Review: 2017 Lincoln MKZ

One thing that impressed me about the 2017 Lincoln MKZ is the power it had given the 2.0L 4-cylinder engine under the hood. Thanks to the turbocharger, the vehicle had pep and didn’t lag when I wanted it to accelerate quickly. If you’re in the market for a mid-size luxury vehicle, take a look at the MKZ with me.

Exterior Design

Every manufacturer looks to distinguish itself at first glance through its front end and headlight design. The Lincoln brand is no different, and the MKZ carries its signature grille. The overall lines on the vehicle are not overly aggressive or edgy, but are sleek and subtle.

I have mixed feelings about the rear design with its tail/reverse lights continuing across the trunk lid.

Our model tested had 19” satin finish 7-spoke machine-aluminum wheels with premium painted pockets (isn’t that a mouthful?) – which is the technical term for nice wheels. The 10-spoke 19” wheels are also a worthwhile upgrade if you’re into changing the look of the vehicle this way.

Interior Design

Overall, the interior design carries the elegant lines throughout the cabin. The electronic gear selector buttons are placed on the dashboard giving the centre stack and console a seamless feel.

The instrument cluster is easy to read and doesn’t have information overload. What you really need to know, you can discern from the cluster with a quick glance.

The automatic dual climate control cluster was easy to use. As hoped for in a luxury vehicle, the MKZ has a heated steering wheel, as well as heated and cooled front seats.

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ also comes with rear heated seats and multiple charging options including a 110V outlet.

Our model tested did come with Enhanced Active Park Assist which is something you have to experience, if you haven’t already. While I’m not a huge fan of this technology (because I believe everyone should know how to park without aids – and continue to practice this skill), I can appreciate when it might come in handy when you’re trying to get in or out of tight parking spots.

Special Features

One of the unique features for the Lincoln MKZ is the retractable panoramic glass roof. This is an upgrade, and a beautiful one to consider. Most panoramic sunroofs have a section that you can open. With the MKZ, the entire glass retracts.

We’ve had a our share of massages in vehicles (I know, it’s a rough life!) but the Lincoln/Ford brands are one of our favourites. The MKZ’s Active Motion option is especially nice during long drives to get the circulation going in your body.

Under The Hood / Basic Maintenance

Overall the engine bay area is laid out well with most basic maintenance items placed up top. For example, the coolant reservoir’s MIN/MAX levels are easy to read while the engine oil level dipstick is easy to check.

Although the negative battery terminal is located under the windshield cowl, the battery itself is located close to an engine ground so in most cases, jump starting the vehicle shouldn’t be a problem.

The spare tire and jack kit are located under the trunk’s floor panel, and the spare tire’s valve stem is facing up so you can easily check its tire pressure. Thank you, Lincoln. You wouldn’t believe how many times this valve stem is inaccessible in other vehicles!

Child Car Seat

In terms of installing a rear-facing child car seat, the 2017 Lincoln MKZ is spacious so you may not need to move the front passenger seat too far forward to accommodate the car seat’s recline angle. The rear seat bench has a bucket shape so you’ll likely require pool noodles during a rear-facing child car seat installation in order to get the correct recline angle.

The UAS anchors are located at the edge of the cushion and the rear tether anchors are placed just behind the headrests.

The rear outboard headrests are quite flat and don’t protrude forward so you may not need to remove it when you install a forward-facing child car seat (you want to make sure that the child car seat sits flush against the rear seatback).

Storage / Trunk

Thanks to its electronic gear selector buttons placed on the dashboard, the 2017 Lincoln MKZ offers multiple storage levels in the sleek centre console.

The trunk is very spacious, though it does narrow towards the back to accommodate the rear wheels and trunk lid arms.

The Lincoln MKZ is the brand’s ‘smallest’ vehicle, though it’s really a mid-size luxury sedan. The 2017 Lincoln MKZ is competitively priced and starts at $39,155CAD.

Model tested:

2017 Lincoln MKZ Reserve

2.0L Turbocharged 4-Cylinder Engine

6-speed automatic transmission

Intelligent All-wheel drive

Seating Capacity: 5

Road Test Terrain: 70% city, 30% highway