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MM Test-Drive: 2018 Lincoln MKZ
https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-cars/mkz/
IN A NUTSHELL: Close, but not a Lacrosse.
The Lincoln Test-Drive offer I got at the D.C. auto show in January expires this Friday, March 30, which is Good Friday in my church (definitely not a day for me to be out reviewing cars), and, considering that the deadline is now only a couple of days away, I decided to do my Lincoln test-drive today, despite gloomy skies, a cold intermittent light-spitting rain/drizzle, and me still recovering from a mild head/chest cold. Lincoln doesn't send you a pre-paid $50 gift-card like Ford does, but, instead, donates $75 to a charity of your choice from among a short list. I figured this was a good chance to help raise a little money for the American Red Cross, which itself could probably use some income and help after the extensive hurricane disasters of last August in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico severely drained and taxed its resources. Many, today, of course, particularly in Puerto Rico, are still suffering from those disasters.
I was originally going to sample the new 2018 Navigator, with the intense interest in it from a number of people and its potential threat to the Cadillac Escalade. But others have already done a good job of sampling it and writing it up, so I saw no need to right now....I may test-drive it later. Instead, I decided to sample the latest MKZ mid-sized sedan, even though I had test-driven it some time ago when I was cross-shopping the Buick Lacrosse. My last MKZ test-drive was of a Hybrid version (which, though somewhat loosely-built, was a pretty nice car on the road), and I have little interest in the dragster 400 HP Twin-Turbo V6 version that IMO is good for little more than showing off. Nor am I particularly enticed with the Black Label versions, which are a lot of extra money for basically fancier seat-stitching, some off-color trims, and a couple of extra customer perks like free car-washes on demand....I'm still a firm believer in doing my own washes, anyway, though that may change as my back and legs keep aging. So, for the test-drive, I chose a FWD (AWD is available if desired), dark-blue, base version of the MKZ that listed for a quite-reasonable $36,000+.......actually less than what my Lacrosse Preferred listed for with the optional non-turbo V6/9-speed automatic and a couple of minor accessories. It had a ivory-colored interior with fake leather (Leatherette) seats and aluminum rather than wood trim.
Often, when I review or test-drive a vehicle, I do it either at someone else's specific request, to help someone in their vehicle-shopping, to compare my own findings to people in the auto-review buisness that I like and respect, like Alex Dykes from Alex on Autos, and John Davis of Motorweek.(Davis is a particularly nice guy by auto-journalism standards, but Dykes does more through reviews), or for any one of a number of other reasons. This time, though, besides the obvious benefit of a charity-contribution, I did it mostly for myself....I specifically wanted to compare the latest 2018 MKZ to the latest 2018 Buick Lacrosse, which I own. The future of GM's large sedans from Chevy, Buick, and Cadillac (which are mostly built in the Detroit, MI Hamtramck plant along with the compact hybrid plug-in Chevrolet Volt), is is doubt from low sales, and the plant itself, like what happened with the Arlington, TX plant in 1996, may be converted to hot-selling trucks and SUVs. I like my Lacrosse so much I'd easily replace it with another one in several more years (or whatever the current flagship Buick sedan is at that time), but if it is out of production, well.........
So, I basically wanted to evaluate the MKZ as a back-up alternative in case GM craps out on their full-size sedan line....I also am looking at the Genesis G80 (which I think is built with better materials than the MKZ) as a back-up. That's why I chose an MKZ that was low on equipment and pretty close to my Lacrosse in MSRP. I also wanted to sample the 2.0L turbo four base engine, as my previous experience with the MKZ had been with the Hybrid's Atkinson-cycle four and electric motor. (one advantage of both the MKZ and Lacrosse is that they both sell their hybrid versions at low prices....Buick includes it as actually their base version, and Lincoln sells theirs at the same price as equivalent gas models).
First off, I wasn't totally satisfied with the fit/finish or assembly quality on the base-model MKZ I sampled, especially compared to the jewel-like ones that Lincoln had displayed out on the floor, where you could sit in them, at the D.C. Auto show (it's possible that those cars were specially-built and carefully prepped for the show, as manufacturers sometimes do that). The doors and hood all opened and shut solidly and precisely, but the hinges and fit on the trunk lid (which lacked the power-closing feature of upmarket models) felt like it was made out of chewing gum. The cheap, thin-plastic cubby-door latch on the console wouldn't lock unless you slammed it down or pushed the latch very firmly. The car's best features (although this is subjective) were probably the nice Jaguar-esque front end (which is MUCH better than on the pre-2017 versions) and the simple, no-nonsense transmission shift-buttons on the dash. American-designed Chrysler products used similar buttons back in the late 50s and early 60s before converting to levers in the mid-60s....I first learned how to drive on those buttons, back when when I was a teen-ager. The front-seat comfort and cushiness was also good....almost as good as my Lacrosse, except that the MKZ's bolsters were a little narrower. A couple of things inside (the steering wheel and column-stalks) was actually better-looking/feeling than my Lacrosse....Buick cheapened out on a couple of those items, even in their top-line Avenir versions. I also didn't particularly like the look of the MKZ's aluminum trim inside, even thought it appeared to be real brushed-metal, and not just fake aluminized plastic. There may (?) have also been an assembly-glitch in the wiring or operation of the driver's seat electric motors....seemed like the seat-control lever for the lower-cushion was not always responsive when you pulled it or pushed it.
On the road, the base-version MKZ was a mixed bag. All MKZs come with 45-series tires, compared to the Lacrosse's taller 50s with the 18" package. Even considering the test-comments from Consumer Reports about the MKZ's smooth ride (which I don't agree with), the shorter-sidewall 45s were more noticeable over bumps, even at recommended tire PSIs, and with the suspension drive-mode set to COMFORT. Wind-noise and road noise was generally well-controlled, which, of course, is expected in this class of sedan. The stiffer-than-necessary ride, though, did pay some benefits in good handling, and the steering was quick and precise by the standards of this class, with little body roll. The 6-speed automatic, unlike the somewhat lumpy shifts of a number of previous Ford-designed automatics, was smooth and seamless, and the 2.0L turbo four certainly out out adequate power for everyday driving, though I still think that a significant failure in the MKZ's marketing is the lack of a non-turbo V6 that would have about the same power level with more refinement. The only other all-gas engine option in the MKZ is the 400 HP twin-turbo V6, also shared with upmarket versions of the Continental, that IMO is good mostly for showing off at stoplights and little else. The brake pedal was effective, and generally well-mounted for the position of my big circus-clown size 15 shoes as they come off the gas pedal....that can be a problem in some vehicles.
So....in the end, could I actually LIVE with this car as a daily-driver, if GM craps out on their competing sedans, and I am not able to get another new one several years down the road? Probably yes.....in a pinch, though I'd definitely want one with better interior trim, and without the sloppy assembly I noted on my test car. I'd probably let a couple of pounds of air out of the tires to soften up the ride a little...I don't drive at fast enough speeds, on hot enough roads, at high enough vehicle-loads, to make tire overheating/failure from low PSIs an issue. I'd probably send a letter to Ford management telling them to be a little more honest between the quality of the vehicles they display at the shows vs. what is actually on the lot for purchase. And, yes, you can believe I'd also have an eye on the superbly-built Genesis G80.
And, as always, Happy-Car-Shopping.
MM
DRIVING IS BELIEVING
https://www.lincoln.com/luxury-cars/mkz/
IN A NUTSHELL: Close, but not a Lacrosse.
The Lincoln Test-Drive offer I got at the D.C. auto show in January expires this Friday, March 30, which is Good Friday in my church (definitely not a day for me to be out reviewing cars), and, considering that the deadline is now only a couple of days away, I decided to do my Lincoln test-drive today, despite gloomy skies, a cold intermittent light-spitting rain/drizzle, and me still recovering from a mild head/chest cold. Lincoln doesn't send you a pre-paid $50 gift-card like Ford does, but, instead, donates $75 to a charity of your choice from among a short list. I figured this was a good chance to help raise a little money for the American Red Cross, which itself could probably use some income and help after the extensive hurricane disasters of last August in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico severely drained and taxed its resources. Many, today, of course, particularly in Puerto Rico, are still suffering from those disasters.
I was originally going to sample the new 2018 Navigator, with the intense interest in it from a number of people and its potential threat to the Cadillac Escalade. But others have already done a good job of sampling it and writing it up, so I saw no need to right now....I may test-drive it later. Instead, I decided to sample the latest MKZ mid-sized sedan, even though I had test-driven it some time ago when I was cross-shopping the Buick Lacrosse. My last MKZ test-drive was of a Hybrid version (which, though somewhat loosely-built, was a pretty nice car on the road), and I have little interest in the dragster 400 HP Twin-Turbo V6 version that IMO is good for little more than showing off. Nor am I particularly enticed with the Black Label versions, which are a lot of extra money for basically fancier seat-stitching, some off-color trims, and a couple of extra customer perks like free car-washes on demand....I'm still a firm believer in doing my own washes, anyway, though that may change as my back and legs keep aging. So, for the test-drive, I chose a FWD (AWD is available if desired), dark-blue, base version of the MKZ that listed for a quite-reasonable $36,000+.......actually less than what my Lacrosse Preferred listed for with the optional non-turbo V6/9-speed automatic and a couple of minor accessories. It had a ivory-colored interior with fake leather (Leatherette) seats and aluminum rather than wood trim.
Often, when I review or test-drive a vehicle, I do it either at someone else's specific request, to help someone in their vehicle-shopping, to compare my own findings to people in the auto-review buisness that I like and respect, like Alex Dykes from Alex on Autos, and John Davis of Motorweek.(Davis is a particularly nice guy by auto-journalism standards, but Dykes does more through reviews), or for any one of a number of other reasons. This time, though, besides the obvious benefit of a charity-contribution, I did it mostly for myself....I specifically wanted to compare the latest 2018 MKZ to the latest 2018 Buick Lacrosse, which I own. The future of GM's large sedans from Chevy, Buick, and Cadillac (which are mostly built in the Detroit, MI Hamtramck plant along with the compact hybrid plug-in Chevrolet Volt), is is doubt from low sales, and the plant itself, like what happened with the Arlington, TX plant in 1996, may be converted to hot-selling trucks and SUVs. I like my Lacrosse so much I'd easily replace it with another one in several more years (or whatever the current flagship Buick sedan is at that time), but if it is out of production, well.........
So, I basically wanted to evaluate the MKZ as a back-up alternative in case GM craps out on their full-size sedan line....I also am looking at the Genesis G80 (which I think is built with better materials than the MKZ) as a back-up. That's why I chose an MKZ that was low on equipment and pretty close to my Lacrosse in MSRP. I also wanted to sample the 2.0L turbo four base engine, as my previous experience with the MKZ had been with the Hybrid's Atkinson-cycle four and electric motor. (one advantage of both the MKZ and Lacrosse is that they both sell their hybrid versions at low prices....Buick includes it as actually their base version, and Lincoln sells theirs at the same price as equivalent gas models).
First off, I wasn't totally satisfied with the fit/finish or assembly quality on the base-model MKZ I sampled, especially compared to the jewel-like ones that Lincoln had displayed out on the floor, where you could sit in them, at the D.C. Auto show (it's possible that those cars were specially-built and carefully prepped for the show, as manufacturers sometimes do that). The doors and hood all opened and shut solidly and precisely, but the hinges and fit on the trunk lid (which lacked the power-closing feature of upmarket models) felt like it was made out of chewing gum. The cheap, thin-plastic cubby-door latch on the console wouldn't lock unless you slammed it down or pushed the latch very firmly. The car's best features (although this is subjective) were probably the nice Jaguar-esque front end (which is MUCH better than on the pre-2017 versions) and the simple, no-nonsense transmission shift-buttons on the dash. American-designed Chrysler products used similar buttons back in the late 50s and early 60s before converting to levers in the mid-60s....I first learned how to drive on those buttons, back when when I was a teen-ager. The front-seat comfort and cushiness was also good....almost as good as my Lacrosse, except that the MKZ's bolsters were a little narrower. A couple of things inside (the steering wheel and column-stalks) was actually better-looking/feeling than my Lacrosse....Buick cheapened out on a couple of those items, even in their top-line Avenir versions. I also didn't particularly like the look of the MKZ's aluminum trim inside, even thought it appeared to be real brushed-metal, and not just fake aluminized plastic. There may (?) have also been an assembly-glitch in the wiring or operation of the driver's seat electric motors....seemed like the seat-control lever for the lower-cushion was not always responsive when you pulled it or pushed it.
On the road, the base-version MKZ was a mixed bag. All MKZs come with 45-series tires, compared to the Lacrosse's taller 50s with the 18" package. Even considering the test-comments from Consumer Reports about the MKZ's smooth ride (which I don't agree with), the shorter-sidewall 45s were more noticeable over bumps, even at recommended tire PSIs, and with the suspension drive-mode set to COMFORT. Wind-noise and road noise was generally well-controlled, which, of course, is expected in this class of sedan. The stiffer-than-necessary ride, though, did pay some benefits in good handling, and the steering was quick and precise by the standards of this class, with little body roll. The 6-speed automatic, unlike the somewhat lumpy shifts of a number of previous Ford-designed automatics, was smooth and seamless, and the 2.0L turbo four certainly out out adequate power for everyday driving, though I still think that a significant failure in the MKZ's marketing is the lack of a non-turbo V6 that would have about the same power level with more refinement. The only other all-gas engine option in the MKZ is the 400 HP twin-turbo V6, also shared with upmarket versions of the Continental, that IMO is good mostly for showing off at stoplights and little else. The brake pedal was effective, and generally well-mounted for the position of my big circus-clown size 15 shoes as they come off the gas pedal....that can be a problem in some vehicles.
So....in the end, could I actually LIVE with this car as a daily-driver, if GM craps out on their competing sedans, and I am not able to get another new one several years down the road? Probably yes.....in a pinch, though I'd definitely want one with better interior trim, and without the sloppy assembly I noted on my test car. I'd probably let a couple of pounds of air out of the tires to soften up the ride a little...I don't drive at fast enough speeds, on hot enough roads, at high enough vehicle-loads, to make tire overheating/failure from low PSIs an issue. I'd probably send a letter to Ford management telling them to be a little more honest between the quality of the vehicles they display at the shows vs. what is actually on the lot for purchase. And, yes, you can believe I'd also have an eye on the superbly-built Genesis G80.
And, as always, Happy-Car-Shopping.
MM
DRIVING IS BELIEVING
