Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
MSRP: $34,330
Estimated MPG: 41 city / 36 highway
Class: Mid-size sedan
Lincoln’s first foray into the hybrid market is the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. The MKZ uses the same hybrid drivetrain as its corporate counterpart, the Ford Fusion. Perhaps most interesting of all, the MKZ Hybrid starts at the same MSRP as the standard edition of the MKZ, a rare example of a luxury car company not charging more for the gasoline / electric edition of an automobile.
Being a Lincoln, you would expect some extravagant features, and the MKZ does not skimp in this department. Car and Driver noted that “Lincoln’s take on the Ford hybrid theme, of course, [is] much better equipped than either of its less-expensive brethren.” The car comes with Bridge of Weir leather-trimmed seats, walnut trim, heated and cooled seats, a keyless entry system, rain-sensing wipers, Ford’s BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System), and Ford’s SYNC® voice-activated technology. The MKZ is motivated by a 2.5 liter, four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine and two electric motors, which combined produce 191 horsepower. Fuel economy is 41 miles per gallon in city driving and 36 miles per gallon on the highway.
The Lincoln MKZ includes Ford’s SmartGauge™ with EcoGuide. This feature provides real-time feedback about fuel and battery use, allowing drivers to assess or modify their driving habits to achieve maximum fuel economy. Essentially, the gauge reinforces good driving patterns to improve mileage. To make use of the SmartGauge technology, a driver can select one of four screens where each successive screen has more information than the previous one. In Ford’s terminology, the first level “informs” the driver, displaying fuel level and battery charge status. The second “enlightens” the driver, adding an electric vehicle mode indicator and a tachometer. The third level “engages” the driver, adding information about engine output and battery output power, and the fourth level “empowers” the driver, providing information about power to the wheels, engine pull-up threshold, and accessory power consumption.