2017 Lincoln MKZ Reserve Hybrid:  Premium luxury  

By Autoreviewman

For 2017, the Lincoln MKZ premium luxury sedan receives a fresh mid-cycle makeover. The sleek attractive sheet metal with its cool LED lights loses the trademark Lincoln “split-wing grille” design for a distinctive, more traditional-looking front end. The MKZ is offered in Select or Reserve trim levels at $42,000 or $46,000 respectively. AWD is now standard with the 2.0T engined version, while the Hybrid engine option we tested remains Front Wheel Drive.  The 2.0T is rated at 245 horsepower and 275 lb.-ft. of torque, while the combined system horsepower of the Hybrid remains at 188 hp comprising of a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder/electric motor. Note, the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V-6 delivers an incredible 400hp! Transmission is via a six- speed automatic with AWD or CVT. In the case of the hybrid only Front wheel drive is available.

Options on our Burgundy metallic Reserve Hybrid engined tester included the huge panoramic sunroof, the upgraded technology, 19- Inch polished wheels, multi contour seats and the aluminum trim package. Price as tested with all options destination and delivery came to $61,825. In terms of Technology: Lincoln’s excellent SYNC3 infotainment system is standard, and more comprehensive than ever. There are also features and animations that add to the usability and functionality. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now supported and proved very user friendly when hooked up. The MKZ is a highly impressive luxury cruiser on the road. There is the typical hybrids eerie smooth take off and near silent whine until the gas motor kick in unobtrusively. The acceleration on the hybrid model is not as instant as on the non-hybrid versions, but holds its own. The 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid does shine when you look at its fuel consumption numbers; rated at 6.2 L/100 km during highway cruising and an impressive 5.7 L/100 km in stop-and-go driving. While luxury and fuel economy are highpoint there are a few things to note. The Hybrid MKZ has no AWD, comes with a smaller trunk due to space occupied by the batteries and is slower than the non-hybrid MKZ’s. Happily, opting for the other models in the MKZ range mitigates these issues.   Inspired looks, superb detailing and a competitive pricing make this fuel- efficient luxury sedan one to put on the list.

2017 Lincoln MKZ Reserve Hybrid priced from $46,000

Price as tested $61,825 with options destination and delivery