Base 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sedan
2013 Lincoln MKS
A Bench-Warmer In Waiting I hail from Cleveland, and that means I'm familiar with sports franchises that are always falling short of championships. The Indians, the Browns, the Cavs – they've all come close, but being a resident of C-Town means learning to appreciate the effort more than a reward that never seems to come. So I can appreciate the situation in which Lincoln finds itself today, one where the past is full of repeated attempts to be competitive, and looming on the future's horizon is the next hope on which everything hinges. That next hope for Lincoln is not the car you see here, but rather the smaller, all-new 2013 MKZ sedan. Like LeBron James entering Gund Arena for the first time, the MKZ will enter dealerships this fall as the brand's chosen savior, markedly more stylish, advanced and desirable than anything offered by Lincoln in recent memory. And that would make this car, the 2013 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost, one of the other 20 guys whose names I can't remember who played alongside LeBron during his rookie season. Being in the shadow of the Next Big Thing makes it hard for anybody, or anything, to stand out and be noticed. And yet, those 20 other guys suited up each night next to LeBron, and the MKS will continue as Lincoln's flagship large sedan despite the luster of the new MKZ right next to it. Lincoln, however, has given the MKS some significant upgrades for the 2013 model year, and we're here to see if its off-season adjustments can make a difference to buyers willing to give Lincoln another chance. The first thing you'll notice about the 2013 MKS is its new uniform. While far from a full redesign, this exterior freshening does include an entirely new front end from the A-pillar forward that's dominated by an updated version of Lincoln's controversial split-wing grille. While similar in shape to last year's grille, the new wings sport slimmer vertical slats, and more of them, for a treatment that's more uniform with less detail than before. The grilles flow up into new high-intensity discharge headlamp clusters, the lower fascia is all new, and the hood that tops it off now features a center spine with a crease on either side that traces a line from the center of the hood's leading edge to each A-pillar. Does the new uniform work? It's about a wash. Everything in profile view looks the same, but the rear end of the MKS has received some changes as well, including new LED taillamps, a revamped decklid, different exhaust tips and a new spot for the license plate holder that's lower down in the rear bumper rather than up high in the trunk lid. We also like the new handsome 20-inch 10-spoke wheel design, as well as the demure Kodiak Brown Metallic seen on our tester. Does the new uniform work? It's about a wash. The 2009-2011 model year MKS looked reasonably attractive already, and the changes made …
Full Review
A Bench-Warmer In Waiting I hail from Cleveland, and that means I'm familiar with sports franchises that are always falling short of championships. The Indians, the Browns, the Cavs – they've all come close, but being a resident of C-Town means learning to appreciate the effort more than a reward that never seems to come. So I can appreciate the situation in which Lincoln finds itself today, one where the past is full of repeated attempts to be competitive, and looming on the future's horizon is the next hope on which everything hinges. That next hope for Lincoln is not the car you see here, but rather the smaller, all-new 2013 MKZ sedan. Like LeBron James entering Gund Arena for the first time, the MKZ will enter dealerships this fall as the brand's chosen savior, markedly more stylish, advanced and desirable than anything offered by Lincoln in recent memory. And that would make this car, the 2013 Lincoln MKS EcoBoost, one of the other 20 guys whose names I can't remember who played alongside LeBron during his rookie season. Being in the shadow of the Next Big Thing makes it hard for anybody, or anything, to stand out and be noticed. And yet, those 20 other guys suited up each night next to LeBron, and the MKS will continue as Lincoln's flagship large sedan despite the luster of the new MKZ right next to it. Lincoln, however, has given the MKS some significant upgrades for the 2013 model year, and we're here to see if its off-season adjustments can make a difference to buyers willing to give Lincoln another chance. The first thing you'll notice about the 2013 MKS is its new uniform. While far from a full redesign, this exterior freshening does include an entirely new front end from the A-pillar forward that's dominated by an updated version of Lincoln's controversial split-wing grille. While similar in shape to last year's grille, the new wings sport slimmer vertical slats, and more of them, for a treatment that's more uniform with less detail than before. The grilles flow up into new high-intensity discharge headlamp clusters, the lower fascia is all new, and the hood that tops it off now features a center spine with a crease on either side that traces a line from the center of the hood's leading edge to each A-pillar. Does the new uniform work? It's about a wash. Everything in profile view looks the same, but the rear end of the MKS has received some changes as well, including new LED taillamps, a revamped decklid, different exhaust tips and a new spot for the license plate holder that's lower down in the rear bumper rather than up high in the trunk lid. We also like the new handsome 20-inch 10-spoke wheel design, as well as the demure Kodiak Brown Metallic seen on our tester. Does the new uniform work? It's about a wash. The 2009-2011 model year MKS looked reasonably attractive already, and the changes made …
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Retail Price
$42,870
MSRP / Window Sticker Price
| Engine | 3.7L V-6 |
| MPG | 18 City / 27 Hwy |
| Seating | 5 Passengers |
| Transmission | 6-spd w/OD |
| Power | 304 @ 6500 rpm |
| Drivetrain | front-wheel |
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