FEATURES | 10 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
it takes too many taps to accomplish even the simplest tasks, and this is not the kind of thing you want in a luxury car. At least the THX-branded sound system is fantastic.
Automobile
The steering-wheel paddles allow full manual override, once you’ve selected drive or sport with a button.
AutoWeek
its optional 19-inch wheels shod with 40-series tires made freeway control joints feel like divergent tectonic plates.
Car and Driver
n use, Bluetooth phone setup was easy and intuitive, but we still find touchscreen displays finicky, as they generally deliver slower responses when compared to traditional buttons. Plus, and this seems to be an ongoing complaint, the MKZ's matte screen was covered in fingerprints after a day's use, and its angle (facing upward into the ambient light without a hood) only made the greasy marks more visible.
Autoblog
To the right of the shift buttons is the 8-inch MyLincoln Touch screen. It doesn’t work any different in the MKZ than it does in any other product from Dearborn, and we believe it is still in need of a more powerful processor.
Motor Trend
The Lincoln MKZ can be trimmed out with either gas-only or gas-electric drivetrains, but in either case, it's one of the most fully-featured vehicles in its class--even before the option packages come into play.
Both versions come standard with power windows, locks, and mirrors; automatic climate control; an 11-speaker audio system with a CD player and satellite radio; power heated front seats; 18-inch wheels; adaptive LED headlights and LED taillights; adaptive suspension; leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel; wood dash trim; pushbutton and remote start; Bluetooth; and steering-wheel multi-function controls.
MyLincoln Touch is also standard. It controls infotainment, climate, navigation, and secondary vehicle systems with voice commands, touchscreen taps, or steering-wheel toggling. Our usual caveat applies here; MyLincoln Touch is a complex system with a steep learning curve, and in our experience, only about 75 percent of the voice commands make it through to actual execution, whether it's finding a track name from an audio source or hitting the right destination from the navigation database. The screen layouts have become clearer and response times don't seem to be the issue they were when the system was launched in the 2011 model year, but we've also found some similar Bluetooth-dropping bugs in Cadillac's CUE.
On gas-only models, the V-6 is considered an option, and all-wheel drive can be had with either engine.Other equipment comes bundled in packages with exclusive-sounding names. The Select package adds a rearview camera and parking sensors; HD radio; and wood steering-wheel trim. Reserve brings navigation with real-time traffic; blind-spot monitors; a power trunklid; and a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel. Preferred adds 19-inch wheels; a heated steering wheel; heated outboard rear seats; a 700-watt, THX II-rated audio system; and a choice of either a single-pane sunroof or a massive piece of retractable panoramic glass measuring more than 15 square feet. The light it brings into the cabin is striking--but the value/price point might be best at the Reserve level.
Conclusion
A huge dose of infotainment needs to be digested properly before you drive the MKZ and venture deeply into its voice controls.
