2009 Lincoln MKS 4dr Sdn FWD

Introduction

But it is in technology, more specifically, in comprehensive connectivity, that the MKS will make its bid.

But the MKS is more than an electronics base; it must meet the standards of the contemporary automobile, somewhat as its superb forebear, the Lincoln LS, did so successfully.

From the first glance, this MKS is nothing if not a serious entry.

The MKS comes standard with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available for improved capability in foul-weather.

The MKS interior seconds the motion; this is a sedan with class-leading roominess in the rear compartment.

We found it cruises very nicely, smooth and quiet.

We found its big eight-inch display easy to read and its systems easy to operate, something that can't be said of some much more expensive German cars. A 3.7-liter dohc 24-valve V6 engine powers the MKS, delivering 273 horsepower. As a dynamic platform for freeway motoring, the MKS is first-rate, stable, steady, confidence-inspiring. As such, the MKS is a lavishly equipped full-size luxury sedan, both grand and, in its way, grandiose. Following on Ford's successful Sync voice-activated audio systems, the MKS goes one long step further. It combines an elegant new look for Lincoln, combining elements of the marque's long, impressive history with technology that, by Lincoln's lights, points the way to the luxury-car future. It has dignity and clout that is likely to win over Lincoln's traditional older clientele. It isn't a sport sedan along the lines of a BMW, however, and doesn't respond well to hard driving. It works with a six-speed automatic transmission to post an EPA-rated City/Highway 17/24 mpg. It would be entirely at home driving coast to coast, and delivering an impressive 24-mpg EPA highway rating, this seems an enticing mission. Its muscular, long body is trimmed plenteously with gleaming chrome highlights, giving it the flash of a thoroughbred American sedan. Its Next-Generation Navigation System with Sirius Travel Link allows the switched-on owner to control vast audio programming resources, follow threatening regional weather patterns in real-time, stay informed about traffic jams ahead, keep up on the latest sports scores and find movie listings and start times. Its voice command system indicates this technology has moved beyond the gimmick stage. Lincoln marketing executives said time is the ultimate luxury and therefore the electronics systems in the MKS were designed to save the owner time. Pressing a couple of buttons displayed the five-day forecast. The all-new 2009 Lincoln MKS is something different for this proud luxury marquee: a full-size sedan with its sights set on the young (by Lincoln standards). The MKS offers unprecedented real-time, real-world onboard communications. The styling and materials throughout, typified by elegant standard-equipment leather upholstery, confirm that this is an automobile for those accustomed to fine surroundings. The system will play DVD movies with incredibly rich surround sound, and the touch-screen monitor takes running your iPod to new levels. We followed the progress of a violent storm on an in-dash Doppler radar monitor, a new kind of automotive thrill. You can find all local gas stations, listed either by nearness or in order of price per gallon. You can load personal CD photos on your in-dash monitor.

Walkaround

As befits a full-size American luxury sedan, the MKS makes generous use of chrome highlighting, supported by understated side sculpting in profile view.

On the plus side of this undersizing, the air passing over the MKS at 70 mph flows smoothly and silently, yielding both a peaceful commute and startlingly efficient EPA Highway mileage of 24 mpg, impressive for this full-size entry.

The MKS, with its overall length of 204.1 inches and dignified height of 61.6 inches, is a fully found luxury sedan that will surely earn its place in valet parking.

While appearing rock steady in profile, the MKS has a dynamic stance that seems ready to pounce. And viewed from the rear on the interstate, this car has the self-confident presence, in scaled-down form, of an ultra-luxury sedan. However, as with many luxury sedans that aspire to sleekness (Jaguar sedans come to mind) its handsomely rounded forms leave it the impression of being smaller than it really is. However, the MKS's styling and presence are pure Lincoln, bold, sturdy, impressive. In addition to the usual variety of paint colors, the MKS is available in a new paint finish called Tuxedo Black Metallic. The aggressive boat prow-like grille of the MKS recalls the classic pre-war Lincoln Continental; yet in the same gesture, this stands as a symbol of the new Lincoln's aggressive thrust into the 21st century. The Lincoln MKS is built on a reengineered and improved version of the chassis used in the discontinued Ford Taurus. The result is a highly reflective finish that will wow some buyers. This black is similar to a metallic finish, except that in place of metallic flecks in the paint, it features brilliant, tiny flecks of glass. This luxury marque has been busily searching its past design DNA for usable yesteryear styling symbols that will play well in the present. To others, however, Tuxedo Black will look like an extraordinarily coarse metallic blend more suited to bass boats, especially when illuminated under bright spotlights. When it's time to refuel, the MKS features a refueling receptacle that eliminates the messiness of a gas cap.

Driving Impression

However, this same time-honored Lincoln character has significant pluses.

It is in the area of chassis dynamics that the MKS comes up short.

The brakes worked very well.

The MKS is an excellent turnpike cruiser, but away from the interstate on a winding country two-lane, this large, heavy car feels less at home.

The MKS is confident at interstate speeds, and its four-valve 3.7-liter V6 produces an ample 273 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to deliver long, effortless service life at highway speeds.

When navigating bends in the road, the MKS seems to caution the driver to slow down. A sport sedan it is not. Accelerating from a standing start, the package is above average, which is to say, neither a tire-burner nor in any way slow. And the ride motions of the car are stubborn and somewhat lurching, yielding little road information or driving pleasure. Classically, a Lincoln is just about the last candidate one would choose for a race through the darting and veering linked corners of canyon country. Comparing its chassis dynamics to the Cadillac STS, no lightweight itself, the Cadillac feels like a Porsche. Driving over undulations at speed, the ride control was generally good, though occasionally the MKS exhibited the barest beginnings of floatiness. Given the MKS's stand-up character, the choice of engine and performance seems just right. It boasts an exemplary 24-mpg EPA Highway rating. It is out of its element. Its moderately high steering effort inspires confidence on the highway, but rewards the driver with little information when driving in the backcountry. Like many another car in its class, at 4127 pounds (with front-wheel drive) the MKS is a heavy car, but the big four-wheel disc brakes, augmented with ABS, traction control and electronic stability control, are more than up to the task. On a curvy road, its chassis is simply not much fun to drive. Primary among these is first-rate comfort and composure during long cruises on the interstate. Rather, it eschews the virtues of the prior LS and reverts to being a somewhat stodgy Lincoln in the grand old mode. The MKS is no exception to this pattern. The problem is that, unlike many in its class, the MKS really feels heavy. The steering effort of the MKS is remarkably firm, which in most sport-sedan cases implies an enthusiast character. This is not to say that the MKS is in any way hazardous. Veering off the interstate onto lesser, winding country roads, this Lincoln is decidedly un-entertaining. With the MKS, however, road feel communicated through this firm steering in curving terrain is muted, almost non-existent. With the notable exception of the spirited, agile Lincoln LS, which the present MKS replaces, Lincolns have never been valued for the sporting character of their driving temperament.

Interior

Big buttons on the center stack made operating the HVAC (heating/air conditioning) and audio systems easy.

Second-row riders will enjoy the MKS as much as those in the front row.

The HVAC system provided generous torrents of cooling air.

The instruments were laid out handsomely, with softly cushioned surfaces and hand-stitched leather seams everywhere on the dashboard, as befits a luxury car.

The MKS profits from the sporting feeling of fine leather seating.

The navigation system features a bright, eight-inch screen.

The premium-quality THX II sound system and satellite-radio accessibility of our Ultimate Package-equipped MKS furnished our deep-country drive with superb concert surround-sound.

The stepped gearshift controlling the six-speed automatic is simple and straightforward, though we were rarely moved to use it. And using Ford's voice-activated Sync system, we were able to order changes in programming without ever moving our hands from the wheel. Climbing into the cockpit of the MKS, its wide expanse of dashboard receding toward the windshield creates a sensation of lavish roominess. Excellent. In many another deluxe entry, this panel would've popped open to offer handy storage. In the MKS, no such luck. Instead, the buttons and switches and A/C ducting adjusters felt generic, as if they might be found on any Ford product, high or low. It looks for all the world like the cover of a stowage compartment, and its slightly misaligned cut lines encouraged the suspicion. It was. Just ahead of the shifter is a panel on the center console with word Lincoln written bold. Likewise, the acoustical guitar and percussion on a live recording of the Eagles playing 'Hotel California' was amazingly crisp and clear. Long-range driving comfort is good and the fit and quality of the leather is excellent. Otherwise, the appearance and materials in the MKS cabin were fittingly swank. Our test car had a gleaming swath of dark wood running from one end of the dash to the other, its finish so bright indeed that we weren't sure whether to believe it was real wood. Returning to the traffic-challenged environment of Washington, D.C., furthermore, we were easily able to sort out the traffic jams ahead in real time and find the least annoying route to our final destination. The front seat cushion and particularly the backrest provide steadying lateral support. The industry-leading Lincoln connectivity allowed us to monitor the local weather in real time, locate gas stations and otherwise stay in touch with the outside world. The navigation system operated in both three-dimensional mode and map view. The proximity of the headrest to the back of the head was a minor annoyance for some of us; it's placed there for improved safety and cannot be adjusted. The rear seats offer capacious ease of entry and segment-leading spaciousness. The rear-seat cushions, while soft and comfortable, are not terribly supportive, but the rear seatbacks more than make up for this l. The steering wheel was wrapped in leather, with wood highlights, and its girth and grip felt perfect. The three-dimensional view is fun for impressing friends (and prospective buyers), but not particularly useful and somewhat confusing to interpret. These are benefits of the quality of the system and the quality of the sound-deadening of the cabin. Touching the screen on a traffic jam revealed the cause. Visibility is similarly excellent from the driving position. We found the navigation system a good companion to our test drive, winding through the tortuous, ever-changing two-lane blacktop of the Virginia backcountry. What felt less perfect was the switchgear, which lacked the tactile elegance and reassuring sturdiness one might have hoped for in this car. While parked, we watched clips from 'Star Wars' crisply displayed on the screen and the fly-bys of the small, fighter ships were incredible over the 5.1 surround sound with crisp base and crystal highs.

Summary

NewCarTestDrive.com correspondent Ted West filed this report from Washington, D.C. And venturing as it does deep into the realm of onboard connectivity, this car makes an extremely interesting entry. But after producing the enticing, discontinued LS, Lincoln seems to have ignored the idea that putting more athleticism in its cars and a smile of pleasure on the driver's face is never a bad thing. Mitch McCullough contributed to this report. The MKS was never intended to be a sport sedan, rightly so.

Liked Most

"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."
By CANADIAN DRIVER

"Classy textures inside blinged up with chrome jewelry, superlegible dash display, easy-to-use navigation."
By CAR AND DRIVER

"On the road, the MKS has a firm ride for a Lincoln, though comfortable, even with the 20-in. wheels. Twisty roads reveal predictable manners; the MKS may not be as pointable as a rear-drive sedan of similar size, but it does have well controlled body motions and steering that's not overboosted."
By ROAD & TRACK

Liked Least

"It seems as though the MKS missed out on ergonomics testing, which is unfortunate: everything looks perfect but reaching for any settings on the navigation screen is a stretch, and while the HVAC controls are fairly well situated, the signal stalk is up too high on the steering column, an issue on most Ford vehicles."
By CANADIAN DRIVER

"Michelin 20-inchers add steering quirks."
By CAR AND DRIVER

"Capless fuel-filler system may make some people think cap is missing."
By ROAD & TRACK

One-Liners " Overall, the MKS is an extremely worthy successor to the Town Car, bringing Lincoln up to speed with modern styling, technology, an awesome powertrain and wraparound interior comfort. Does interior quality match that of a Lexus GS? To our very great surprise and delight, it does. Cool, calm and connected."

Car Connection Review

2009 LINCOLN MKS STYLING | [8 out of 10]
Automobile: "adorned simply and effectively"

Edmunds: "presents itself convincingly as a luxury car"

Autoblog: "MKS has far more presence"

Jalopnik: "it does look pretty damn cool"

The 2009 Lincoln MKS's distinctive styling sets it apart from its close kin.

The MKS is the first production Lincoln to use the division's new grille design, which the company previewed on the MKS and MKT auto show concept vehicles. The winged design reaches back to Edsel Ford's 1941 Continental and gives the newest Lincoln a welcome bit of character that's grounded in something other than a designer's imagination.

Just about every review recognized that Lincoln has been wandering in the design desert for decades, but they all agreed that the 2009 Lincoln MKS was a step in the right direction. Edmunds admitted, "After so many fits and starts in Lincoln styling, we haven't a clue what a Lincoln is supposed to look like."

Popular Mechanics had the boldest compliments for the MKS, observing that "In the metal, the MKS appears handsome, with cohesive themes that begin with two tapered headlamp clusters, continue with a gently undulating character line, and resolve in a rear end that vaguely reminds us of the Maserati Quattroporte."

Automobile said, "The 2009 Lincoln MKS's double-wing grille is a derivation of the one from the Lincoln MKR concept and was inspired by the 1941 Lincoln Continental. Flanked here by standard HID headlamps, the grille is something you will definitely see in future Lincolns." Edmunds found that in addition to the grille, other Lincoln design cues "include clean, uncluttered flanks and horizontal, full-width taillamps." They concluded, "We're not wholly convinced that the MKS has real beauty, but it at least presents itself convincingly as a luxury car."

Automobile's review also noted the absence of the faux vent on the front fender: "Thankfully, the space on the front fenders aft of the wheels is adorned simply and effectively with the Lincoln badge rather than the already-clichéd vents that we see elsewhere so often."

Autoblog wrote, "On the road, the new MKS has far more presence than any production Lincoln in years, including the late lamented LS." Jalopnik, in their traditionally pithy prose, noted, "It rides low enough to the road that I'd be concerned about scraping its cute-as-a-penny bottom in more than a few steep driveways, but it does look pretty damn cool."

Inside, the MKS's combination of clean lines, luxurious materials, and lighter trim colors plants it squarely in the Lexus idiom of luxury, instead of the darker, more somber German sphere. "With its clean instrumentation and impressive attention to detail, the MKS's interior gets high marks for its luxurious livability," Popular Mechanics reported. "This is a place we'd say is entirely habitable for many long hours on the road." Edmunds wrote glowing things that capture the thoughts of nearly every reviewer: "It's too bad Lincoln can't turn the MKS inside-out. The interior is the car's greatest strength."

Conclusion: The styling of the 2009 Lincoln MKS will help this new luxury sedan get noticed, in a good way.

2009 LINCOLN MKS PERFORMANCE | [7 out of 10]

Edmunds: "more powerful"

Jalopnik: "laid rubber in the parking lot"

Autoblog: "all of this works remarkably well"

Automobile: "Those thirsty for V-8-style power will have to wait"

The 2009 Lincoln MKS performs well enough to earn its luxury status, but its handling is more notable than its acceleration.

A new 275-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 powers the MKS. The engine performs adequately, with a high degree of smoothness and little noise or fuss. While premium fuel is required to hit the 275-hp mark, using regular fuel delivers a still healthy helping of horsepower with no change in fuel economy (17/24 mpg for front-wheel drive and 16/23 mpg for all-wheel drive).

Edmunds said "the MKS is motivated by a more powerful version of the Duratec motor...bored slightly to increase displacement to 3.7 liters." As a reminder, they noted that "if you use 87 octane in the MKS, the peak power drops to 273 hp and torque totals 270 lb-ft." Power is adequate in the MKS, but not lavish; Jalopnik wrote, "My concerns about pickup and handling were pretty much assuaged when I had to take a left turn across 4 lanes of highway traffic to head back to D.C. and laid rubber in the parking lot." Popular Mechanics agreed, noting the "3.7-liter V6 delivers smooth and entirely acceptable thrust considering the 4,127 pounds it's required to haul around. In other words, this isn't exactly the hot rod Lincoln of yore."

Automobile notes, "Those thirsty for V-8-style power will have to wait until next spring, when the MKS will be the first recipient of Ford's new, twin-turbo, direct-injection, 3.5-liter V-6 engine," which Lincoln promises will deliver the "performance of a V-8 with the fuel efficiency of a V-6." Estimates are for 340 hp, 340 pound-feet of torque, and an estimated 23 mpg on the freeway.

The new Lincoln's six-speed automatic is seen in other Ford products such as the Edge, but has been thoroughly recalibrated for this upscale installation. In the MKS, the transmission includes a sport mode as well as manual shift capabilities. Throughout the hills of Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C., with the transmission in the sport setting, the gearbox shifted aggressively. Its performance was close to anticipatory and did an excellent job of keeping the Lincoln in the right gear at the right time--just what an automatic transmission should do. Popular Mechanics felt "the 6-speed's ratios are well chosen, but aggressive driving can lead to unpredictable downshifts--on several occasions we attempted passes which required one, then another kickdown." Motor Trend "preferred the Sport Drive mode the most, which means quicker up- and downshifts, yet there is little need to opt for the Manual mode."

Another bright spot for the 2009 MKS is its chassis. The MKS features a totally new multilink rear suspension (not shared with the Ford Taurus or any Volvo) with coil-over shocks and a retuned front strut suspension, then bolts them both to a reinforced chassis that is 35 percent stiffer than the current Taurus. The resulting ride is Goldilocks taut: not too soft and not too hard, even with the optional 20-inch wheels. Steering response is quick, and while driving at street speeds, the understeer one expects from a largish front-wheel-drive sedan is totally absent. The MKS is also available with all-wheel drive.

Commenting on the 2009 MKS's new chassis, Autoblog wrote, "Moving the [rear] dampers closer to the wheels allows for greater travel, thus improving their effectiveness. The extra travel allows greater latitude for the engineers to tune the damping behavior for the optimum balance between comfort and handling. On the road all of this works remarkably well." Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard, while 19- and 20-wheels are optional. The bigger wheels "fill the wheel wells nicely," but Popular Mechanics points out "they also transmit road imperfections resulting in a somewhat busy ride. Big concrete expansion joints and potholes send a bit too much motion up into the cabin, but the MKS certainly handles big sweeping turns with stability and confidence." Autoblog adds that the car's interior "calm isn't disturbed by the action at the road either. Even with low profile rubber on those big wheels, occupants don't take a beating...the new suspension setup proved its worth." Motor Trend says that overall, "The car drives with a substantial feel, yet is never ponderous."

As for the Lincoln MKS's brakes, Motor Trend notes that they "feel linear, responsive, and feel as though they have plenty of stopping power in reserve."

Conclusion: The 2009 Lincoln MKS has ordinary acceleration, but its sporty-shifting automatic and taut ride give reviewers new respect for the brand.

2009 LINCOLN MKS COMFORT AND QUALITY | [9 out of 10]

Edmunds: "dare we say, elegant"

Motor Trend: "cool and classy"

Autoblog: "proved its worth"

Automobile: "slightly richer hand feel"

Ford has gone to great lengths to improve the interiors of its vehicles, and products like the 2009 Lincoln MKS show the results.

The front seats in the 2009 Lincoln MKS offer "plenty of headroom for the tallest drivers," Motor Trend reports, "and the cabin feels airy and plenty comfortable." Car and Driver compliments the MKS's "large, well-bolstered seats with just the right degree of firmness."

Motor Trend adds that "back seat passengers will feel lucky, as the MKS has more rear interior room than cars like the E-Class and 5 Series," and gives "kudos too for a large and usable trunk."

Edmunds says the 2009 Lincoln MKS's interior, comfort, and quality take "a thoroughly modern route that is, dare we say, elegant. The center stack that smoothly flows into a high center console is particularly nice, in a coupelike way. There's a ton of space inside the cabin." Importantly, Edmunds also observed, "The MKS gets acoustic laminated glass for the windshield and the front side windows. In steady-state cruising, the MKS rides around making a gentle hushing sound."

When you're driving or riding in the 2009 Lincoln MKS, Automobile points out that the leather is "nice, and it does have a slightly richer hand feel than much of the plasticized leather you see these days, but it doesn't have much of that pleasing leather smell that you get in more expensive cars. Both heated and cooled front seats are standard, as are heated rear seats." According to Car and Driver, "the leather for the seats comes from Bridge of Weir, the Scottish company that supplied hides for the Continental Mark II 50 years ago."

Overall, Motor Trend sums up the comfort and quality of the 2009 Lincoln MKS pretty well: "We've criticized Ford for cheapish interiors, but it has really bellied up to the bar for the MKS's cabin. The design is cool and classy, the materials are excellent, and it is a comfy, roomy place to live."

Conclusion:  A roomy interior, underpinned with high-quality materials, set the 2009 Lincoln MKS apart from past efforts.

2009 LINCOLN MKS SAFETY | [9 out of 10]

Motor Trend: "5 of 5"

NHTSA: No data

IIHS: No data

Since it's a brand-new vehicle, the 2009 Lincoln MKS has not been crash tested yet by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The safety equipment you'd expect to see in a car the caliber of the 2009 Lincoln MKS is all present and accounted for: multiple airbags, including side curtains, stability control, and so on. While the 2009 Lincoln MKS has not been tested, the Ford Taurus on which it is based scored very well in government crash testing, earning five stars in all four test categories.

Consumers could also consider the Lincoln's optional adaptive cruise control a safety feature, as it helps to maintain a safe distance from traffic while engaged.

The Ford/Microsoft SYNC system also encourages safe, hands-free operation of Bluetooth phones and hardwired MP3 music players.

The option of having real-time access to weather through the Sirius system can also help drivers steer clear of dangerous weather (or toward it if one happens to be a storm chaser).

Conclusion: The 2009 Lincoln MKS provides a strong, safe environment for passengers, but it hasn't been crash tested yet.

2009 LINCOLN MKS FEATURES | [10 out of 10]

Automobile: "state-of-the-art"

Motor Trend: "the best on the market"

Autoblog: "no more dry wipers"

Ford's commitment to cutting-edge technology inside its cars is evident in the 2009 Lincoln MKS.

Automobile sums up the impressive equipment list on the 2009 Lincoln MKS: "Every modern telematics feature is either standard or optional, including a state-of-the-art navigation system with traffic reports supplied by Sirius Satellite Radio."

They also note the "push-button-entry feature that debuted years ago on Lincolns? It returns here...heat-sensitive, backlit numerals integrated into the B-pillar, and they become visible only after you run your hand over them."

Also on the standard-feature list for the Lincoln MKS are HID headlamps, power-adjustable heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and leather upholstery. Car and Driver observes that "this is the most advanced and easy-to-use information-technology package on the market, at least for now."

Automobile, however, accurately points out that "The optional, 600-watt, sixteen-speaker THX II 5.1 surround sound stereo is absolutely superb, and the interface for controlling it through the high-resolution navigation screen is top-notch. Ford's SYNC system, which allows you to control an iPod or any other MP3 music player and a Bluetooth cell phone through voice activation, is standard. The Sirius Travel Link system can also provide nearby gas-station prices, movie listings, sports scores, and other real-time information through the navigation screen, which is the virtual command center of the vehicle."

Motor Trend believes "the optional nav system may be the best on the market. It places an 8-inch, VGA quality, high res screen high on the center stack, where it is easily seen and accessed. It packs four times the res of current Ford nav screens."

According to Autoblog, even the windshield wipers are smart: "I set the intermittent wipers on their lowest setting to try out the Rain-Sense system. Sure enough, as the volume of rain picked up, so too did the interval shorten and they eventually went into normal continuous mode. As the rain stopped, so did the wipers. No more dry wipers dragging across the windshield."

Conclusion: The 2009 Lincoln MKS may have the best technology features available today, but opting for all of them will cost you more than $46,000.