New 2008 Lincoln MKZ Safety Review [ 2009 , 2007 ]
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Lincoln MKZ offers unique safety features and has good crash test ratings. Its list of safety aids includes Ford's Personal Safety System, a combination of "rolling" air bags. But no electronic stability control system is a glaring omission.
In government crash tests, the 2008 MKZ receives five out of five stars for both the driver and front passenger in frontal crashes. In side crash tests, it receives five stars for the front seat and four for the rear. In the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) frontal-offset and side-impact tests, the 2008 MKZ receives ratings of "Good" (the highest possible) and "Acceptable" (the second highest possible), respectively.
Accident Avoidance
The 2008 MKZ comes standard with anti-lock disc brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution and traction control. But, as previously mentioned, many reviewers are disappointed with its accident avoidance capabilities because it is not available with stability control.
Crash Protection
The MKZ is built with a durable safety cage to protect passengers in the case of an accident. According to the manufacturer, "if impact does occur, crush rails progressively crumple to help absorb impact, diverting energy away, helping to keep you safe." All MKZs also come standard with Ford's Personal Safety System, which includes side-impact air bags for the front seat occupants and full-length curtain air bags that cover both the front and rear seats. Autobytel notes that these are unique "because the airbag deploys in a ‘rolling' fashion, helping protect occupants even if they're out of position, such as with their head against the window. This is in contrast to the accordion-style deployment of most other automakers." In addition, the system tailors air bag and seat belt response to the severity of a collision.
