The 2011 MKS is a groundbreaker for Lincoln: It shows a graceful command of luxury’s styling language.
The quiet, classy styling inside and out is a marked counterpoint to Cadillac’s brash CTS—and the MKS’s fit and interior finishes are a step beyond the Caddy’s pieces, too. The cabin sports a linear, spare theme that Lincoln has been evolving all decade. There’s a wide dash wearing thin ribs of metallic trim, a callback to the Lincolns of the Sixties. White-lit electroluminescent gauges glow softly at night off its leather and wood trim, with noticeably closer attention to detail. It’s fine enough, and we’d pit it against the likes of the Audi A6, which has gotten more plasticky over time.
The 2011 Lincoln MKS won’t win over the Town Car or the M5 crowd, but it’s blessed with smart performance, subdued good looks, and a roomy interior.
Affordable, mid-priced luxury; distinctive design; efficient EcoBoost engine available.
The 2011 Lincoln MKS swings for the bleachers with turbo power and cruises around the bases with a soothing big-car ride. There’s a big V-6 under the hood, but the Lincoln MKS has a secret: a turbocharged edition that spins out enthusiastic, ersatz V-8 power to go with a buttoned-down chassis.
Ford’s stock 3.7-liter V-6 performs smoothly, but it’s just average in a car as long and hefty as the MKS. The same truisms apply as with the Lexus GS 350 and the Volvo S60; you’ll get through a 0-60 mph run in 7.5 seconds in a sedate, fuss-free way. It can be run with either regular or premium fuel, and the MKS delivers EPA-certified fuel economy of 17/24 mpg as a front-driver, or 16/23 mpg when equipped with all-wheel drive.
The 2011 Lincoln MKS plays the part of big luxury sedan very convincingly—so much better, in fact, than Lincolns before, that we’ve spent more time in it than in other cars, trying to figure out how much has changed for the better at Ford’s interior design and comfort shop. With big-car space and seating, as well as a finely fitted cabin, the Lincoln MKS is leaps and bounds past its own past.
The 2011 Lincoln MKS provides drivers and passengers with the best safety on the road. Along with those high crash-test figures, the MKS brings out all the standard safety gear you’d expect in a pricier German-built sedan. The big Lincoln has dual front, side, and curtain airbags standard, along with anti-lock brakes and traction and stability control. A rearview camera, automatic wipers and front parking sensors also are standard, while adaptive cruise control is an option.
Techno fans will also want to order the optional Active Park Assist. It uses sensors and cameras to determine the optimal steering angle, and with the help of the driver on the gas and brake, it “parks” the car. It’s available only on the turbo MKS, since it’s the version with the necessary electric power steering.