Lincoln MKZ

Which Lincoln MKZ Version Should You Buy?

The Lincoln MKZ catalogue covers a Sedan produced from 2006, with four listed generation phases representing two underlying generations and their restylings. The choice depends primarily on priorities: the 2.0 CVT Hybrid offers the lowest measured fuel consumption, the 406 hp 3.0 AT AWD delivers the strongest performance, and the gasoline 2.0 AT versions provide a middle ground between them.

The Lincoln MKZ catalogue covers a Sedan produced from 2006, with four listed generation phases representing two underlying generations and their restylings. The choice depends primarily on priorities: the 2.0 CVT Hybrid offers the lowest measured fuel consumption, the 406 hp 3.0 AT AWD delivers the strongest performance, and the gasoline 2.0 AT versions provide a middle ground between them. Earlier cars offer naturally aspirated V-shaped engines, while the second generation adds Hybrid and Turbo alternatives. Reliability, engine problems, prices, sale listings, dimensions, gross weight, and wheel sizes are not measured in the supplied data, so they cannot determine this comparison.

Lincoln MKZ generations: what changed?

The first-generation Lincoln MKZ Sedan ran from 2006 to 2009 with three listed versions. Its range consists of a 221 hp 3.0 AT FWD and two 263 hp 3.5 AT versions, one FWD and one AWD. Every listed engine is Gasoline, naturally aspirated, and paired with a 6-speed Automatic. The 3.5 AT produces 42 hp and 60 Nm more than the 3.0 AT. Between the two equally powerful 3.5 AT choices, AWD adds 79 kg of kerb weight and reduces measured top speed from 248 to 245 km/h, while acceleration improves from 6.7 to 6.6 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h.

The first-generation restyling spans 2009–2012 and contains three Sedan versions. It retains the naturally aspirated 263 hp 3.5 AT in FWD and AWD forms but adds a 156 hp 2.5 CVT Hybrid with FWD. The Hybrid records 6.0 l/100 km combined, whereas the gasoline 3.5 AT uses 11.2 l/100 km with FWD and 12.4 l/100 km with AWD. That makes the Hybrid’s measured combined consumption lower by 5.2 l/100 km than the FWD 3.5 AT and by 6.4 l/100 km than the AWD version.

The second-generation Sedan covers 2012–2016 and offers five listed versions. Its 2.0 CVT Hybrid produces 141 hp. The Turbo 2.0 AT produces 240 hp and 366 Nm with either FWD or AWD, while the naturally aspirated 3.7 AT makes 300 hp and 376 Nm with either drive system. Compared with the 240 hp 2.0 AT, the 3.7 AT adds 60 hp but only 10 Nm. The quickest measured second-generation version is the 3.7 AT AWD at 6.7 seconds to 100 km/h; the highest measured top speed belongs to the 3.7 AT FWD at 258 km/h.

The second-generation restyling starts in 2016 and lists five Sedan versions. The 2.0 CVT Hybrid rises to 190 hp, which is 49 hp above the earlier second-generation Hybrid, while its combined consumption is measured at 5.9 l/100 km. The Turbo 2.0 AT reaches 249 hp and 373 Nm in both FWD and AWD forms. Above these sit two Turbo 3.0 AT versions: 355 hp with FWD and 406 hp with AWD. Both produce 542 Nm, but the AWD model adds 51 hp, cuts the 0–100 km/h time from 6.4 to 5.4 seconds, and adds 76 kg.

Lincoln MKZ engine options and specs

Repeated version names are separated below by generation phase, power, and drive.

The strongest power-per-litre result comes from the 406 hp 3.0 AT AWD at approximately 135.3 hp per litre. The 249 hp 2.0 AT versions produce approximately 124.6 hp per litre, the 240 hp 2.0 AT versions approximately 120.1 hp per litre, and the 355 hp 3.0 AT FWD approximately 118.3 hp per litre. Among the naturally aspirated gasoline engines, the 263 hp 3.5 AT yields approximately 75.2 hp per litre, while the 300 hp 3.7 AT reaches approximately 80.5 hp per litre.

Lincoln MKZ performance and fuel economy

For economy, the second-generation-restyling 2.0 CVT is the clear measured choice at 5.9 l/100 km combined. It uses 3.9 l/100 km less than the 249 hp 2.0 AT FWD and 5.9 l/100 km less than the 406 hp 3.0 AT AWD. For performance, the 406 hp 3.0 AT AWD is the quickest measured choice at 5.4 seconds to 100 km/h. No 0–60 mph figures are measured in the data.

Lincoln MKZ dimensions, weight, clearance, and tank capacity

External dimensions are not measured for any listed Lincoln MKZ version. Gross weight and wheel sizes are also not measured for any version.

Kerb weight ranges from 1574 kg for the first-generation 3.5 AT FWD to 1901 kg for the second-generation-restyling 406 hp 3.0 AT AWD. The lowest weight-per-horsepower figure belongs to that 406 hp version at approximately 4.7 kg/hp. The 355 hp 3.0 AT FWD follows at approximately 5.1 kg/hp, while the 249 hp 2.0 AT FWD and AWD versions return approximately 6.8 and 7.1 kg/hp.

The first generation has a 76 l tank. Its listed ground clearance is 150 mm for the 3.0 AT and 203 mm for both 3.5 AT versions. The first-generation-restyling models also have a 76 l tank; clearance for all three is not measured. The second generation retains a 76 l tank: the 2.0 CVT has 150 mm clearance, while clearance for the remaining versions is not measured. Every second-generation-restyling version has a 61 l tank, 132 mm clearance, and kerb weight ranging from 1696 to 1901 kg.

Lincoln MKZ reliability and engine problems

Reliability, engine problems, warning-light causes, coolant-temperature faults, engine replacement costs, and repair history are not measured in the supplied data. The catalogue therefore cannot rank the versions by durability. A buyer comparing used cars should treat condition and maintenance evidence as separate questions because the specifications here establish configuration and measured performance, not reliability.

Which Lincoln MKZ version should you buy?

Choose the second-generation-restyling 2.0 CVT if measured fuel economy matters most. Its 190 hp output is 49 hp above the earlier 141 hp 2.0 CVT, while its 5.9 l/100 km combined result is 0.1 l/100 km lower than the first-generation-restyling 2.5 CVT.

Choose the second-generation-restyling 2.0 AT FWD for the best numerical compromise among versions with complete performance and consumption data. It provides 249 hp, 373 Nm, a 7.4-second 0–100 km/h time, 244 km/h top speed, and 9.8 l/100 km combined consumption. Moving to the 2.0 AT AWD preserves power and torque, improves acceleration by 0.3 seconds, adds 73 kg, lowers top speed by 5 km/h, and raises combined consumption by 0.4 l/100 km.

Choose the second-generation-restyling 3.0 AT AWD if outright acceleration and power take priority. Against the 249 hp 2.0 AT AWD, it adds 157 hp and 169 Nm, removes 1.7 seconds from the 0–100 km/h time, adds 132 kg, and raises combined consumption by 1.6 l/100 km.

Among earlier naturally aspirated choices, the second-generation 3.7 AT is the strongest at 300 hp. FWD is 78 kg lighter and reaches a measured 258 km/h, while AWD is 0.3 seconds quicker to 100 km/h. The first-generation 3.5 AT remains a lighter 263 hp alternative, but fuel consumption is only measured for its restyled phase. Without measured prices or reliability data, the specification-led recommendations are therefore straightforward: 2.0 CVT for economy, 2.0 AT FWD for balance, 3.0 AT AWD for maximum performance, and 3.7 AT for buyers who specifically prefer the strongest listed naturally aspirated engine.