, easy to read and modern-looking, while the center stack, as rectangular as it may be, is clean and easy to use even without looking. The large 8-inch touchscreen interface to the nav system is intuitive, and supplemented by very handy steering-wheel mounted controls. The simplicity of use and yet depth of features here is top-notch.

The passenger and rear seating areas are likewise comfortable and solid, with the switchgear at each station easily at hand and clearly and cleanly labeled. Cargo room is abundant, with a cavernous trunk, 60/40 split folding rear seat, an appropriate number of good-sized cupholders and handy door-mounted cubbies to hold the miscellaneous odds and ends of the average day's trip.

Ford's Microsoft-based SYNC system is also fitted as the car's entertainment/navigation system and as usual, it impresses with its ease of use, ability to actually comprehend voice commands and its plug-and-play capabilities with both music players and Bluetooth-enabled cellular phones. Of particular note on the entertainment side of things is the absolutely extraordinary THX II sound system.

I noted this in my review of the 2009 Lincoln MKS, but it bears repeating: this system is, bar none, the best-sounding stock stereo system in any standard luxury car. I challenge anyone to show me one better in a car that costs less than $100,000. Lexus and its Mark Levinson systems need not apply, though Acura's DVD-surround systems are a close rival, when supplied with the proper signal. The Lincoln's system, on the other hand, turns standard stereo into an auditory delight.

The strong-pulling yet efficient EcoBoost V-6 engine isn't available in the 2010 MKZ, but that's not all bad, as the standard 263-horsepower 3.5-liter unit feels plenty strong, accelerating to highway speed and beyond with neither drama nor excessive noise or vibration. In fact, one of the MKZ's strong suits is the quiet cabin - aside from a bit of road noise from the tires, it's a cocoon-like ride equal to mid-segment offerings from Cadillac, BMW or Lexus.

Handling isn't particularly sporty, but it changes lanes quickly and with confidence, sorts even the worst of broken pavement, expansion joints and bombed-out freeways with ease, and generally inspires smooth, easy-going cruising - exactly what you'd expect from this sort of luxury sedan.

Fuel efficiency isn't stellar, with EPA estimates of 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway for the all-wheel-drive car and 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway for the front-wheel-drive (which we tested). Real-world use saw figures of 16-18 mpg in general suburban driving and 20-22 mpg on the open highway, which may be a breaking point for some.

At the end of the day, the MKZ packs a lot of features and capability into a very pleasing package, with a handful of common compromises. Is it enough to take on the new 2010 Buick LaCrosse or the Lexus ES 350 on even footing? Absolutely. Does it blow either out of the water? No, not really. But it does patch up the 'almosts' with a lot of 'just rights' and ends up with an overall package that's well worth the money, even at the as-tested price of $41,850 for our well-equipped model.