more about this model
Pros Excellent infotainment features; comfortable seats and driving position; responsive steering.
Cons Not a premium feel; too similar to Ford Fusion; braking performance not up to par.
"This MKZ is more fun than a Lincoln has any right to be."
This was a text message sent from one Edmunds.com editor to another as he marveled at the surprisingly nimble 2010 Lincoln MKZ sitting in his driveway after a drive on Mulholland Highway above the lights of Los Angeles. If he didn't loathe typing on a dinky Blackberry keyboard, he also would've added, "The driving position is spot-on, the seats have butt coolers and the infotainment features are some of the best out there."
With or without that addendum, the text response would've been the same: "It should be. It's based on a great car." In fact, "based" might be too soft a term. An Acura TL is based on a Honda Accord, but you'd be hard-pressed to tell by driving or looking at it. The same goes for other luxury vehicles like the Cadillac SRX and Lexus ES 350 that trace their roots to humbler origins.
The 2010 Lincoln MKZ, however, is a near mechanical clone and visually pretty darned similar to the Ford Fusion Sport that so impressed us in the Edmunds.com family sedan comparison test. Of course, the Lincoln version gets the requisite (though controversial) waterfall grille, LED taillights, a different cabin design, some nicer materials and a few extra features like cooled seats and xenon headlights, all of which certainly make the MKZ a more appealing car. But do they make it $7,700 more appealing than a loaded Fusion Sport?
A true luxury car needs to be so much more than just a regular old family car with a fancy name, some extra bells and whistles and a higher price tag. It needs a greater level of refinement, engineering excellence and attention to detail that cannot be quantified by mechanical specifications or a list of features.
A Mercedes-Benz C300 does this, as do the Audi A4, BMW 328i, Cadillac CTS, Hyundai Genesis and Infiniti G37. These all cost about the same as the Lincoln, yet they're also much more than just gussied-up family sedans. Even if it's indeed a great family sedan, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ needs to step up in multiple ways in order to warrant its significant price tag.
Performance The Lincoln MKZ comes with a 263-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, and the six-speed automatic transmission with which it's matched features manual gear selection, something the Fusion and most other Fords do not. Front-wheel drive is standard, but our test car's smart all-wheel-drive system serves as much to negate torque steer and understeer as it assures wet-weather traction. We highly recommend it.
In our track testing, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ went from zero to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, which is about as quick as an all-wheel-drive BMW 328i or Mercedes C300 (though the Audi A4 Quattro and Infiniti G37x are quicker than them all). The Lincoln V6 sounds a bit coarse and unrefined at higher rpm as it goes about the task, however.
Unrefined would be an improvement for the brakes, which proved woefully inadequate for a luxury sedan. The MKZ took 132 feet to stop from 60 mph on its first stop, suggesting that its tires are not particularly grippy, and then excessive brake fade set in and our third stop from 60 mph took 150 feet, a distance comparable to a pickup truck. By comparison, a C300 Sport stops in 114 feet and an Audi A4 in 123 feet. Surprisingly, the Ford Fusion Sport stopped in 123 feet with no discernible fade, despite having the same brakes and tires as the MKZ.
Handling results were also worse than its competition (and Ford sibling as well), with slower slalom times and significantly less grip around the skid pad despite being equipped with an enhanced sport suspension. Away from the track, the Lincoln MKZ boasts the same responsive and communicative steering we so enjoyed in the Fusion. Though prone to understeering through corners, the MKZ nevertheless has a lightweight, nimble feel that's reminiscent of previous-generation Acura sedans, even if that feel doesn't necessarily translate to stellar numbers. Indeed, the MKZ is more fun to drive than one would expect a Lincoln to be.
Comfort While the MKZ's handling defies expectations, so does its ride quality, only not in a good way. Once equipped with the sporting suspension setup that's a part of the Sport Appearance package, the car's ride quality suffers and it feels choppy and unpleasant over even the slightest road imperfections. Most of this car's competition also rides firmly, but they feel more compliant and even supple over the bumps. The MKZ also suffers from excessive road noise, something we didn't anticipate after the ultra-quiet Lincoln MKS and MKT.
The MKZ's seats, however, were universally praised for being both comfortable over long distances and supportive through corners. The fact that heating and cooling are standard is a welcome treat. The driving position also drew accolades thanks to an abundance of adjustability from the eight-way driver seat and tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel. The one sore spot is that taller drivers or those with grand coiffures may find that their heads brush the ceiling, which is closer than you expect because of the sunroof that comes as standard equipment.
Backseat space is better than in similarly priced sedans like the C-Class and 3 Series, though headroom is only adequate. The rear seat is also missing rear vents for the air-conditioning.
Function Infotainment electronics is the one thing the 2010 Lincoln MKZ has going for it among comparable luxury sedans. The optional touchscreen navigation system includes a large touchscreen, real-time information (traffic, weather, gas prices, movie times and sports scores) and a variety of voice-activated controls through the Sync system. Not only are these features plentiful, but they are thoughtful, well-integrated and easy to use. For example, when the car's low fuel light comes on, the navigation map automatically displays the closest gas stations.
Not to rain on the MKZ's brief moment in the sun, but the Fusion Sport also has the same optional navigation system. It also has a similar control layout, with small buttons that are placed too close together and too low on the dash. It often takes too much effort to find the right one at a glance.
In our usability tests, a standard child seat fit well in its rear-facing position, allowing plenty of space for an adult to sit in the passenger seat. The lower LATCH points are easily accessed and the upper tether anchor can be reached by going over or beneath the flat headrest design. The trunk is spacious for this class, with a wide and deep opening that makes loading golf clubs easy. However, the trunk lid doesn't pop up far enough to achieve a proper grip and there is no handle to pull it back down. You're likely to end up with dirty hands and unsightly fingerprints on the trunk. It's details like these (or lack thereof) that contribute to the MKZ's non-luxury feel.
Design/Fit and Finish Compared to your average family sedan, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ sets itself apart with class-leading interior materials and strong construction, but once anything from Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz is introduced into the mix, the MKZ just doesn't measure up.
The Lincoln's rather simple design theme has something to do with it, but the materials are just not rich enough in look or feel. Fit and finish is also not quite up to par, as the flimsy sunroof shade flapped around within its housing over significant bumps.
Who should consider this vehicle It is hard to recommend the 2010 Lincoln MKZ given the minuscule advantages it presents over the much cheaper and, in many ways, better Ford Fusion Sport. Luxury shoppers capable of spending more than $40,000 would likely be happier with one of the many other competitive luxury or near-luxury vehicles.
Others To Consider
Cadillac CTS, Ford Fusion Sport, Hyundai Genesis, Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purposes of evaluation.
Used 2010 Lincoln MKZ listings and inventory:
Shop Edmunds' used car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million pre-owned vehicles to find a cheap used and certified pre-owned (CPO) 2010 Lincoln MKZs for sale near Ashburn VA. There are currently 220 used and CPO 2010 MKZs listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as 5,900 and mileage as low as 9,877. Simply research the type of used car, SUV, or truck you're interested in and then select a vehicle from our massive database to find cheap pre-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the used 2010 Lincoln MKZ. Then select Edmunds' special offers, perks, deals, and incentives to contact the dealer of your choice and save up to 234 on a used or CPO 2010 MKZ available from one of 2,630 dealerships in your area.
What's a good price on a used 2010 Lincoln MKZ ?
Save up to $233.6 on one of 11 used 2010 Lincoln MKZs for sale at dealerships within 25 miles of Ashburn, Virginia with prices as low as $5900 as of Apr 25, 2018, based on data from 10 dealers and 61 consumer-driven dealer ratings ranging from 3.7 to 5 out of 5 stars.
Price comparisons for used 2010 Lincoln MKZ trim styles:
The used 2010 Lincoln MKZ Base is priced around $10081 with average odometer reading of 77958 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, Virginia. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
What options are available on the 2010 Lincoln MKZ?
Available Lincoln MKZ 2010 Submodel Types: Hybrid, Sedan
Available Lincoln MKZ 2010 Trims: Hybrid, Reserve, Select, Base, Hybrid Select, Premiere, Hybrid Reserve, Hybrid Premiere, Black Label
Exterior Colors: White Platinum Metallic Tri-Coat, Ingot Silver Metallic, Tuxedo Black Metallic, Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Black Velvet, Platinum Dune Tri-Coat Metallic, Luxe Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Iced Mocha Metallic, Blue Diamond Metallic, Burgundy Velvet Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Magnetic Metallic, Tuxedo Black Clearcoat Metallic, Steel Blue Metallic, Black Clearcoat, Brilliant Silver Clearcoat Metallic, Bronze Fire Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Sterling Gray Clearcoat Metallic, Bordeaux Reserve Metallic, Crystal Champagne Tri-Coat, Dark Blue Pearl Clearcoat Metallic, Ice Storm Metallic, Ivory Pearl Metallic, Jade Green Metallic, Light Sage Clearcoat Metallic, Moss Green Clearcoat Metallic, Red Candy Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Smoke Stone Clearcoat Metallic, Smoked Quartz Tinted Clearcoat Metallic, Vivid Red Clearcoat Metallic, White Suede Clearcoat, Alloy Clearcoat Metallic, Amethyst Clearcoat Metallic, Black Tie, Confidential White, Dark Blue Ink Clearcoat Metallic, Dune Pearl Clearcoat Metallic, Guard Metallic, Palladium White Gold Metallic, Silver Birch Clearcoat Metallic, Sterling Gray Metallic, Vapor Silver Clearcoat Metallic, White Platinum Tri-Coat
Interior Colors: Ebony premium leather, Ebony leatherette, Light Dune premium leather, Cappuccino premium leather, Charcoal Black premium leather, Ebony leather, Hazelnut premium leather, Cappuccino leather, Cappuccino leatherette, Ebony/Touring White premium leather, Sand premium leather, Dark Charcoal premium leather, Hazelnut Perforated premium leather, Light Camel premium leather, Light Stone premium leather, Charcoal Black Perforated premium leather, Island premium leather, Jade Gray premium leather, Jade premium leather, Jet Black, Light Dune Perforated premium leather, Steel Gray premium leather
Popular Features: Mobile Internet, Remote Start, Upgraded Headlights, Back-up camera, Power Liftgate/Trunk, Electronic Folding Mirrors, Keyless Entry/Start, Blind Spot Monitoring, Navigation, Sunroof/Moonroof, Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, Upgraded Engine, Pre-collision safety system, Alarm, Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Auto Climate Control, Aux Audio Inputs, Bluetooth, Cooled Seats, Fold Flat Rear Seats, Heated seats, Leather Seats, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Parking sensors, Post-collision safety system, Power Driver Seat, Rear Bench Seats, Stability Control, Tire Pressure Warning, Trip Computer, USB Inputs, Upgraded Stereo, AWD/4WD
Engine/Mechanics: 4, 6 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC
Fuel Types: premium unleaded (recommended), regular unleaded
Drivetrains: all wheel drive, front wheel drive
Used 2010 Lincoln MKZ Overview
The used 2010 Lincoln MKZ is offered in the following submodels: Sedan. Available styles include 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A), and 4dr Sedan AWD (3.5L 6cyl 6A). Pre-owned MKZ models are available with a 0-liter gas engine, with output up to 0 hp, depending on engine type. The used 2010 MKZ comes with front wheel drive or all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed shiftable automatic.
