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MM Static-Review: 2017 Lincoln MKZ Facelift
A static review/inspection of the 2017 Lincoln MKZ mid-generation face-lift.
http://www.lincoln.com/cars/mkz/
IN A NUTSHELL: A massive improvement over the former interior and front end, but avoid the big-money Reserve/Black Label models.
Those of you who follow my posts and reviews know that while I generally liked the first generation Lincoln Zephyr (remained to MKZ) entry-luxury mid-size sedan, I was not a fan at all of the follow-up, second-generation design, with its overly wing-shaped grille, bulbous-looking and too-raked rear-quarter /C-pillar areas, mediocre road manners/driving-experience for an upmarket sedan of this class, and (IMO) awkward, poorly-designed finger-slide sensors for several climate control and stereo features. In fact (and I've posted and commented on this in threads more than once), I thought the less-expensive Ford Fusion, done on the same platform, was better looking, more comfortable, and better-driving overall. The second-generation MKZ was only one of several classic examples of why Lincoln was getting plastered in the sales department by several of its competitors....not to mention the fact that Lincolns, in most cases, are sold and serviced out of existing Ford shops. Lincoln did not keep most of its old chain of dealerships from the Lincoln/Mercury days...after the Mercury division folded, they were sold off to cut costs, and Lincoln sales and service facilities moved into select Ford dealerships across the country. I say select, because not all Ford shops handle Lincoln facilities...only certain ones. (Where I live in the Northern Virginia D.C. suburbs, for instance, in one of the nation's most lucrative new-car markets, there are only two active Lincoln shops within 20 miles or so, vs. a dozen or so Ford shops).
The old, quirky, second-generation MKZ, though, is now history. For 2017, the MKZ gets a mid-generation (badly-needed, IMO), facelift/mild redesign, consisting of an all-new front end/grille/headlights, a reworked dash/console, and much better quality interior trim/hardware (with one exception, which I'll get to later). One big change is under the hood.....the old optional 3.7L V6 gets replaced by a wild 3.0 twin-turbo V6 with 400 HP and 400 ft-lbs. of torque, which is probably way more power than this car actually needs, but will satisfy lead-foots. The new, transversely-mounted, 3.0 TT engine fits underhood very tightly, but at least the battery and some other components are uncovered and easily accessible. Lincoln doesn't use the name "Ecoboost" for its turbo engines, like Ford does for equivalent powerplants, because the marketers don't feel that the "Eco" term is synonomous with premium or upmarket vehicles...it's an image thing.
Since a tropical storm, currently, over Florida and the southeast coast, may threaten us here in the D.C. area this weekend (though more likely areas closer to the coast), and my knee (Praise God) has reached the point now where I don't need the cane and/or brace at all any more, except for the most difficult motions, I decided to check out the new MKZ facelift today, in nice weather, before any rain and wind came. Lincoln had one at the D.C. auto show in January, but it was clearly eclipsed by the all-new Continental up on the turntable, Lincoln didn't bother to unlock it....even by specific request, and the darkly-tinted windows did not allow you to clearly see the new reworked interior inside. So, for the most part, it just sat there, while everyone else gawked at the Continental.
As the basic platform of the second-generation MKZ has not changed much with the new facelift this year (a complete redesign will come in a few more years), I decided not to do a formal test-drive, even though the prospect of 400 ft-lbs. of torque in a car that size, with the new optional engine, was clearly a temptation. However, that engine will also be available in the new upcoming Continental sedan debuting next month, and I plan to do a full-review of the new Continental, not just a static-review or inspection. I may (?) sample the 3.0 TT in a Continental, which IMO is probably more fitting for that powerplant. Besides, I may be wrong, but I don't think that engine is going to be a big seller in this year's MKZ, as most buyers of this vehicle aren't looking for a ton of power.
But, in most cases, they ARE looking for a nice interior and overall good looks, and, IMO, this is where the new 2017 MKZ, a least up front, absolutely smokes last last year's model. Gone are the wing-shaped grille and headlights that were shared by some other Lincoln models, and in its place is what is essentially a downsized version of the new Continental's front end. It makes an enormous difference up front, and IMO transforms what was an awkward look into a truly handsome appearance (Styling, of course, is subjective, but I notice, from some other reviewers, that my comments on that aren't alone). Word from Lincoln is that we are likely to see this type of design on more new Lincoln products down the road. Complimenting that once new front end are 10 relatively nice (and well-applied) paint colors, including Palladium White-Gold and Jade Green metallic (I'd probably choose one of those two). Unfortunately, the rear end and C-Pillar styling, which I didn't think was that well-done, remains....Lincoln didn't have the time or funds to tackle that right now, and we'll see it on the next redesign.
The new interior is also a vast improvement on the old one....perhaps even more so than the exterior. Gone are the awkward finger-slide controls on the console (which were a pain in the *** on a bumpy road)......replaced by nice round, traditional, easy-to-use, solidly-attached rotary-knobs for stereo volume and tuning. Other functions are now controlled by video-knobs, buttons, and switches instead of finger-slide controls. All of the interior hardware (now) seems good, with one exception....the cheap matte-black plastic shift-paddles on the steering column, which are right out of the Ford parts-bin. I don't know why Ford keeps on using them on Lincolns when they are found on Focus and Fiesta econoboxes. But they seems to be the only really cheap parts inside......almost everything else seems solid, well-attached, and pleasant to touch and use, although the small flip-open compartment covers on the console, like those on even other luxury-class vehicles, are a little thin and lightweight. The metallic covers for the speakers, as on other new Lincolns, feel solid as a rock, and have nicely-finished surfaces. The wood-tone trim on the dash and door-panels is not the most convincing-looking I've seen, but feels durable, solid, and well-attached (some upper-level Reserve models have carbon-fiber trim inside, instead of wood). The thick doors shut with a reasonably solid thunk, but the latches and alignment don't feel quite as precise as on the thinner-doored Lexus ES350 competition. The front seats are reasonably well-shaped and comfortably-padded, although, if you are big and burly like me, my recommendation is to avoid the black-and-white seats in the Reserve model. They are relatively narrow, confining for large rumps/wide torsos, and have a sharp, uncomfortable hard cord running along the inner edge of the side-bolsters and upper seat backs. Those seats would be a deal-breaker for me, and, like those in the Buick Envision that I recently looked at, the leather gave off a rather odd smell....not the usual expected for leather in a new vehicle. Also, the Reserve and Black Label models were quite pricey....a couple of them I looked at listed for over 60K (base-level MKZs start in the mid-to-high 30s). They were not, IMO, worth what they cost, even though Lincoln's Black Label does include added customer perks that are not available on lower-line ones. And the lower-line ones, IMO, not only have more comfortable seats for big people like me, but are also much less expensive to boot. The handy, Lincoln-exclusive, push-button transmission shifting remains on the dash.....handy for opening up more room on the console without the frustrations of trying to use some electronic stick-shifters or column-stubs. The old early-60s Chrysler products I learned to drive on had similar push-buttons for the Torquefilte automatic transmission...but they were heavy, electro-mechanical buttons and took a lot more effort to push. The new Lincoln buttons operate with just a very light tap.
So, overall, I have a lot of praise for both the new MKZ's front end and new interior, and think it will definitely help the car's image and give it a badly-needed boost. But it will also, of course, likely share the unimpressive road manners of the pre-facelift model, and, starting next month, it will be overshadowed by the larger, Big-Brother, all-new Continental flagship.
And, as always, Happy Car Shopping.
MM
A static review/inspection of the 2017 Lincoln MKZ mid-generation face-lift.
http://www.lincoln.com/cars/mkz/
IN A NUTSHELL: A massive improvement over the former interior and front end, but avoid the big-money Reserve/Black Label models.
Those of you who follow my posts and reviews know that while I generally liked the first generation Lincoln Zephyr (remained to MKZ) entry-luxury mid-size sedan, I was not a fan at all of the follow-up, second-generation design, with its overly wing-shaped grille, bulbous-looking and too-raked rear-quarter /C-pillar areas, mediocre road manners/driving-experience for an upmarket sedan of this class, and (IMO) awkward, poorly-designed finger-slide sensors for several climate control and stereo features. In fact (and I've posted and commented on this in threads more than once), I thought the less-expensive Ford Fusion, done on the same platform, was better looking, more comfortable, and better-driving overall. The second-generation MKZ was only one of several classic examples of why Lincoln was getting plastered in the sales department by several of its competitors....not to mention the fact that Lincolns, in most cases, are sold and serviced out of existing Ford shops. Lincoln did not keep most of its old chain of dealerships from the Lincoln/Mercury days...after the Mercury division folded, they were sold off to cut costs, and Lincoln sales and service facilities moved into select Ford dealerships across the country. I say select, because not all Ford shops handle Lincoln facilities...only certain ones. (Where I live in the Northern Virginia D.C. suburbs, for instance, in one of the nation's most lucrative new-car markets, there are only two active Lincoln shops within 20 miles or so, vs. a dozen or so Ford shops).
The old, quirky, second-generation MKZ, though, is now history. For 2017, the MKZ gets a mid-generation (badly-needed, IMO), facelift/mild redesign, consisting of an all-new front end/grille/headlights, a reworked dash/console, and much better quality interior trim/hardware (with one exception, which I'll get to later). One big change is under the hood.....the old optional 3.7L V6 gets replaced by a wild 3.0 twin-turbo V6 with 400 HP and 400 ft-lbs. of torque, which is probably way more power than this car actually needs, but will satisfy lead-foots. The new, transversely-mounted, 3.0 TT engine fits underhood very tightly, but at least the battery and some other components are uncovered and easily accessible. Lincoln doesn't use the name "Ecoboost" for its turbo engines, like Ford does for equivalent powerplants, because the marketers don't feel that the "Eco" term is synonomous with premium or upmarket vehicles...it's an image thing.
Since a tropical storm, currently, over Florida and the southeast coast, may threaten us here in the D.C. area this weekend (though more likely areas closer to the coast), and my knee (Praise God) has reached the point now where I don't need the cane and/or brace at all any more, except for the most difficult motions, I decided to check out the new MKZ facelift today, in nice weather, before any rain and wind came. Lincoln had one at the D.C. auto show in January, but it was clearly eclipsed by the all-new Continental up on the turntable, Lincoln didn't bother to unlock it....even by specific request, and the darkly-tinted windows did not allow you to clearly see the new reworked interior inside. So, for the most part, it just sat there, while everyone else gawked at the Continental.
As the basic platform of the second-generation MKZ has not changed much with the new facelift this year (a complete redesign will come in a few more years), I decided not to do a formal test-drive, even though the prospect of 400 ft-lbs. of torque in a car that size, with the new optional engine, was clearly a temptation. However, that engine will also be available in the new upcoming Continental sedan debuting next month, and I plan to do a full-review of the new Continental, not just a static-review or inspection. I may (?) sample the 3.0 TT in a Continental, which IMO is probably more fitting for that powerplant. Besides, I may be wrong, but I don't think that engine is going to be a big seller in this year's MKZ, as most buyers of this vehicle aren't looking for a ton of power.
But, in most cases, they ARE looking for a nice interior and overall good looks, and, IMO, this is where the new 2017 MKZ, a least up front, absolutely smokes last last year's model. Gone are the wing-shaped grille and headlights that were shared by some other Lincoln models, and in its place is what is essentially a downsized version of the new Continental's front end. It makes an enormous difference up front, and IMO transforms what was an awkward look into a truly handsome appearance (Styling, of course, is subjective, but I notice, from some other reviewers, that my comments on that aren't alone). Word from Lincoln is that we are likely to see this type of design on more new Lincoln products down the road. Complimenting that once new front end are 10 relatively nice (and well-applied) paint colors, including Palladium White-Gold and Jade Green metallic (I'd probably choose one of those two). Unfortunately, the rear end and C-Pillar styling, which I didn't think was that well-done, remains....Lincoln didn't have the time or funds to tackle that right now, and we'll see it on the next redesign.
The new interior is also a vast improvement on the old one....perhaps even more so than the exterior. Gone are the awkward finger-slide controls on the console (which were a pain in the *** on a bumpy road)......replaced by nice round, traditional, easy-to-use, solidly-attached rotary-knobs for stereo volume and tuning. Other functions are now controlled by video-knobs, buttons, and switches instead of finger-slide controls. All of the interior hardware (now) seems good, with one exception....the cheap matte-black plastic shift-paddles on the steering column, which are right out of the Ford parts-bin. I don't know why Ford keeps on using them on Lincolns when they are found on Focus and Fiesta econoboxes. But they seems to be the only really cheap parts inside......almost everything else seems solid, well-attached, and pleasant to touch and use, although the small flip-open compartment covers on the console, like those on even other luxury-class vehicles, are a little thin and lightweight. The metallic covers for the speakers, as on other new Lincolns, feel solid as a rock, and have nicely-finished surfaces. The wood-tone trim on the dash and door-panels is not the most convincing-looking I've seen, but feels durable, solid, and well-attached (some upper-level Reserve models have carbon-fiber trim inside, instead of wood). The thick doors shut with a reasonably solid thunk, but the latches and alignment don't feel quite as precise as on the thinner-doored Lexus ES350 competition. The front seats are reasonably well-shaped and comfortably-padded, although, if you are big and burly like me, my recommendation is to avoid the black-and-white seats in the Reserve model. They are relatively narrow, confining for large rumps/wide torsos, and have a sharp, uncomfortable hard cord running along the inner edge of the side-bolsters and upper seat backs. Those seats would be a deal-breaker for me, and, like those in the Buick Envision that I recently looked at, the leather gave off a rather odd smell....not the usual expected for leather in a new vehicle. Also, the Reserve and Black Label models were quite pricey....a couple of them I looked at listed for over 60K (base-level MKZs start in the mid-to-high 30s). They were not, IMO, worth what they cost, even though Lincoln's Black Label does include added customer perks that are not available on lower-line ones. And the lower-line ones, IMO, not only have more comfortable seats for big people like me, but are also much less expensive to boot. The handy, Lincoln-exclusive, push-button transmission shifting remains on the dash.....handy for opening up more room on the console without the frustrations of trying to use some electronic stick-shifters or column-stubs. The old early-60s Chrysler products I learned to drive on had similar push-buttons for the Torquefilte automatic transmission...but they were heavy, electro-mechanical buttons and took a lot more effort to push. The new Lincoln buttons operate with just a very light tap.
So, overall, I have a lot of praise for both the new MKZ's front end and new interior, and think it will definitely help the car's image and give it a badly-needed boost. But it will also, of course, likely share the unimpressive road manners of the pre-facelift model, and, starting next month, it will be overshadowed by the larger, Big-Brother, all-new Continental flagship.
And, as always, Happy Car Shopping.
MM