2013 Lincoln MKZ 3.7L V6 FWD 6AT (300 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Lincoln surprised its customers again when it introduced the second generation of the MKZ at the 2012 New York International Auto Show with the bold styling and modern approach of a mid-size luxury sedan.

The American luxury brand made the second generation of the MKZ based on the Ford CD4 platform used by the European Ford Mondeo and by the seventh generation of the Ford Taurus. However, from an aesthetic point of view, there was almost no clue to show any resemblance to any of them. Lincoln’s design team did an excellent job on that. Inside, the automaker created a comfortable and luxurious cabin. In addition, the automaker offered this mid-size luxury sedan with either gasoline-only or hybrid drivetrains, with front or all-wheel drive systems.

Lincoln used the split-wing design language for the front fascia of the 2013 MKZ, with broad horizontal slats that ascended on the outer sides. The headlights flanking the split grille were swept back and featured LED lamps and corner-mounted turn signals. On the lower side of the bumper, the automaker placed a broad, reversed trapezoidal air intake in the middle with organic-shaped clusters for the fog lights that flanked it.

From its profile, the 2013 Lincoln MKZ boasted a modern design with a sloped back rear window and thick C-pillars. Its fluid overall shape was adorned by sculptured lines on the lower side of the doors and a waistline that visually connected the headlights with the taillights. The body-colored caps for the exterior rearview mirrors sported LED blinkers with clear lenses. Lincoln added a set of 18-inch aluminum wheels to enhance the car’s luxurious aspect further, with an option for a 19-inch set. At the back, the broad taillights that crossed the trunk’s lid made the vehicle look wider, while a duck-tail added a touch of sporty appearance. Even though the mid-size luxury sedan boasted rounded lines and body panels, the automaker added rectangular-shaped dual exhausts under the rear bumper.

The automaker tried to impress its customers with a cabin that was second to none in its segment in terms of comfort, refinement, and silence. Most of the features that made customers’ lives better while traveling with the 2013 Lincoln MKZ were standard across the range, while several features were on the options list. Owners could pair their phones with the infotainment system via the MyLincoln Touch system since Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were yet to be invented. Fronting the driver was a 10.1-inch configurable instrument panel that allowed the ones behind the wheel to see the information they needed and where they wanted. A pair of mild-bolstered bucket seats at the front provided enough side support, while the bench seat in the back could host three adults. The dual sunroof, with tilt and open for the front one, was also standard, depending on the version.

Under the hood, Lincoln installed a choice of gasoline or hybrid powerplants with four or six cylinders. The base version came with an inline-four turbocharged direct-injected engine that produced 240 hp (243 PS). At the other end of the scale was the 300 hp (303 PS) 3.7-liter V6 powerhouse that delivered its power to the front or to all wheels, depending on the options. On the other hand, the hybrid was created for excellent fuel efficiency and was available exclusively as a front-wheel drive affair.