2017 Lincoln MKZ 3.0T AWD

Somewhere in the recent past, Lincoln devolved into the afterthought division of the Ford Motor Company. Once the last Town Car passed into the hands of some livery service, Lincoln’s inventory was reduced to a slew of remade Fords in search of a market niche to fill. And here’s the 2017 Lincoln MKZ, an updated version of the second-generation sedan that has been on sale since the 2013 model year.

While the 2013 MKZ appeared wholly generic, the 2017 model, thanks to a new grille and headlights, now looks like a Jaguar XJ that’s been squished in a panini press—yet one more Lincoln that kinda sorta looks like it’s trying to be something else. The redo is an improvement, but it’s the first example of yet another new Lincoln “design language” that’s probably doomed to be replaced in two years.

Underneath, the MKZ is still a Ford Fusion with flashier tailoring. It rides on the same 112.2-inch wheelbase as the Fusion, uses the same basic chassis, and in base form the MKZ is powered by the 245-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four that’s optional in the Fusion. Both cars are available with either front- or all-wheel drive and are produced alongside each other at Ford’s Hermosillo, Mexico, assembly plant.

Enter the 400 Club

Yet, despite the preceding sarcastic bluster, there’s some new mechanical substance under the newish MKZ skin. That’s in the form of a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 with direct injection and variable valve timing that, at least for now, is exclusive to Lincoln. Related to the 2.7-liter EcoBoost turbo V-6 used in the 2017 Ford Fusion Sport, this V-6 (labeled 3.0 GTDI, as Lincoln doesn’t say “EcoBoost”) gains displacement via an increase in cylinder bore from 83.0 millimeters to 85.3 and a stroke lengthened by 3.0 millimeters to 86.0. Also, whereas the 2.7’s block is cast iron, the Lincoln’s 3.0 is aluminum.

With all-wheel drive, the Lincoln 3.0-liter carries a thumping 400-hp rating, at a relatively low 5500 rpm. And there’s a full 400 lb-ft of torque on hand at only 2750 rpm. But opt for front-wheel drive and the engine is electronically capped at 350 horsepower; the torque rating stays the same. At 400 horsepower, the AWD Lincoln represents a big leap from the 325-hp 2.7-liter EcoBoost in the Fusion Sport.

The engine is the best thing about the evolved 2017 MKZ. This turbo V-6 pulls like a black hole with matter-of-fact power, seamless torque delivery, and flawless manners as the revs build. That output is sent through a six-speed automatic with tightly packed ratios that top out with a direct-drive fifth gear and an easygoing 0.74:1 overdrive sixth. It’s certainly quick, with the 4307-pound MKZ 3.0T whooshing to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and slurping up the quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds.

The wayback machine reports that the new MKZ’s accelerative performance is 1.5 seconds quicker to 60 mph and 1.4 seconds quicker through the quarter-mile than the 2013 version powered by a naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6. And the new car’s 5.5-second run from 5 to 60 mph beats the old car by a full second. One minor issue: the six-speed automatic gearbox’s shifts sometimes feel lazy.

The Rubber That Meets the Road

Some C/D staff members believe that genuflection is the only proper response upon seeing a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires on a car. And on a Porsche or Corvette, Pilot Super Sports are brilliantly responsive, stupendously tenacious, and amazingly comfortable. But on the softly sprung MKZ they bounce along as if the car were riding on four basketballs. Plus, there’s a hollow cavity sound that the Lincoln’s electronic active noise cancellation can’t completely eliminate. Worst of all, after cornering, the whole car wags like the tail of a Newfoundland puppy that just discovered freeze-dried chicken jerky. It then takes some time to recover its composure. And the all-wheel-drive system isn’t able to keep up, either, as the MKZ still wants to torque-steer off the road.

In sum, these are summer-only sports-car tires fitted to a car tuned for all-season touring rubber. In fact, the placard in the doorjamb of our test car gave away the fact that it started life without these tires—the placard listed a different tire size than those fitted to the car—which Lincoln reps no doubt swapped in hope of improving test numbers. That said, the high-performance footwear is undeniably sticky. Our Michelin-shod MKZ adhered to the skidpad to the tune of 0.93 g and stopped from 70 mph in a commendable 156 feet with no apparent brake fade.

One gets the sense that these tires were specially chosen for vehicles that would see performance testing by the media. According to Lincoln’s online configurator for the 2017 MKZ, the optional summer tire will be a 245/40R-19; although it doesn’t specify the tire brand or model, it’s hard to imagine dealers ordering high-performance rubber for this car.

Tires aside, the rest of the MKZ is a typical early-21st-century luxury ride. The seats are comfortable and supportive without being aggressive. There’s enough room for four moderately sized people, although there are seatbelts for five. And the instrumentation is well positioned and easy to read. The rack-and-pinion steering has a relatively quick 14.8:1 ratio, but it doesn’t offer much feel.

And, of course, there’s a full load of standard and optional technological wizardry: lane-departure warning, parallel and perpendicular parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, and almost everything buyers have come to expect in this segment. There’s also pre-collision warning with pedestrian detection, so if you run someone down, prosecutors will have de facto evidence of your murderous intent.

Prices for the new MKZ start at $36,095 for a front-driver powered by the 2.0-liter four. A loaded Black Label edition with all-wheel drive, the 3.0-liter turbo V-6, and other options can rip right past $63,000. There’s an MKZ hybrid, also starting at $36,095, which shares its 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four and nearly every other powertrain piece with the Ford Fusion hybrid. The MKZ Reserve AWD model we drove had a starting price of $42,485. The stonking turbo V-6 adds $4000, and myriad options brought the total to $59,975.

What the MKZ has going for it is that new 3.0-liter turbo six—finally, Lincoln gets something to call its own. What it lacks is any other distinction. This car, like other Lincolns, can’t justify the brand’s existence. Even when it’s riding on basketballs.

Specifications >

VEHICLE TYPE: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door sedan

PRICE AS TESTED: $59,975 (base price: $42,485)

ENGINE TYPE: twin-turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection

Displacement: 180 cu in, 2956 cc
Power: 400 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque: 400 lb-ft @ 2750 rpm

TRANSMISSION: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode

DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 112.2 in
Length: 193.9 in
Width: 73.4 in Height: 58.1 in
Passenger volume: 99 cu ft
Cargo volume: 15 cu ft
Curb weight: 4307 lb

C/D TEST RESULTS:
Zero to 60 mph: 4.8 sec
Zero to 100 mph: 12.0 sec
Zero to 130 mph: 22.6 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 5.5 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 2.8 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 3.4 sec
Standing ¼-mile: 13.4 sec @ 105 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 150 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 156 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad*: 0.93 g

FUEL ECONOMY:
EPA city/highway driving: 17/26 mpg
C/D observed: 19 mpg

*Stability-control-inhibited