2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Reviews

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid

2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ,With excellent fuel economy, a comfortable interior, and really excellent cabin tech, the 2011 MKZ Hybrid makes for a near perfect commuter car and general transportation. With the same specs as the Fusion Hybrid, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid achieves 41 mpg in city EPA testing, an impressive number for a segment that barely tops 30 mpg.

The MKZ Hybrid features a few more amenities in the cabin than its sibling, the Ford Fusion Hybrid. Compared with the gas engine front-wheel-drive MKZ, the hybrid version gets about 15 mpg better fuel economy.

Going green
We couldn't help gee king out over the MKZ Hybrid's power train while driving it, thanks in large part to the instrument cluster display. Lincoln says the MKZ can go up to 47 mph in electric mode. We easily kept the car running under electric power at speeds of just over 40 mph by feathering the throttle, using the power gauge on the display to show how much we could accelerate and stay in electric mode. The MKZ Hybrid takes off from a stop easily, and the electric motor and gas engine work together well. At 41 mpg city and 36 mpg highway, the Hybrid shows the typical hybrid penchant for low speed, stop-and-go driving.

The mid-size 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid sedan shares a proven platform with the Ford Fusion Hybrid and adds an array of luxury features. Lincoln is looking to spur increased acceptance of hybrid technology in the mid-size luxury sedan market by offering the MKZ Hybrid at the same price as the non-hybrid MKZ sedan. If you’re considering a standard MKZ, why not go for the Hybrid?

All MKZ Hybrids are fitted with Electronic Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT). The official fuel economy estimates for the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid are 41 city / 36 highway miles per gallon (MPG).

Interstate Mileage Testing:
Cruise control off, target speed 60-72 MPH, heat on, heated driver seat on, windows up: 38.5 MPG. The MKZ delivers a quiet and composed ride. The MKZ Hybrid’s back seat is comfortable and accommodating, with 37.8 inches of headroom and 36.7 inches of leg room. While there’s a fold down center armrest, the MKZ Hybrid lacks rear seat ventilation controls. Cargo capacity is limited in MKZ Hybrid, when compared to the non-hybrid MKZ, with 11.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk.

"It's a no-compromise situation," said Gil Port Latin, hybrid systems manager for Ford/Lincoln. “Gives you great performance, all the driving dynamics, all the great attributes of the MKZ, plus you get the great fuel economy." The 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid manages to set the fuel-economy bar several notches higher, thanks to a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine and electric motor combo. Hop on the highway, and the Feds say that the MKZ Hybrid is good for 36 mpg. Thanks to the well-tested Fusion Hybrid chassis, the MKZ serves up superior driving dynamics and a quieter cabin, not to mention a good bit more interior space. In base trim, the MKZ Hybrid will cost $35,180–exactly as much as the company asks for the base V6 model. If Lincoln was shooting for the HS250h, it hit well above its mark.

The Drive.
As in most hybrids, we'd appreciate a slightly firmer brake pedal under normal operation. The MKZ Hybrid may have the burden of lugging around a heavy nickel-metal hydride battery pack, but the additional weight doesn't seem to negatively impact the car's stopping distance. Like the Ford Fusion Hybrid that it—ahem—borrows from, the brake system is perfectly matched to the car's power plant. A smart buyer will see right through the chrome and realize that the MKZ Hybrid is little more than a dressed up Ford Fusion Hybrid with better seats.