Lincoln MKZ
Overall Score - 7.7 (Good)
The MKZ delivers an elegant, luxurious interior with many standard features, but can't match the overall performance of others in its class.
Reviewers generally find the 2007 Lincoln MKZ to be a reasonably priced and comfortable luxury sedan. The all-new MKZ takes the place of the 2006 Lincoln Zephyr and features a powerful V6 engine, all-wheel drive, and updated front styling. Road & Travel Magazine touts, "As a mid-size sedan, the 2007 MKZ offers excellent ergonomics and comfort for five passengers, with good trunk space and a superb sound system to improve the overall driving experience."
New Car Test Drive sums up the MKZ's well-rounded ride, commenting, "It's suitable for day-to-day commuting even on the Midwest's broken streets, comfy for long-distance cruising on an interstate and playful during a quick trip along a two-lane road through the mountains. It has plenty of power, but it uses regular fuel and delivers decent gas mileage." Reviewers' major complaints involve the MKZ's lack of sporty performance and its understated styling.
A fully-loaded AWD version of the 2007 Lincoln MKZ still comes out well under $40,000, a good value according to many reviewers. MSN reminds buyers that the "MKZ provides lots of equipment for the money," and Edmunds notes, "The 2007 Lincoln MKZ undercuts its Japanese-brand rivals by $4,000." BusinessWeek says, "If a 3-Series BMW is a bit too aggressive, and a Lexus ES a touch too expensive, the MKZ could be a good middle ground."
However, despite the fact that it's priced a tad below its competitors, the MKZ has a projected five-year residual value of just 31 percent, according to Kelley Blue Book. That's "compared to 42 percent for the 2007 Infiniti G35, 46 percent for the 2007 Acura TL and an equally-weak 27 percent for the 2007 Cadillac CTS V6 (all of which are more expensive)." IntelliChoice also gives the MKZ a value rating of "poor" (the lowest possible) for its predicted five-year total cost of ownership, compared with other vehicles in its class.
The 2007 Lincoln MKZ is available in FWD and AWD versions.
MKZ Performance - 6.7 (Mediocre)
Reviewers have mixed feelings about the 2007 Lincoln MKZ's performance. They praise its responsiveness, new peppy V6 engine, and comfortable smoothness but criticize the lagging power and sometimes disappointing steering. Of the driving experience, Road and Track says, "Acceleration is brisk, torque is ample, and the driving pleasure quotient is reasonably high." continue
MKZ Exterior - 6.6 (Mediocre)
Reviewers generally agree that the 2007 Lincoln MKZ's updated exterior styling is an improvement over its forerunner, the Lincoln Zephyr. BusinessWeek says, "It's a good-looking car ... The effect is neither garish nor old-school -- but very much in keeping with the Lincoln history of subtle elegance and good taste." continue
MKZ Interior - 7.2 (Good)
Reviewers are pleased with the 2007 Lincoln MKZ's interior because of its extremely quiet cabin, easy-to-use controls, and class-leading spaciousness. Edmunds says, "Although the materials aren't class-leading, they're a noticeable step up from the Lincoln's lower-line siblings. Inside, there's plenty of chrome, wood trim and bold lines." continue
MKZ Safety - 8.3 (Very Good)
The 2007 Lincoln MKZ is generally considered safe based on its unique features and good crash test ratings. Its list of safety aids includes Ford's Personal Safety System, a combination of unique "rolling" air bags. However, a glaring omission is electronic stability control, which is not available on the MKZ. continue
MKZ Reliability - 9.0 (Excellent)
The 2007 Lincoln MKZ reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). The 2007 MKZ has a basic warranty that covers the first four years or 50,000 miles. continue
