2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Review – Luxury + Fuel Economy

The Lincoln brand is connected to class and style. The 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid continues this reputation with impressive but modern lines. The sweet gas average of 45 MPG adds to a nice overall package of looks and performance.

One-week vehicle loan was provided for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

Frans’ first impression of the 2014 Lincoln MKZ was that of being a luxury Ford. Since we had a Ford vehicle the week before, it was definitely easy to spot some similarities. But, the Lincoln offers a different set of options and overall feel.

Inside the 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

Something about the layout of the cockpit (driver’s area) took some getting used to. After driving in it a few times, though, we experienced a smooth and comfortable ride. For example, to change gears, you press buttons on the console instead of dealing with an actual gear shift. This made it really easy to maneuver and prevented me from accidentally being in the wrong gear (hey, it happens).

Controls in the middle are sleek and easy to work with. Everything is clearly illuminated and disappears completely when the engine is off. Instead of a dial, there’s a type of slider for the volume and ventilation. This was nice but, since they were so similar, I almost always had to check which was which, taking my eyes away from the road. Families will be happy to know there are two USB ports and A/V input ports.

Features and Performance

Transition between the electric and gas motor was smooth. In traffic, the electric mode really came in handy. In the city, however, the engine would almost immediately switch over to gas. Even if I irritated the people behind me and accelerated as slowly as possible, it would still only stay in electric mode under 15 mph or so. Frans said he didn’t have a problem with this and it worked well for him. Maybe I’m just too eager to to hit the speed limit 🙂

Adaptive cruise control worked fabulously on the highway and the ride was especially quiet. The forward collision alert gave a sufficient warning without scaring the living daylights out of you like some cars. I really like that the sensitivity could be adjusted. The cross traffic alert gave just enough warning if something was to pass behind you when in reverse.

One feature that the Lincoln MKZ included was the Active Park Assist. All you have to do is turn it on and drive slowly near the parallel parking along the street. Using cleverly placed sensors, the car can detect if a space is big enough and basically park itself. The driver just controls the speed. While this is an amazing feature, I didn’t dare try it out. If anything went wrong, I would damage both the loaned vehicle and any other cars nearby. Sorry but I’ll leave that to the more heavily insured auto journalists to test that one out (like Top Gear).

Interior Space – Front, Back, Trunk

As for space, the Lincoln was roomy in front. Both seats could be adjusted to sit very high for those that need it. The slant of the front window and setup puts the driver VERY close to the sun visor. So, if you want to use it you have to push it all the way forward so you can still see. The doors also open really wide for ease of getting in and out.

The back did have a decent amount of legroom but it was less than I would have expected. Despite the long body of the car, most of that is apportioned for the trunk. Speaking of which, the battery takes up half of the space and makes for an odd shape for luggage, groceries, and the like.

2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid to Cruise in Style

While we noticed various types of people looking at the car, it did seem to appeal more to those in their golden years. It’s not that it looks old but it just a certain style that more mature ones seemed to gravitate to. I would recommend this to empty nesters or those that prefer a more refined commute. At under $50K, you get a lot of luxury for a pretty attractive price.

Can you picture yourself in this 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid?