What Is the 2014 Lincoln MKZ?
The 2014 Lincoln MKZ is a five-seat mid-size luxury sedan that competes with the Acura TL and Lexus ES. It is offered in one trim level, which comes with standard front-wheel drive but is offered with all-wheel drive. There is also a 2014 MKZ Hybrid, covered separately on Cars.com.
What's New on the 2014 Lincoln MKZ?
There are no significant changes to the 2014 Lincoln MKZ from the previous model.
What Features in the 2014 Lincoln MKZ Are Most Important?
The 2014 MKZ comes standard with a 240-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and is available with a 300-hp, 3.7-liter V-6. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
Significant standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights, Sync and MyLincoln Touch infotainment systems with an 8-inch screen, heated front seats and leather upholstery. Notable optional features include 19-inch wheels, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, adaptive cruise control, a retracting panoramic roof and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Standard safety features include an electronic stability system, antilock brakes and eight airbags. Available safety features include a blind spot warning system, lane departure warning, inflatable rear seat belts, a backup camera and rear parking sensors.
Should I Buy the 2014 Lincoln MKZ?
Fresh on the heels of a complete redesign in 2013, the 2014 MKZ continues to differentiate itself from the non-luxury Ford Fusion with which it shares a platform. This distinction takes many forms: striking styling that harkens to fastbacks like the Audi A7, a stunningly quiet ride even at highway speeds, and controlled body roll that doesn't punish aggressive driving like Lincolns of old.
Unfortunately, the 2014 MKZ is proof that beauty is often only skin-deep. While the car's interior is as striking as the exterior, it has a style-over-substance problem. While there are high-quality materials used throughout, the rear seats are cramped. More damning is the fact that most of the MKZ's controls are both flat-panel and touch-sensitive with no tactile feedback, requiring you to take your eyes from the road to operate effectively. This is the opposite of intuitive – and, unfortunately, the MyLincoln Touch infotainment system is often clunky, with its voice-recognition features being particularly finicky.
You could do much worse than the 2014 Lincoln MKZ, but it doesn't particularly feel like a luxury vehicle, and its unintuitive electronics reflect that.
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