The new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid delivers more miles per gallon than any luxury hybrid car in America with an EPA-certified 45 mpg across the board – city, highway and combined.
It doesn’t cost a dime extra to get the MKZ as a hybrid. The 2013 Lincoln MKZ starts at $35,925 for this richly appointed sedan. The price is the same whether you buy it as a 45-mpg hybrid or with a 2L EcoBoost engine. Other competitors charge a premium for their hybrid models. The 2013 Lexus ES 300h, for example, is priced at $38,850, representing a $2,750 premium over the 2013 Lexus ES 350.
For my money, I would take the MKZ Hybrid, save at the pump, and cruise in silent electric mode in stop-go traffic. Some people, however, will prefer the non-hybrid with more trunk space and ability to lower the 60/40-split backseat that lowers from for extra cargo such as work projects, luggage and golf clubs. Because of the room needed for the hidden lithium battery pack, you cannot lower the back seat in the hybrid. The MKZ has 15.4 cubic feet of trunk space, the MKZ Hybrid only 11.1.
Even the base $35,925 Lincoln MKZ models have a number of safety and entertainment features. The standard Hybrid Premiere equipment group features SYNC® with MyLincoln Touch™ with 8-inch touch screen, premium leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, stylish LED headlamps, 18-inch premium painted wheels, and Lincoln Drive Control.
Your drive will be quite and smooth. Lincoln Drive Control orchestrates the performance of the Continuously Controlled Damping (CCD) adjustable suspension, electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and Active Noise Control (ANC). This ensures true Lincoln dynamic characteristics and not a lesser dynamic hybrid experience, as is the case with some others.
EPA ratings put MKZ Hybrid ahead of its key competitors in the luxury midsize sedan market – 5-mpg city and 6-mpg highway ahead of Lexus ES 300h, 18-mpg city and 13-mpg highway ahead of Infiniti M35h and 20 mpg city and 16 mpg highway ahead of BMW ActiveHybrid 3.
The new MKZ offers optional all-wheel drive (AWD) only with the EcoBoost engine, not with the hybrid. Yes, it will give you better traction in the snow and ice, buy AWD mileage is only 25 mpg. If you want a premium car with AWD, the Lexus 450h and the Audi Quattro family are also worth test drives.
Safety and Telematics
The new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid includes optional packages for better driving and safety. Backup camera display is quite useful in garages and parking lots. The innovative Lane Keeping System includes three features designed to help drivers remain attentive and in control: Driver Alert, Lane Keeping Alert and Lane Keeping Aid. The system puts an extra “eye” on the road that never blinks or gets distracted, and communicates caution to the driver.
Although the Lincoln MKZ is appointed with luxury touches and quality entertainment, it’s cousin the new Ford Fusion Hybrid excels in advanced telematics such as: Active Park Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Indicator, Collision Alert, Driver Alert. You might consider the 2013 Fusion Hybrid at 47 mpg with premium options inside and these advanced features to support safe driving.
The 2013 Lincoln MKZ provides a refined ride and engaging driving dynamics. The CCD suspension contributes to Lincoln Drive Control’s transparent action by “reading” the road and adjusting the shocks in the blink of an eye to precisely tune, refine and balance to deliver more controlled handling with a smoother ride.
To get better mileage in a hybrid or luxury car, you would need to pay much more for a Tesla Model S all-electric car or for a Fisker plug-in hybrid. The Lincoln MKZ Hybrid’s 45 miles per gallon is impressive. The new 2013 Lincoln MKZ puts it all together with classic styling, a luxury ride that is often refreshingly silent with its advanced hybrid system, and premium features throughout. There is no added cost to get the MKZ Hybrid with a starting price of $35, 925.
