Picture Gallery: 2009 Lincoln MKS | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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To say the vehicle that the MKS replaces in Lincoln’s line-up was dowdy would be an understatement. Not that you see many Town Cars on the road (at least not newer ones and not in Ottawa), but the demographic for the Town Car was, well, one of wisdom, you could say.
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Just spending a few moments in the new MKS and taking a walk around its rather appealing exterior, you certainly come to a few conclusions that match up with Lincoln’s expected demographic. Value is certainly on the radar as the standard model starts at only $47,799, while my extremely well equipped tester comes in under $57,000, including freight.
Lincoln’s designers have certainly been taking note of some of their competition. The MKS reminds me of what I would guess would be Lincoln’s direct competition, the Cadillac CTS and DTS. While Lincoln chose a more fluid and soft design compared to Cadillac’s angular styling, the overall design feel is similar, both inside and out.
My loyal readers may remember that I am quite fond of the Cadillac sedans. Will the Lincoln stand up to my expectations?
2009 Lincoln MKS
MSRP as tested (including destination): $56,479
For more information on Lincoln and the MKS visit Lincoln Canada
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The MKS’ interior is classy, stylish and understated — a great blend of business and luxury. The leather-covered dash accents the front of the vehicle cleanly and the bright white gauges are extremely clear both day and night. Ford’s SYNC system is bar none the best integrated multimedia setup in the automotive industry at the moment and a pleasure to use, although the screen is a little too far away in the MKS.
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The steering wheel controls are also a little non-intuitive and require a second and third glance before operation, although perhaps if you had the vehicle for more than a week you may become better accustomed to these controls.
The seats are sofa-like but that is okay for me; the centre console arm rest is split 50/50 allowing the driver and the passenger individual adjustment for the ultimate in comfort. Headroom and leg room both front and rear are more than adequate, although rear visibility is compromised by the sloping rear roof and high rear deck lid.
And the trunk! Well, just like the old days of the Town Car we can use a body-count rating. Perhaps five would fit, although the opening is a little small so they may have to be manhandled a little to get them in.
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With a soft highway ride, this is not the car for the weekend racer, but that is okay, as it isn’t trying to be. Instead, this car is about getting back to the roots of the big American sedan and cruising down the highway for hours on end.
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A Lincoln-exclusive 3.7-litre engine that is derived from the award winning 3.5-litre Ford V6 powers the MKS. With an output of 270 horsepower and 265 lb-ft of torque mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the MKS accelerates smoothly and, when asked to, with authority. The transmission changes gears nearly imperceptibly with almost no noise from any part of the drivetrain – including the tires.
Despite the compliant ride, the MKS still handles well enough for the average driver, and surprisingly, when pushed, the car still hangs on with more grip than this driver expected.
The adaptive headlamps with automatic high beams and standard high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps make driving at night a joy and for fun, wiggling the steering wheel back and forth gives you a search light effect (although I wouldn’t do this too much, as other drivers may think you are intoxicated).
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I noticed on my way back home, though, that the Canada geese were flying in, in flocks, or is that Vs? What the heck are they thinking? It’s warm down south; just stay there! Anyway, the Lincoln did well for me this past week; I averaged 12L/100km, which is very good for a full sized sedan with all-wheel drive… amazing!
I’ll have to give up my luxury adventure tomorrow. Too bad, but another vehicle awaits.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Lincoln MKS
MSRP as tested (including destination): $56,479
For more information on Lincoln and the MKS visit Lincoln Canada
March 19, 2009, 10:46:32 pm
I think Rover P5 wanna-be.
March 19, 2009, 11:49:51 pm
Like someone said, the 2010 Taurus will be $20k less, looks better than the MKS and practically the same car.
Which reviews are those?
Just like Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infinity, VW/Audi, VW/ Bentley, etc.
Everyone does that!
It is not TRYING to compare to Acura, BMW or Cadillac in handling and performance. Just because it isn't what you are looking for (Sports sedan) doesn't mean it is a bad car in it's class (luxury sedan).
To be honest, when I saw the interior in the flesh, I thought It was one of the nicest I had seen at the autoshow. Just a feel of quality all around. Much nicer interior than the aforementioned Acura, for instance, or the Lexus ES350.
Good job, Ford. Not a car that I would be wanting, but there are a lot of people for whom this car will be everything they need.
Not a care I would be buying, but
March 19, 2009, 11:50:30 pm
It is a domestic.
That is to be expected round these parts....
March 20, 2009, 01:11:32 am I don't understand the big deal about the gauges. Sure, they're not eye-catchingly beautiful, like a first-gen TSX, nor brightly-multi-colored, like a second-gen G35, but they're classy and timeless. I like them.
But then of course, I like the simple Teutonic approach to gauges too. Would people here say that the speedo and tach on the new 7-Series are rental-car-esque?
March 20, 2009, 01:14:12 am
But then of course, I like the simple Teutonic approach to gauges too. Would people here say that the speedo and tach on the new 7-Series are rental-car-esque?
Again, they would if it were on a domestic...
March 20, 2009, 01:25:21 am I think the gauges in the Linc look fine.
March 20, 2009, 09:22:21 am
But then of course, I like the simple Teutonic approach to gauges too. Would people here say that the speedo and tach on the new 7-Series are rental-car-esque?
It's obviously personal preference, however in this price class I would expect something more upscale.
To me the guages look too much like the rest of the lineup, be it a 20K Fusion, or pickup. I'm not against corporate parts bin sharing, or having a consistent look or feel, however if simple non-flashy needles indicating info on white-on-black guage appearance is what one is after, there are others who execute it better.
Maybe I'm a nit pick, but of all things in a car one looks at, the guage cluster is probably the single biggest thing that gets eyeball time. I have to like even the font of the numeral of auto guages before I buy.
The rest of the car is gorgeous.
March 20, 2009, 10:04:11 am I guess I still don't see an issue. They are clean and easy to read, white on black gauges, just like the good Lord intended all cars to have. If it is just a personal preference thing, like you don't like the font, for instance, than I can get that. I just don't see anything really "cheap" looking here...
March 20, 2009, 10:17:15 am I think the issue could be the advent of the Optitron (sp?) gauges Lexus introduced. Blacked out and luminecent, floating in the dash.
Headlights are headlights, but people are all ga-ga over the BMW halo and Audi eyeliner effects....
At this angle/closeup, I would think I'm driving a $14,000 cash deal Fusion with a Canadian Tire steering wheel wrapper, tbough.....
March 20, 2009, 10:19:03 am
Headlights are headlights, but people are all ga-ga over the BMW halo and Audi eyeliner effects....
At this angle/closeup, I would think I'm driving a $14,000 cash deal Fusion with a Canadian Tire steering wheel wrapper, tbough.....
Must be just a picture thing then, because when I saw it in the flesh, everything in the interior said quality.
As an aside, I came upon this picture on a VW enthusiast site as an example of a better way to do the IP....
March 20, 2009, 10:21:55 am For example, I think this is much more cheap and busy looking. Distracting too.
March 20, 2009, 10:27:34 am I had the unfortunate experience of driving an MKS as a loaner vehicle. I'm afraid that I have to disagree concerning it's highway comfort. The ride is poorly sorted and though plush 95% of the time it exhibits a hard edge at times which sends a shudder through the car. Rough surfaces generate plenty of cabin noise and vibration and overall the car just feels hollow and cheap.
Other gripes? Almost useless rear seat that is positioned WAY too high. This is the result of the rear bench having to clear a side impact structure that was designed for a truck. That's right...the MKS is on the P9 platform which is the same as the Volvo XC90.
Need more? Coarse engine sound and mediocre performance regardless of the power rating and how "award winning" the engine might be.
This car is a piece of junk produced by a cynical company that thinks you can still gussy-up a miss-fit platform and compete with thoroughly engineered products like the Infiniti G37...never mind the insulting price tag. FAIL!
March 20, 2009, 10:44:02 am
Yeah, I was betting that people complaining about the gauges were thinking that electroluminescent gauges = luxury, otherwise = budget. But in a world where the Honda Fit and Mazda CX-7 have electroluminescent gauges, and the BMW 7-Series and Rolls-Royce Phantom don't, I question the accuracy of that test for luxury. Some people may prefer electroluminescence, that's fine, but that doesn't mean that cars without it aren't luxurious. It's like me preferring light interiors over dark.
March 20, 2009, 10:47:13 am
Other gripes? Almost useless rear seat that is positioned WAY too high. This is the result of the rear bench having to clear a side impact structure that was designed for a truck. That's right...the MKS is on the P9 platform which is the same as the Volvo XC90.
Actually, it is built on the Ford D3 platform, which is a development of the Volvo P2 CAR platform designed for the S80. The XC90 is another car based SUV built on a CAR platform.
The "useless" back seat, as you refer to it, was in my opinion, one of the highlights of the car, as it makes it one of the few vehicles in the category that I can actually, comfortably, fit my 6'4" frame into.
March 20, 2009, 10:48:13 am
Yeah, I was betting that people complaining about the gauges were thinking that electroluminescent gauges = luxury, otherwise = budget. But in a world where the Honda Fit and Mazda CX-7 have electroluminescent gauges, and the BMW 7-Series and Rolls-Royce Phantom don't, I question the accuracy of that test for luxury. Some people may prefer electroluminescence, that's fine, but that doesn't mean that cars without it aren't luxurious. It's like me preferring light interiors over dark.
Yeah, Lincoln did that about 15 years ago. Had it on the mid 90's Continental, amongst other things.
March 20, 2009, 11:03:18 am
I agree, the back seat on this thing exudes comfy-ness. more of an "American" comfy-ness, though, as opposed to "hug you tight" comfy-ness of, say, VW Passat CC or BMW's hard but weirdly comfy seats... very.. old "lazy-boy-comfort"..
Personally, though, I found Genesis Sedan rear seat to be more comfortable. ..sort of medium between german and american comfort.
Oh, and regarding Instrument pod of this lincoln.. Honestly, it looks good, but not $47K good. I think that is the problem. Steering wheel with weird wood trim tacked on doesn't help either.
Granted, pod you(Erik) posted for comparison does look not very expensive.. but it has some pizzazz, what with warning lamps in the middle of needle spindle...
The ONLY thing that looks right in the lincoln IP is the needle(and light colour)... everything else comes short of being "right" for $47k and up car.
Understand that I'm not bashing domestic.. I'm bashing Lincoln for not trying hard enough, because as someone said up there, it resembles Ford's other product too much. (it looks EXACTLY like the IP in Flex, for example..)
I bashed Acura pretty hard in my auto-show thread..
March 20, 2009, 11:12:38 am
Headlights are headlights, but people are all ga-ga over the BMW halo and Audi eyeliner effects....
At this angle/closeup, I would think I'm driving a $14,000 cash deal Fusion with a Canadian Tire steering wheel wrapper, tbough.....
Must be just a picture thing then, because when I saw it in the flesh, everything in the interior said quality.
As an aside, I came upon this picture on a VW enthusiast site as an example of a better way to do the IP....
I was referring to the dash only...here's a shot of the view through the wheel of a Fusion. Imagine a faux-wood Canadian Tire steering wheel cover and you're Living Large in Your Linc-ord through the steering wheel:
Overall, I find the MKS an attractive package visually. Never cross shopped in the $50,000 large range, so I can't go there.
March 20, 2009, 11:22:36 am
Other gripes? Almost useless rear seat that is positioned WAY too high. This is the result of the rear bench having to clear a side impact structure that was designed for a truck. That's right...the MKS is on the P9 platform which is the same as the Volvo XC90.
Actually, it is built on the Ford D3 platform, which is a development of the Volvo P2 CAR platform designed for the S80. The XC90 is another car based SUV built on a CAR platform.
The "useless" back seat, as you refer to it, was in my opinion, one of the highlights of the car, as it makes it one of the few vehicles in the category that I can actually, comfortably, fit my 6'4" frame into.
Well we're the same height and I couldn't even get in the back seat with the front seat adjusted for myself. Don't let Volvo's press materials convince you that that it's much of a "development." Hard points are likely the same as they are incredibly costly to change...thus the absurdly high rear seat cushion not to mention weird proportions of the windshield base/hood and odly high rear haunches. Open the back door of the XC90, take a look at the sill and then tell me what you think.
Also, I didn't intend to infer anything by the truck reference other than the proportions of one are not easily transferable to a sedan. Sorry I was mistaken about the nomenclature.
March 20, 2009, 12:10:16 pm There are some interior bits that I am not fond of in MK S as well, such as the IMO terrible looking air vent design both centre and side dash, and the centre stack needs something to break up the "too much" flat black facing, especially the large bit in front of the shifter. The LINCOLN lettering is not enough to mask this.
And the hanging planter in front of the fuel/temp gauges has to go. Everytime I see this I am expecting to see some flowers of some sort growing there.
IMO the new 2010 Lincoln MK Z dash execution is slightly nicer, but it still has some of the issues I mention regarding the MK S. Pic 2010 MK Z interior http://jalopnik.com/photogallery/2010mkzpressint/1004698715
@ Wastegate I have a feeling you do not like the way Peter Horbury designs cars, as he was the one responsible for the Volvo S80 ala same platform as the MK S is built on. And yes the P2 platform has been heavily modified for Fords use, but that said the platform has been modified big time for the MK S if compared to the Taurus.
Try having a seat in back seat of a pre 2008 Volvo S80 and see if you have the same issues as the MK S.
March 20, 2009, 12:21:23 pm The 3.7 is not a Lincoln exclusive engine. It was co-developed with Mazda and is in Mazda 6 and CX-9.
March 20, 2009, 01:02:22 pm
It's exclusive in the Ford family (for now). It's a Ford developed engine, the Mazda6 and CX-9 are the first implementations. Mazda does most of the 4 cylinders, Ford NA does V6 and V8s, Euro group does most of the diesel development, some small engines, plus some odd-ball stuff like the Volvo developed 5 cylinders in the Focus ST.
March 20, 2009, 07:43:08 pm
Yeah, I was betting that people complaining about the gauges were thinking that electroluminescent gauges = luxury, otherwise = budget. But in a world where the Honda Fit and Mazda CX-7 have electroluminescent gauges, and the BMW 7-Series and Rolls-Royce Phantom don't, I question the accuracy of that test for luxury. Some people may prefer electroluminescence, that's fine, but that doesn't mean that cars without it aren't luxurious. It's like me preferring light interiors over dark.
I personally wouldn't characterize electroluminescent gauges as luxury. Interesting perhaps.
BMW gauges, for example, are like a classic black Armani suit with a white shirt and black tie. Simple yet classic and classy at the same time.
Perhaps it's something as simple as the numeral font size in relationship to the diameter of the gauge. Somethings just not right. Not a big deal in a Fusion rental car, not so good in a near 60K sedan, if it were my money buying the car.
March 20, 2009, 11:37:01 pm I just like easy to read, high contrast is good, black numbers on white dials is my preference.
March 21, 2009, 12:24:00 am
Still sounds to me like personal aesthetic preference and absolutely nothing to do with luxury. I don't like black interiors, and I'd be pickier about interior colors with a $60,000 car than with at $25,000 car, but that doesn't make black less luxurious than tan.
March 21, 2009, 08:54:43 am Really does one offer better interiors colours like BMW, the have the best.
Saddle brown, and tobacco for leather colour , that is hot