Even if you don’t consider yourself a car enthusiast, it’s easy to love the 2010 Lincoln MKZ.
Not only is the car a true beauty, but it’s got one of the smoothest rides out there. Call me crazy, but the performance measured up to some fairly high-end Jaguars and other high-end luxury cars. The 3.5-liter V-6 Duratec engine with all-wheel drive is powerful but very nimble, swooping through narrow parking lot lanes and effortlessly accelerating to highway speeds.
Lincoln reports the engine has 263 horsepower at 6,250 rpm and 249 ft.-lbs of torque at 4,500 rpm. That quite a bit of power in a fairly cost-efficient engine that uses regular gasoline and has a fuel economy that Lincoln predicts will be rated at 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
Some auto reviewers lament the lack of manual transmission options, but I found the six-speed automatic transmission more than acceptable, even silky smooth.
In addition, the stop-on-a-dime disc brakes were more than ample. Again, it’s all about power and responsiveness.
What’s likely going to sell the MKZ is its looks. This midsize, entry-level luxury sedan has a refined but not stodgy look. That’s thanks to the all-new front end, deck lid with LED tail lamps, sophisticated chrome trim and a narrower, slimmer look than you might expect. Make no mistake, this isn’t a sports car, but it’s got enough curves to make it contemporarily athletic.
Open the door and you’ll find the car is very high-end and all-American. Features include wood and nickel satin accents and plenty of LED lighting throughout the cabin, even including the cup holder. As you’d expect, the seats are leather and incredibly comfortable, with plenty of seating positions and memory.
And yes, this car has high-end technology including automatic climate control, an audio system with a crystal-clear display and plenty of options, voice-activated navigation, and Bluetooth. I’m a huge fan of the Ford Sync system — which basically ties all the technology together in one easy-to-use system — and this car has that option.
There are all kinds of invisible niceties — including an acoustic laminated windshield with a layer of sound-absorbent vinyl between two sheets of glass and expandable stuffers in the fenders and pillars — that make the car’s cabin nearly silent.
There are plenty of other pluses with the 2010 Lincoln MKZ that will further make car buyers think luxury when they think Lincoln.
