New/Notable:
- Available with all-wheel drive
- New technology enables owners to interact with the MKZ through a smartphone app
- Excellent crash test ratings
The 2015 Lincoln MKZ is a near-luxury midsize sedan that offers interior refinement and bold styling at a non-luxury price.
For the new model year, the MKZ adds a 3G connection which allows owners to interact with the car via their smart phone. Using the dedicated app, you can unlock or lock the car remotely, schedule remote starts so the car is warmed up on cold mornings, and check the fuel level.
Though it shares a platform with Ford’s midsize sedan, the Fusion, the MKZ has enough differences on the outside that the two vehicles don’t resemble each other at all to the naked eye. Forward styling is centered around a large execution of Lincoln’s winged grille, which feed into headlight clusters that are the same height and continue the winged aesthetic as they peel back towards the front fenders. 18-inch alloy wheels come standard at each corner, with larger 19-inch cogs optional. Our favorite exterior option is a one-piece panoramic roof that lifts and retracts rearward to open up the cabin. This glass piece is over 15 square feet in size and lets light into the cabin when closed, or air when opened.
Lincoln offers a pair of engine options with the MKZ. The base engine is a 240-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder while those who want more power can opt for a larger 300-hp, 3.7-liter V-6. Both engines take regular gas and are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is optional for those who want greater traction in inclement weather.
Inside, the MKZ offers plenty of standard features including plenty of standard technology in addition to the new smartphone connectivity we mentioned previously. The center console comes with an eight-inch touchscreen and plenty of touch capacitive controls instead of physical buttons, courtesy of MyLincoln Touch. SYNC is also standard, which allows the MKZ to accept voice commands to control the audio system and send/receive phone calls via Bluetooth. Also standard are leather upholstery and heated front seats. A navigation system is optional, as are ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats.
The 2015 MKZ excelled in crash testing, getting a full five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, the highest designation either testing agency offers. Eight airbags, antilock brakes, and an electronic stability system come standard. Optional are rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, lane departure warnings, blind spot warnings, and a forward collision prevention system.
