2011 Lincoln MKZ Will Turn the Luxury Tables in Its Favor
The entry-level sedan in the Ford’s premium car brand lineup, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ continues to assert itself as an effective introduction to the pleasures of American luxury. With a no-cost hybrid option, advanced technology and tight handling, the Lincoln 2011 MKZ is one of the new cars that Ford hopes will turn the luxury tables in its favor.
The 2011 Lincoln MKZ is the clearest statement of that new tack. It is a compact sedan by Lincoln standards, stuffed with the latest technology, including an MKZ Hybrid cribbed from the Ford Fusion Hybrid.
There’s also little to distinguish the Lincoln MKZ 2011 Hybird other than a badge or two, but that shouldn’t dissuade you from buying it. Inside, the downsizing doesn’t affect the personal-luxury crowd that commutes to work surrounded in wood and leather too much.
Lincoln MKZ 2011 features an elegant exterior design, a luxurious interior, exceptional performance and an ultra-smooth, quiet ride. Designers artfully packaged each of these classic Lincoln characteristics together in a premium midsize sedan to create the 2011 Lincoln MKZ.
Exterior look and even overall performance can benefit from the Lincoln MKZ 2011 sedan’s Sport Appearance Package. The dramatic new nose on the Lincoln 2011 MKZ is either a handsome new calling card or a rough draft of a more composed-looking car to come. Featuring prominent 18-inch polished aluminum wheels, the suspension is specially tuned for aggression.
Every Lincoln MKZ 2011 includes standard Lincoln SYNC, power windows, reverse-sensing system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 9-speaker, 360-watt sound system. SYNC, a good navigation system and THX audio make the Lincoln 2011 MKZ a standout in the entry-luxury niche. Nevertheless, the interior is a letdown. Although the materials are a bit nicer than those in the Ford Fusion Sport, the 2011 MKZ interior still feels more like a premium family sedan.
The Lincoln MKZ 2011 is a 4-door, 5-passenger luxury sedan, available in 3 trims, ranging from the FWD to the Hybrid. Upon introduction, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ FWD is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 263-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 27-mpg on the highway.
A 6-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard in the 2011 Lincoln MKZ. Combining a 2.5 liter Atkinson cycle inline-4 engine to a 275-volt electric motor for 191 horsepower altogether, the hybird is projected to deliver 41 miles per gallon city or 36 miles per gallon through highway driving.
This new 2011 MKZ hybird joins Ford’s growing lineup of hybrids, including the Ford Fusion Hybrid – 2010 North American Car of the Year and America’s most fuel-efficient sedan – plus the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Milan and Mariner Hybrids.
Safety Features in 2011 Lincoln MKZ
The 2011 Lincoln MKZ V-6 version can’t come close to the Hybrid’s economy, and its pedestrian groan and lack of direct gear control through its automatic transmission is more old-school luxury than the sharp-handling MKZ deserves.
Revamped in 2010, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ doesn’t yet have 2011 crash-test scores from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) due to testing changes, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives the 2011 MKZ its Top Safety Pick award–which goes hand in hand with its curtain airbags, stability control, and rearview camera. The pricing started at $34,645 for the base level.
2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid – AutoTrader New Car Review
Tags:2011 Lincoln MKz, compact sedan, Lincoln MKz
