Used 2011 Lincoln MKZ for sale 

The Lincoln MKZ is offered in a single trim level. It comes powered with a 3.5L V-6 motor that makes 263 horsepower and a front-wheel-drive as standard. The transmission is a 6-speed automatic, which also allows manual shifting. An optional all-wheel-drive is offered as well. The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid variant is available at the same price as the gas variant.

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The Navigation package is a great choice, though other packages just make the price of the sedan too unreasonable. The MKZ already comes with most of the necessary features for a decent executive sedan. If you care about saving money on fuel and saving climate, a hybrid variant is available for the same price.

The powertrain in the 2011 Lincoln MKZ is a 3.5L V-6 engine that makes 263 horsepower and 249 foot-pounds of torque. It comes with a six-speed automatic transmission that allows manual shift-ability, and a front-wheel-drive. An optional all-wheel-drive can be had at an added premium.

The steering itself is great and gets plenty of road feel, while at the same time precisely turning the car. But at lower speeds, the powertrain fails to deliver the great response and feels powerless at certain speeds.

The Lincoln MKZ takes just 7.1 seconds to reach 60 mph, which is commendable for a front-wheel-drive sedan. The Audi A4 is a tad bit faster, though it slows down at the quarter-mile. The Audi also has a higher top speed owing to its higher gear ratios. The Cadillac CTS is more attuned to sporty performance than either the Audi A4 and the Lincoln MKZ.

The Lincoln MKZ is now offering a supremely efficient Hybrid powertrain, though the gas-powered car is still quite efficient. The sedan returns 18 mpg in cities, 27 mpg on highways, and 21 mpg combined for the front-wheel-drive model. The all-wheel-drive MKZ gives 17 mpg in cities, 24 mpg on highways, and 19 mpg combined.

Compared to the refined powertrain of the Audi A4 which includes a turbocharged motor, the Lincoln MKZ falls short. The sporty Cadillac CTS matches the fuel efficiency of the MKZ. Comparing fuel tanks, the high efficiency of the A4 gives it a combined range of around 420 miles, which is unmatched by either naturally powered powertrain in the competition.

The Lincoln MKZ offers a comfortable room in its cabin for 4 adults. The surfaces are covered in comfortable materials and upholstery to draw up the standard of the cabin. The car though lacks the quality that most of its competitors in the segment offer. Most surfaces and switches are well finished and outfitted for luxury sedans.

The Bridge of Weir leather seats are quite a bit fancier than most affordable sedans offer. The front seats have adequate space for passengers of all sizes. On the other hand, the rear seats are a bit more congested, though the doors offer decent space to enter and exit the vehicle.

The trunk is especially large for its class and almost comparable to the larger Lincoln MKS sedan. The interior also offers great space, though the boot is downsized in the MKZ hybrid, which stores the batteries at the back. The rear seats can fold down, though they do not go completely flush with the floor as some other vehicles. Some standout interior features are:

• Dual-zone climate control
• Bridge of Weir leather upholstery
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Driver seat memory
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• 8-way power-adjustable front seats

How intuitive is the 2011 Lincoln MKZ’s infotainment unit?

Standard features on the V-6 MKZ include Bluetooth and the SYNC system. The system works on voice commands and controls the phone and audio systems.

The MKZ also has an LCD navigation screen offering some functionality. The audio system has Sirius Satellite Radio and AM/FM/CD and MP3 functionality. Some standout infotainment features are:

• Ford SYNC
• Voice Control
• Bluetooth
• Navigation
• iPod Interface
• 9-speaker audio
• Satellite Radio

The MKZ’s basic body profile is similar to the Ford Fusion, though it does have some distinct unique elements. The MKZ has slimmer headlights and a twin-wing front grille. The overall proportions of the car are well-styled.

Though from the side, the MKZ has minimal styling. The materials all over the exterior though are much more premium and stylish, although the car does seem a bit like a top-spec Fusion.

Compared to the premium competition, the Lincoln MKZ is the smallest vehicle on the lineup. It has a considerably shorter wheelbase, though the overall length of the sedan matches up to the competition. The MKZ is also much lighter than the competition, which makes it the quickest and the niftiest of the bunch to drive, even offering better fuel economy. Some standout exterior features are:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Fog lamps
• Automatic headlamps
• Chrome twin-wing front grille
• Bonnet with a central ridge
• Chrome lined side windows
• Chrome ringed front headlamps

Since it is based on the Ford Fusion, which is quite a safe car, the MKZ is sure to be exceptionally well made and perfectly safe. For 2011, the NHTSA awarded the MKZ 5-stars in overall scores, with 5-star front-impact and 5-star driver-side protection. The IIHS has awarded the MKZ mostly good ratings and even awarded it as the “Top Safety Pick” for 2011. Some standout safety features are:

• Blind Spot Monitors
• Curtain airbags
• Parking sensors
• Rear-view camera
• Ford MyKey system
• ABS
• EBD

The 2011 Lincoln MKZ is a great and highly spacious mid-size luxury sedan. It offers brilliant upholstery inside and a well designed ergonomic cabin. The fuel economy and the handling of the car are standout and quite responsive. Although the throttle leaves something to be had, and the overall fit of the cabin is quite disappointing. The car itself is quite alike to the Ford Fusion and doesn't quite justify the distinctive badging or the higher price tag. As of 2011, we suggest waiting for the update scheduled for next year, as the current MKZ is quite mundane.