2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid has a lot of promise as a possible next car. With a super efficient 2.0 liter hybrid engine and all new redesigned interior and exterior, the MKZ Hybrid makes great strides forward in 2017. If you are tired of driving a standard mid-sized car and are looking to step up to a luxury model, the MKZ Hybrid bridges that gap nicely.

What's New for 2017:

Lincoln has modified the interior and exterior of the 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Added refinement and attention to detail for the 2017 offering make the car look and feel like a true luxury car. The Revel audio system by Harman is now available in the MKZ Hybrid. Revel audio fills the exceptionally quiet interior of the MKZ with stereo surround sound.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid – The Pros

1. Hybrid Fuel Efficiency

The MKZ Hybrid sports a capable 2.0 liter Atkinson-Cycle I-4 Hybrid Engine. The hybrid technology, along with the CVT automatic transmission, puts the MKZ Hybrid at 41 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. The MKZ Hybrid doesn't sacrifice much power and acceleration despite being very efficient. It still gets drivers around with ease and offers considerable acceleration.

2. Very Quiet Ride

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid comes standard with Active Noise Control. This feature makes Lincoln models some of the quietest rides available. This means less road noise and a more tranquil driving experience.

3. Excellent Standard Options

The base model MKZ Hybrid Premiere comes packed with standard features that regular mid-sized cars do not even offer. The MKZ Premiere features push button start and shift controls as well as 10 way power seats. Exterior features include LED tail lamps, heated mirrors with integrated turn signals and a back up camera.

4. Infotainment System

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid features standard 8 inch display with Sync 3 infotainment capabilities. The MKZ Hybrid also offers a standard 11 speaker sound system, built in Bluetooth and two USB ports. Available upgrades include voice activated navigation system, 20 speaker Revel Ultimate audio system and an embedded modem.

5. Reliability

The MKZ Hybrid is one of the highest rated vehicles in its class for predicted reliability. The MKZ Hybrid out performs the Acura TLX and the Buick Lacrosse by a considerable margin in this category.

6. Warranty

The MKZ Hybrid features an eight year/100,000 mile warranty on hybrid components. The hybrid warranty comes in addition to the respectable four year/50,000 limited warranty and six year/70,000 mile powertrain warranty.

7. Redesigned Inside and Out

One look at the redesigned 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid tells you some thought went into redesigning the car. The MKZ Hybrid is sleeker on the outside and more refined on the inside. The exterior features the newest grill design by Lincoln, doing away with the wing shaped grill. The interior features softer and more comfortable amenities as well as new color schemes.

8. Cargo Space

The MKZ Hybrid's cargo space takes a hit due to battery storage in the trunk. You can still fit quite a bit of cargo in the 11.2 cubic foot trunk. For a hybrid, this is quite a lot of room. The MKZ Hybrid also comes with 40/60 fold down rear seats to offer even more storage capability.

9. Safety Ratings and Features

The MKZ Hybrid received an Insurance Institute of Highway Safety top pick award in 2017. The 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid also offers advanced safety features like lane keep assist, driver alert monitor, blind spot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert.

10. SmartGauge with EcoDrive

The MKZ Hybrid also offers SmartGauge with EcoDrive for drivers that want to monitor fuel efficiency. The SmargGauge system helps you adjust your driving pattern to reach peak efficiency and EcoDrive helps you keep track of how your driving has saved energy over the long term.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid – The Cons

1. Comfort Over Handling

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid may offer a comfortable, quiet ride but it is not as agile as other cars in this class. If you are a handling enthusiast you may not be interested in the MKZ Hybrid after a test drive.

2. Hybrid Model Sacrifices Performance

If you are not completely committed to the hybrid concept you may be more interested in the larger engines available in this class of cars. The Lincoln MKZ line alone offers a 400h.p. V6 and a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine with 245h.p.

3. Luxury Car Status

The MKZ Hybrid resides in the luxury car arena. If you feel you can forgo the title of luxury car, you may be less interested in the MKZ Hybrid after checking cars in the large sedan category.

How it stacks up to the competition:

As a luxury car, the 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid resides in a class of cars that offer the best of the best. The Lincoln MKZ is not meant to compete with the likes of the Audi A6 or the Cadillac CTS, though they are in the same category. One car in this category that is similar in features is the Acura TLX. Both cars have similar standard features and luxurious interiors. The Acura does hold the edge when it comes to agility, but the MKZ has better reliability and the Hybrid engine.

Another car that the 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid stacks up nicely with is the newly redesigned Buick LaCrosse. Though the LaCrosse technically qualifies as a large sedan and not a luxury car, both offer similar features and are newly redesigned this year. The LaCrosse also does not offer a hybrid.

Conclusion

The 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid makes a strong argument for upgrading to a luxury car in 2017. It offers many premium standard features and the hybrid engine makes it extremely efficient. When considering the efficiency of the MKZ Hybrid, one could say that the MKZ Hybrid offers a great option for car buyers.