Lincoln MKZ – 2007 Review: Lincoln’s historic Zephyr moniker blew in for 2006 and right back out again for 2007 when marketers decided to switch from memorable, iconic nameplates to forgettable alphabet soup badges like MKR, MKS, MKX, and MKZ. The only one spared was Navigator, which apparently still has brand equity in the eyes of Harvard MBAs. Based on the Ford Fusion, the Lincoln MKZ receives significant upgrades after just one year on the market, including a new 3.5-liter V6 engine and optional all-wheel drive. While Lincoln’s marketing morass is terrific fodder for poking fun at the MKZ, the truth is that there’s a decent car here. The trouble is that decent doesn’t quite cut it in a field littered with standouts.

Vivid Red Clearcoat Metallic paint on a Lincoln MKZ helps to hide the largeness of the taillights, but also makes the sedan look like a 55-year-old female realtor with a penchant for knock-off jewelry might drive it. Our all-wheel-drive test car’s base price of $31,765 including the $715 destination charge was inflated to a final sticker of $35,640 by a navigation system (at $2,495, local maps and a national atlas look like bargains), cooled front seats ($495), high-intensity discharge headlights ($495), an interior satin and aluminum package ($195), and Sirius satellite radio ($195). Our test car did not have a power sunroof, and neither parking sensors nor stability control are available on the MKZ.

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