Lincoln MKZ

Lincoln is slowly redesigning its lineup of cars and SUVs and giving them new names. The 2020 MKZ, however, is not one of them. Its pros and cons are familiar since this car has been around in its current iteration since 2013. We do like that

We do like that the MKZ has a long list of standard features and, importantly for this category, comes with a lower starting price than many of its competitors. And unlike the manufacturers slimming down offerings and powertrains to minimize cost, Lincoln — like many German brands — still offers many variants to appeal to a wide variety of buyers.

There are some issues to keep in mind. The MKZ doesn't have the most interior room in its class, and some of the interior materials are lackluster in quality. Also, the base four-cylinder engine is a little underwhelming in terms of acceleration. Overall, though, the MKZ compares well against other similarly priced models such as the Acura TLX, Audi A4, Cadillac CT5, and Lexus ES 350.

Which MKZ does MatoCar recommend?

Although the standard Lincoln MKZ comes with a lot of features, we'd upgrade to the MKZ Reserve straightaway. For starters, it has a nicer leather interior, power-adjustable steering wheel, ambient lighting, and larger 19-inch wheels. Additional standard technology includes front and rear parking sensors and a navigation system. These are the beginnings of a proper luxury sedan.

The 2020 Lincoln MKZ is available with three powertrains — four-cylinder, six-cylinder and hybrid — and three trim levels. The base MKZ comes well-equipped, but go with Reserve I to get additional interior and technology options. Reserve II adds even more luxury amenities and technology.

The MKZ comes standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (245 horsepower, 275 lb-ft) paired to a six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available as an option. The MKZ Hybrid uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor to produce a combined 188 hp. All-wheel drive isn't available for the Hybrid, however.

The base MKZ model comes well-equipped with features not found on competitors' base models such as adaptive suspension, adaptive xenon headlights, power-adjustable front seats with heating and memory, and a 60/40-split folding rear seat with pass-through.

Standard technology features include Lincoln's Sync 3 infotainment interface, an 8-inch touchscreen display, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and an 11-speaker sound system. You also get Lincoln's Co-Pilot360 suite of driver assist functions that include front collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist, and automatic high beams.

Stepping up to the Reserve I model gets you leather upholstery, genuine wood trim, a power-adjustable steering wheel, enhanced interior ambient lighting, a navigation system, adaptive cruise control, a 110-volt household-style power outlet, and two rear-seat USB charging ports.

The Reserve II trim adds larger 19-inch wheels, ventilated and massaging front seats, an active park assist system, a sunroof, and a 14-speaker Revel audio system. Optional for the Reserve II trim is a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (also with a six-speed automatic). With front-wheel drive, it produces 350 hp and 400 lb-ft, while the all-wheel-drive version makes 50 hp more.

The Reserve I model can be had with some of the features found on the Reserve II. The Reserve II trim can also be equipped with the MKZ Luxury package, which includes a retractable panoramic sunroof, LED headlights and a 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system.