2007 Lincoln MKZ Review

Why is it when I really attach myself to an especially great car name it invariably will meet its demise? While I doubt it is my positive vibe inadvertently altering marketing departments and consumer sales negatively, I must admit a wince of pain as the Lincoln Zephyr was changed to the MKZ for 2007

As much as I really liked the Zephyr (I'm predisposed to virtually any product starting with "Z") I am glad to see Lincoln upgraded the MKZ (pronounced Mark Zee) when it dropped that iconic name for the new alphanumeric scheme it adopted the last few years.

The MKZ looks pretty much as it did while named Zephyr, in fact most all the changes worth mentioning are unseen - but definitely enhancements delivered in the driving experience. Most notable is more horsepower and an optional all-wheel drive system. The Zephyr had a tame 221-hp power plant, not bad, but certainly not capable of hanging with the all-new 3.5-liter V6 that delivers a whopping 263 horsepower. The all-wheel drive is an enticing option (front-wheel is standard) for the performance enthusiast. Previous Zephyrs only had the front-wheel drive.

While very little changed on the exterior of the MKZ, the grille is definitively Lincoln and the fairly conservative lines (shared with Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan) are mainstream and very American-like in their approach to premium midsize sedan. I appreciated the 17-inch 8-spoke aluminum wheels as the main accent to the beautiful amethyst clearcoat on my tester.

In the premium class, interior comfort and driving excitement are essential for a complete premium midsize sedan to compete. I feel the overall package in this MKZ, especially sporting the all-wheel drive, is in the same class as the Infiniti G35 and Lexus ES 350.

Keeping the same 6-speed transmission from the Zephyr was a great way to ensure the additional ponies in the new V6 had a way to convert that power to playful exuberance. I had fun carving up several twisty rural roads in Will County as well as challenging some of the better-known cloverleafs off I-55. I enjoyed the tight balance of the cabin through tight turns and it always felt like I could push it just a little harder.

Inside the Lincoln MKZ is a wonderfully premium list of features that enhance the driving experience from a visual, auditory and tactile point. Depending on your previous experience with sedans, all of the three may be engaged at once or enjoy delving in individually.

I found the MKZ's interior to be plush with soft, supple leather grace, brash with the chrome accents and genuine satin aluminum surfaces, and just plain amazing when it came to the upgraded THX II Audiophile sound system featuring 6-disc changer, Sirius satellite radio and iPod jack.

It is hard to overdo leather in a luxury sedan and my MKZ tester applied the charcoal colored leather in all the right places such as the door panels, shift knob and steering wheel. The leather is perforated something I always feels makes the surface more comfortable. The perfs also come in handy delivering the heated and cooled temps that work to make the front seat driver and passenger comfortable in any season.

My experience with Lincoln's Nav systems is that they are always well thought out in where they appear, how they function with the dash assembly and how easy are they to operate. An upgrade option for my MKZ tester, the Nav system is always on my list of must-have options. This one was easy to see and intuitive in functions.

I could print out the laundry list of standard luxury items on the MKZ, the list is impressive, but I recommend you visit searchchicago.com/autos and search the Lincoln MKZ equipment list on the link with Lincoln.

Inside the cabin of the MKZ you will find a quiet and cozy space that invites passengers of all sizes to slide into the glove-like leather seats and enjoy the ample legroom and plush spaces. The trunk is big, 15.8 cubic feet of space, and the lower liftover makes it easy to move awkward and large items in and out with general ease.

Overall, brands like Volkswagen and Volvo and Saab are looking at the MKZ and knowing they have a real American competitor. Meanwhile, Lincoln's MKZ is good enough to look at Lexus, Audi and Infiniti as it target buyer. This is a great car -- even though I miss the Zephyr name.