The rear passenger room and comfort are particularly impressive. The MKS and MKS EcoBoost have the same basic features, however the EcoBoost trim makes both packages standard. The Cold Weather package adds a heated steering wheel and rear outboard seats. Lincoln’s ventilated seats are a nice touch, as would be the MKS’s standard rear heated seats. Materials quality is a mixed bag, however, with a lot of chintzy plastic and Ford-grade switchgear. Interior design is on par with other cars in this segment, featuring standard leather upholstery and an attractive dash layout. Both models are well-equipped, but that is one case where it’s worth the extra money to intensify a trim. The Elite package throws in a 16-speaker speakers, voice-activated navigation, and blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert. Moreover, the Lincoln MKS offers lots of interior and cargo space, the trunk will hold 18.4 cubic feet.
A division of Ford, Lincoln differentiates its vehicles through additional luxury features, more powerful engines and unique styling. Lincoln is an automaker with a long history of building upscale vehicles for the American market.
The typical safety features in the MKS incorporate a rearview camera and front and rear parking sensors. In four out of five Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests, the MKS earned a score of Good (the best possible). The MKS is also available with blind spot monitoring, automatic parallel park assist, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane keep assist. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the Lincoln MKS a standard rating of five out of five stars. However, it received the best score of Poor in the little overlap front simulation. It earned five stars in the frontal and side crash tests and four stars in the rollover test. The 2023 Lincoln MKS comes standard with stability and traction control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, and antilock brakes with brake assist.
Lincoln also distinguished itself during these years as the first American car line to offer antilock braking. In 1981, Lincoln released its now iconic Town Car, the full-size luxury sedan that has since served as the marque’s flagship. That velvet-lined cruiser was followed mid-decade by the Mark VII, which was more European in nature and could even be powered by a BMW turbodiesel engine. Though its moniker had been used to designate trim levels in previous years, 1981 was the year in which the Town Car came into existence as an individual model. The Mark series continued to evolve, and shrunk down considerably with the debut of the Mark VI.
Inside, the MKS comes standard with Ford’s voice-activated Sync system, leather upholstery, a tilt/telescoping power controls with memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated 12-way power front seats, heated rear seats, a rear center armrest with pass-through slot and an eight-speaker stereo having an in-dash six-CD changer, satellite radio, and a reliable audio jack. The MKS also sits price-wise near the brand new rear-wheel-drive Hyundai Genesis, and those buying similar front-wheel-drive package at a cheap may find the Hyundai Azera or Toyota Avalon more for their liking.
The 1970s saw the launch of the Mark IV as well as a new Lincoln, the Versailles. The Versailles was based on the Ford Granada platform, and many blamed its failure on its obvious similarity to its less exclusive — and less expensive — twin. The Versailles was the first midsize sedan from the marque, and right from the start, it missed the mark with the public.
The conventional features on both include 18-inch wheels; heated power side view mirrors with memory and auto-dimming on the driver side; xenon HID headlamps; cruise control; a brand new capless fuel-filling system, and a smooth, inconspicuous touchpad entry system. The Lincoln MKS is available in two trim levels: front-wheel drive and AWD. There are many of other choices to consider only at that elevated price point, such as the Acura TL, Lexus ES 350, and Volvo S80. The Lincoln MKS is a full-size luxury sedan that has been manufactured and marketed by the Lincoln subdivision of Ford.
In the cabin, options include wood or aluminum trim, a touchscreen navigation system with Sirius Travel Link, a backup camera, an electric rear window sunshade, adaptive cruise control, and an upgraded 14-speaker 600-watt THX-certified audio system with two subwoofers. Optional features include 19- or 20-inch wheels, adaptive headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and a dual-pane sunroof. Many of these features may be bundled together in Lincoln’s Navigation, Technology, or Ultimate Packages.
Filling up with a greater octane can boost the energy of a couple of horses. We managed a middling 7.5-second sprint from zero to 60 mph in our AWD test car; expect the lighter front-wheel-drive model to shave several tenths off that time. With non-premium fuel, the MKS generates an estimated 273 hp and 270 pound-feet of torque. EPA fuel economy estimates for the Lincoln MKS are 17/24 mpg city/highway for the front-wheel-drive model and 16/23 for AWD. The MKS is somewhat unusual in comparison to other luxury sedans in that it can run on either premium fuel or lower-octane grades. Both front-wheel-drive and AWD trim levels share the same powertrain, a 3.7-liter V6 matched to a six-speed automatic transmission.
