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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2008 Lincoln MKZ

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Curious about the newer model? Check out the 2013 Lincoln MKZ

Overview

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2008 Lincoln MKZ Review

By KBB.com Editorial Staff

In 2006 Ford introduced its all-new Ford Fusion midsize sedan and its divisional platform mates the Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr (all based on Japanese-partner Mazda's well-respected Mazda6 front-wheel-drive architecture). All three have earned media praise, strong quality reviews and good first-year sales. Building on this proven platform, Lincoln adopts a more powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine, six-speed automatic transmission and available "intelligent" all-wheel drive to create the mid-size 2008 Lincoln MKZ (pronounced "M-K-Z") luxury sedan. Although the name is confusingly similar to the MKX crossover and soon-to-come MKS luxury sedan, Lincoln simply follows a long line of luxury manufacturers whose marketers prefer letters and numbers to easily-recognizable names.

You'll Like This Car If...

If a boldly-styled, beautifully-trimmed, solidly-built, well-equipped and reasonably-priced American midsize luxury sedan that feels and drives more like a European import would fulfill your needs and desires, the 2008 Lincoln MKZ may be an excellent choice.

You May Not Like This Car If...

Lincoln long competed head-to-head with GM's Cadillac at the top of the U.S. market, but has lost a lot of luster in recent years. If brand image ranks higher than comfort, value and substance on your priority list, you may want to look elsewhere.

What's Significant About This Car?

All MKZs receive SIRIUS Satellite Radio, heated and cooled leather front seats and the Sync hands-free audio and communications system (late availability).

Driving the MKZ

Driving Impressions The 2008 Lincoln MKZ's specially tuned, fully independent suspension rides a bit softer than the more sport-tuned Ford Fusion's but retains nearly all of the fun-to-drive Fusion's responsiveness and agility....

Partly due to the car's stiff structure, its rack-and-pinion steering is precise, with good on-center feel, and transmits little vibration back to the steering wheel, thanks to its mounting on the isolated front subframe. The available "intelligent" all-wheel drive monitors and predicts traction at all four wheels and delivers torque to those with the best grip. There is an overdrive lock-out switch for the six-speed transmission (primarily for hilly roads), but no way to manually control gear choice and shift timing.

Favorite Features

Standard Duratec 35 V6 Engine
Ford has long needed a smoother, more powerful, state-of-the-art V6 for its upscale mid-size entries, and this is it. Along with strong performance, it delivers respectable fuel economy of 19 EPA city miles per gallon and 27 on the highway with two-wheel drive, and one less mile per gallon on both city and highway tests with available four-wheel drive.

Optional THX II-Certified Premium Audio
This 600-watt, 14-speaker system delivers surround-sound worthy of an upscale cinema. An MP3 audio input jack and SIRIUS Satellite Radio are also available.

2008 Lincoln MKZ Details

Interior

Inside the ultra-quiet, premium-quality cabin are generous portions of real wood, satin nickel and chrome accents. Rear-seat space is surprisingly generous, with more than three feet of legroom. The trunk is a best-in-class 15.8 cubic feet, with a flat floor and low liftover height for easy access, and the compact decklid hinges won't crush or interfere with your cargo. The class-exclusive standard 60/40-split rear seats fold flat, with a convenient pop-down spring assist, for easy storage access or to extend the cargo floor straight through from rear deck to front seats.

Exterior

Lincoln says its modern image target is "earned reward" or "American dream," rather than "old world" flashy or "ostentatious luxury," which translates to quiet, casual, confident and more understated design. With its bold waterfall grille, jewel-like quad projector-beam headlamps, judicious use of chrome trim and low-profile tires on 17-inch, eight-spoke machined aluminum wheels, the 2008 Lincoln MKZ certainly looks the part of a credible midsize luxury sedan. Around back are large wrap-around taillamps and twin chrome exhausts.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The nicely-equipped 2008 Lincoln MKZ comes with automatic on/off headlamps, leather seating, heated and cooled 10-way power front seats, tilt/telescoping four-spoke steering wheel with cruise and audio controls, dual-zone climate control, power heated mirrors, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry with exterior keypad, Sync communications system, AM/FM stereo with six-disc CD changer and auxiliary audio input jack, SIRIUS Satellite Radio and two 12-volt outlets. Standard safety features include four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS) with traction control and six air bags: Dual-stage fronts, front seat-mounted side and side-curtain bags for both seating rows.

Optional Equipment

Among the many MKZ options are chromed wheels, a power moonroof, High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps, 14-speaker THX II-Certified premium audio and DVD navigation.

Under the Hood

The MKZ's all-new 3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve aluminum Duratec 35 V6 delivers 263 horsepower and 249 pound-feet of torque through a new six-speed, wide-ratio, multiple-clutch automatic transmission. It boasts variable intake-valve timing, a dual-plenum intake manifold and a relatively high 10.3:1 compression ratio to optimize its balance of performance and efficiency.

3.5-liter V6
263 horsepower @ 6250 rpm
249 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/28 (FWD); 17/24 (AWD)

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2008 Lincoln MKZ Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

9.2

Out of 10

Based on 155 Ratings for the 2007 - 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

9.3/10

Quality

9.4/10
Reliability

9.5/10

Performance

9.4/10
Comfort

9.3/10

Styling

9.4/10

MKZ Hybrid

By Mark (ND) on Friday, January 18, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 14,000

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "Love it all"

Cons: "No problems"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Purchased the hybrid in 2012 when Lincoln was offering the hybrid at the same price as the conventional engine. Great gas mileage (42 on highway) highest 45 on 450 mile drive to visit grand kids. Well appointed interior. Nice styling.very comfortable long distance ride. Very quiet. Thicker glass and insulation means Very low road or wind noise. Heated and cooled seats are a big plus. Back up video and sensors are great. Can sense cars coming from 30 ft away on either side. Has blind spot sensors to warn you of vehicle that has passed into blind spots on either side. Very nice sound system with 10 speakers. Navigation system is easy to use. Read outs on dash help you get better mileage. Engine runs quiet, automatic seamless shifting from gas to electric mode. Terrific transmission with seamless shifting."

20 people out of 21 found this review helpful

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We like it alot

By DirtyDave (MO) on Friday, January 18, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 120

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: Not Rated
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 9/10
Comfort: 9/10

Pros: "A real beauty with lots of accessories."

Cons: "Lots of stuff you don't really need--only want."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Very recent purchase. Usually I have purchased new vehicles for performance, dependability, economy, reliability and most of all--price. This one was more of a treat for our retirement years, and this 2012 MKZ seems to fit the bill, and in addition-- the luxury aspect. With me it was always bare bones and way back when it was even 'radio delete'. I have to admit--for a 'base' model with a sunroof and 'chromed' (veneered) wheels we had a few days of studying this car to program and learn the bells and whistles. This thing is amazing. We hope it all continues to work like new and is as reliable as the other Ford products we own. Each one has their own purpose, and the MKZ is the dress-up and travel car. We gave it all nines and not all tens for 2 reasons: it's still very new and not proven at this time and the nature of of the human-built product (nothing is perfect). This machine fits the purpose for which it was purchased. We're satisfied."

7 people out of 9 found this review helpful

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see all 155 reviews