Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

Sal Collaziano · Mar 25, 2011

I was just putting together a post about the LaCrosse at my Buick Magazine site and took a look at a spot where there's a comparison of the eAssist LaCrosse to it's competitors. I came upon the numbers for the Lincoln MKZ and came away far more impressed with IT than the Buick.

The LaCrosse gets 25 in the city and 37 on the highway. The MKZ gets 41 in the city and 36 on the highway. The real kicker is how the MKZ's battery is powering the car up until 47 miles per hour. So with city driving up to 47 miles per hour, you get 700 miles on a single tank.

I like the exterior of the MKZ but I find the LaCrosse more of a head turner. And the interior of the MKZ, while "luxurious", doesn't touch the LaCrosse.. But I do believe a new MKZ comes next year - so we may see a nicer interior and exterior on the Lincoln.

In any event, I have to wonder if the MKZ is the best luxury car to buy if you want good gas mileage. I'm thinking "yes". The Lexus CT200h is nice and sporty - probably far more fun to drive than the Lincoln or the Buick - but I can't call it a luxury car. It's not very luxurious inside. I like the LaCrosse with eAssist - and I definitely consider it a luxury car - but I'm not very impressed with 25 miles per gallon in the city...

What's your opinion?

jaydee · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

The MKZ's MSRP starts about $4-5k more than what the LaCrosse will start at, and it's a smaller vehicle. If you're doing mostly highway driving, the fuel economy is going to be a wash. Things to consider.

andretti · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

jaydee said:
The MKZ's MSRP starts about $4-5k more than what the LaCrosse will start at, and it's a smaller vehicle. If you're doing mostly highway driving, the fuel economy is going to be a wash. Things to consider.

Overall external dimensions the Lacrosse is a few inches longer. However when sitting in each of them (cars were side by side) and going back and forth between them, the MKZ actually seems considerably bigger inside. I think the Lacrosse has a bigger trunk though.

Andrew L · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

I think you also get more standard features in the Lincoln

Also the Lincoln uses real wood trim as opposed to fake plastic trim on the Buick.

Both have interior LED lighting

Buick recieves a Harman Kardon 11-speaker surround sound system with 384 Watts

Lincoln recieves a THX-II 14 speaker Surround sound system with 600 Watts

Buick gets 8 way driver seat wtih 4 way standard passenger 8 ways optional

Lincoln gets 10 way power seats for both standard

Lincoln gets heating and cooling seats standard where the Buick gets heating and Ventilated seats but you have to pay more for them. Also there is a difference between cooling seats and ventilated seats before anyone says anything!

Memory is option on the Buick and standard on the Lincoln.

Lincoln gets some other things like Sync and BLIS

Buick gets OnStar

AdmiralViscen · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

I bet the lease pricing is not too far off either, certainly not if you equip the Lacrosse to match the Lincoln.

DriveOne. · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

I have to disagree with some parts of of what you said (though I may be a little biased....). Upon looking at both the MKZ and LaCrosse in person and test driving them both, the MKZ has a sleeker, more upscale look and much nicer interior materials and features. The Lacrosse has a more "interesting" interior and exterior, but to me it came off as too rounded and "bubble-ly" on the outside and too narrow and strangely designed (like the dashboard that comes out towards the passenger) in the inside. Not too mention the embarrassing trunk on the LaCrosse.... Give me the Lincoln

Jesda · Mar 25, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

Between the two, I kind of prefer the MKZ for its styling. When did the MKZ get this new interior? It looks sharp.

I think I want one...

wescoent · Mar 26, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

The only thing wrong with the MKZ Hybrid is the fact that the Fusion hybrid exists.

Forget Buick... Lexus just look like fools in comparison.

DriveOne. · Mar 26, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

wescoent said:
The only thing wrong with the MKZ Hybrid is the fact that the Fusion hybrid exists.

Forget Buick... Lexus just look like fools in comparison.

Agreed -- I think the hybrid is why the MKZ is the only vehicle (as of now) in the Lincoln line-up to post year-to-date sales gains. I can't wait to see what they come up with for gen 2.

Amphibian · Mar 26, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

The MKZ received a much needed facelift for 2010, but it's still not as competitive as it ought to be. From the outside, it's still just a new front and rear clip on a Fusion. For their upscale sedans, Nissan, Honda, and Toyota all give their sedans a 100% new exterior (Maxima, TL, and ES). On the inside, the MKZ is up to snuff in features, but the interior quality is still lacking. And in drive quality, it's a softer-sprung Fusion and that's it. It has identical powertrains to boot. They can do better. Its peers do better, and that's part of why last year the MKZ was beaten by these key competitors. Same goes for the LaCrosse if you want to compare the two.

But Ford's doing a much better job with their newer products, so even if they maintain the pace they're at now, we'll end up with a much better 2G MKZ.

Titanic · Mar 26, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

Oooo, I can buy a glittered up version of the Fusion Hybrid made in Mexico or I can save a lot of cash AND buy an American-made Buick that doesn't look like its down-market platform mate?

This IS a tough decision. Is Miss Cleo still giving advice?

syr74 · Mar 26, 2011

Re: Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

Buick61 said:
Oooo, I can buy a glittered up version of the Fusion Hybrid made in Mexico or I can save a lot of cash AND buy an American-made Buick that doesn't look like its down-market platform mate?

This IS a tough decision. Is Miss Cleo still giving advice?

Or, you could just get a Taurus and nab yourself more features and amenities than the Buick offers for less dough and still get a much better mix of fuel economy and power than the oddly conceived engine choices the Buick is peddling.. Perhaps you should call Miss Cleo.

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - Most fuel efficient "luxury" car currently available?

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