2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid
PRICE/AS-TESTED PRICE $34,330/$38,775
MILEAGE 36 MPG (HWY); 41 MPG (CITY)
ENGINE 2.5-LITER 4-CYLINDER/ELECTRIC
HORSEPOWER/TORQUE 191/NA
TRANSMISSION CONTINUOUSLY VARIABLE
DRIVE WHEELS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE
HOW MANY IT CAN FIT 5
ANTILOCK BRAKES YES
CUPHOLDERS 4
FOLDING REAR SEAT NO
STEERING WHEEL AUDIO YES
TRUNK PASS-THROUGH NO
SATELLITE RADIO YES
POWER SUNROOF NO
LEATHER UPHOLSTERY YES
POWER FRONT SEATS YES
HEATED FRONT SEATS YES
AUTO-OFF HEADLIGHTS YES
HEATED MIRRORS YES
POWER LOCKS YES
REMOTE ENTRY YES
KEYLESS START NO
UNIVERSAL GARAGE OPENER YES
HANDS-FREE PHONE YES
Listen. Hear that? Of course not. You’re reading. But that’s just how it sounds when you turn the key in the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. Silence. The only thing keeping you from turning the key again — as if there had not been ignition — is all of the gauge lights flickering in front of the steering wheel.
The Hybrid option is new to the MKZ sedan this year. Similar to the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the MKZ version utilizes a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and electric motor that gets it juice from a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Combined with a continuously variable transmission, the result is quiet at a stop or when coasting, seamless shifting and outstanding fuel economy.
The EPA fuel estimates are 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. With a 16.5-gallon gas tank, the possible distance between fillups is going to be in the 500-600 mile range.
Priced at $34,330, the Hybrid has plenty of wonderful features just like the base model, which starts at the same figure but has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine.
Among items of note are 10-way power front bucket leather seats that are heated and cooled, steering wheel radio controls, rear-obstacle detection system, 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, universal garage door opener and Sync, the Ford and Microsoft voice-activated hands-free communication and entertainment system.
MyKey is neat, too, in that it enables the owner to enact a program to sounds chimes at various speeds – you know, for those younger drivers in the family.
There are some limits to the Hybrid. While the regular MKZ can come with all-wheel drive, the Hybrid is offered only with front-wheel drive. Trunk space in the MKZ Hybrid is compromised by the battery pack behind the back seat.
The result is an ample 16.5 cubic feet of space is trimmed to 12.0 cubic feet. Plus, the split/folding rear seat is eliminated. As the gas stations are passed mile after mile, though, it’s likely that drivers of the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid won’t mind.
David Mikesell is a free-lance automotive reviewer based in Indianapolis. Read this review and others like it at DaytonDailyNews.com/Wheels.