2020 Lincoln MKZ

While parent brand, Ford, discontinues sedans in favor of SUVs, the American automaker's luxury arm, Lincoln, slogs away with the upmarket MKZ luxury compact sedan. Against the venerable BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, and relative newcomers like the Genesis G70, the Lincoln MKZ falls flat as a performance sedan, focusing instead on comfort and value for money. Despite beginning to age, old-world charmful styling, all-wheel-drive, and an available twin-turbo V6 with up to 400 horsepower in place of the base 2.0-liter turbo-four are all strong selling points. But the base engine is flaccid and the MKZ's perceived upmarket materials fail to live up to expectations upon close inspection. While there are glimmers of brilliance hidden in a comprehensive infotainment suite and an excellent amount of safety features, the MKZ fails to embody the best of the Lincoln brand.

For a luxury midsize car, the MKZ comes seriously well priced. It's a truly affordable option within the class, but one that comes at the expense of a truly premium feel. The base-spec MKZ, the Standard, is presented at an MSRP of just $36,750, the top-spec MKZ, the Reserve, at an MSRP of $42,500. Those prices are excluding Lincoln's destination and freight charge of $995, as well as any US tax, registration, or licensing fees. Optioning the available all-wheel-drive system to either of the Lincoln MKZ trims will cost an additional $2,000 on the base prices while optioning the Reserve with the twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 will ask an extra $4,000.

As is often the case in the luxury sedan segment, the Lincoln MKZ's steering is relatively numb, ceding barely any feedback from the wheels to the driver, its light steering effort is otherwise appreciable, especially when driving around town where its nimble responses complement the luxury driving experience. There is a Sport Mode offered in the MKZ which is meant to increase driver engagement overall, but the result is hardly tangible, sticking to the Comfort Mode is just more sensible in the luxury sedan. The MKZ's braking, on the other hand, is consummate: the brake pedal is very communicative of feel and thus easy to modulate when driving, even at top speed, it's responsive and brings the sedan to a stop from 60 mph in just 113 ft. Both the Standard and the Reserve MKZ come equipped with an adaptive suspension that has the MKZ handle impressively well for a luxury vehicle. It's calm and collected through most scenarios, and always feels under control even through sharp bends. Of course, it isn't as apt as any Mercedes, BMW, or Audi, and its considerable heft does prevent it from being as sharp and nimble as competitors. There's no doubt that the MKZ is purpose-built for comfort rather than straight-line performance or handling. That said, however, it could be better.

There is undoubtedly plenty of appeal in the 2020 Lincoln MKZ's affordability and in that it's a luxury vehicle at that. It's far more affordable than many other luxury offerings out there, but while there's no obvious reason to think its premium guise has been compromised from the outside, the cost-cutting tactics are clearly revealed once inside the cabin, where the overall impression and material quality set the MKZ alongside only the mid-grade offerings of vehicles such as the Ford Fusion in comparison. Apart from that, which to some would be understandable considering the Lincoln MKZ's price, it's otherwise a pretty decent vehicle. It's nothing special in terms of straight-line performance, handling, or ride comfort, but it delivers an appropriate balance, which is perfect for its purpose as a leisurely daily commuter. Its infotainment system is contemporary and comprehensive, and its standard consignment of features is extensive, including the many driver-assist and safety tech items it's given. It's reasonably commodious and practical too, but nothing about it really stands out in the segment. All in all, the Lincoln MKZ is worth a look if you want the status of owning a premium vehicle along with the features that suggest so, and at a relatively low price, otherwise, it may be worth spending the extra money elsewhere if its true luxury you seek.

At an MSRP of $36,750 and with its extensive standard consignment of features, the base-specced Standard MKZ is the trim of choice. It comes with all the features and more that one would expect from a daily luxury commuter and is outfitted with a contemporary and comprehensive infotainment system and with an impressive consignment of driver-assists and safety technologies. The optional Convenience Package is recommended for the Standard MKZ for the voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, two rear-seat USB ports, 110v/150w AC power outlet and other conveniences it comprises. The upshot in price to the Reserve MKZ isn't really worth it, but if you want the V6 engine, there's no other choice.

The Lincoln and the Ford are constructed with the same underpinnings, and, despite being in completely different class' share many of the same advantages and disadvantages. The Fusion comes equipped with a rather measly base engine, offering a driving experience a lot more sedate than the already balmy MKZ. The Fusion gets access to a number of engines, none of which has it run faster than the MKZ, but with all of which the Fusion is more fuel-efficient, returning EPA estimates of 23/34/27 mpg at its most frugal. In terms of features, the Fusion gets the same contemporary infotainment system and the same standard inclusion of the Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assists, impressive considering how much cheaper it is than the MKZ, though creature-comforts will, of course, be greater in the MKZ. Considering that a similarly equipped Fusion costs the same as the base MKZ, the Fusion's far superior fuel-efficiency, and a near-equal level of specification at the higher trims, the Fusion is certainly the better value for money buy and a far more sensible sedan for everyday use.

The Lincoln Continental slots into the full-size luxury sedan segment and carries a starting MSRP of $46,305, that's nearly $4,000 more than the highest tier MKZ. The Continental does, however, come equipped with a more competent V6 base engine, though it remains accompanied by the clunky six-speed auto gearbox. It also has access to the 3.0-liter twin-turbo that the MKZ does, but it's slower with it, returning a 0-60 mph sprint time of 5.5 seconds. Both vehicles are otherwise pretty much matched in terms of terrible fuel-efficiency. The Continental, at its price, boasts a far more premium cabin with higher quality materials, but the MKZ is certainly packed with more value in terms of features for its price. If it's luxury you want, then the Continental is the certain bet, but it comes at a premium price to match, otherwise, if you don't mind the obvious cost-saving elements within the cabin of the MKZ, then it would be the suitable, more affordable alternative.