Pros: Impressive acceleration with available EcoBoost engine; traditional American-luxury personality; smooth, serene ride
Cons: Rear-seat room is disappointing for the premium large-car class; doesn’t feel as agile as most competitors; some complicated, slow-to-respond touchscreen controls
CG Says: A year after its freshening (updated styling, revised suspension tuning, and new safety and technology features), the 2014 Lincoln MKS is virtually unchanged. The rearview camera, formerly available only in an optional package, is now standard. Otherwise, only paint colors have changed. Lincoln’s flagship aims for a contemporary spin on traditional American luxury while still focusing on serene comfort. Base models don’t offer invigorating performance, which might be just fine for most of this car’s buyers. The turbocharged EcoBoost takes this large luxury sedan to a new level, providing V8-like thrust with V6 fuel economy. Note, however, this performance comes at a steep price: $5,000 or more over a base MKS and $10,000 over the similarly powered Ford Taurus SHO. No version of this big Lincoln can balance comfort, performance, and refinement as well as key Asian and European rivals. But if you place a high value on Detroit steel, MKS is a credible alternative.
