2015 Lincoln MKZ: THAT’s A Lincoln?

“That’s a Lincoln?” That’s what a perfect stranger exclaimed when I told him the make of the sexy sedan I was test driving. The man then explained that his dad had owned several Lincolns, but he’d always preferred BMWs. In his view, Lincolns were for old-timers.

And that’s precisely the problem that Ford's luxury division needs to resolve. For too long, its image was tarnished by products designed for an aging clientele. Now that segment is buying fewer cars (many have lost their licenses) and the brand is struggling to survive. They’ve abandoned the good old Town Car and fully redesigned the rest of the line up.

• Also: 2017 Lincoln MKZ 2017: When's the Last Time...

The first car to emerge from this renaissance was the MKZ, built on the Ford Fusion’s platform. This mid-size sedan surprised the public by featuring an innovative style and advanced technology.

Two years later, people are wondering: Can the MKZ actually save Lincoln?

Making a good impression

The first thing the MKZ has going for it is good looks. With distinctive lamps, the grille that reaches all the way to the front lights, the raised beltline and the sharply inclined roof, the Lincoln sedan is absolutely sublime (if you ask me). And yet, Lincoln saved the best for last. I’m of the opinion that the MKZ’s rear treatment is one of the most stunning in its segment thanks to the single light stretching its width and the small raised spoiler.

The inside is also nicely executed. Passengers can sink into comfortable leather seats and admire the dashboard that flows into the space between the two front seats. You almost feel as though you’re inside an aircraft cockpit!

The quality of the materials is definitely better than in previous models. It’s obvious that the interior designers were instructed to make it as dynamic as possible. They’ve taken some risks, particularly with the long expanses of plastic and silvery colour. The effect is nice and creates a very modern overall effect.

Another thing the stylists did was ditch the gear lever and replace it with a row of buttons to the left of the infotainment screen. Some of my colleagues find that this system is not intuitive; the way I see it, since the buttons are just to shift gears, it wouldn’t have been worthwhile to waste space on the console for a shifter. At any rate, the lever wasn’t even mechanically connected to the transmission.

The MKZ that spent the night in my parking spot came with several accessories, including a selector that allows you to change the colour of the interior LED lights. It’s a bit gimmicky, but also kind of fun!

My only real beef about this Lincoln is, ironically, that its styling is so nice. The rear visibility is horrendous due to the sloped roof. The only way you can park it is by using the rear back-up camera (or letting the computer do the job for you, as it comes with Ford’s automatic parallel park assist). To make matters worse, when the massive glass roof slides back, it covers the rear window and further obstructs the view.

More than a deluxe Fusion

Even though the Lincoln MKZ shares many of its mechanical organs with the Ford Fusion (like its chassis and some of its drivetrains), the two don’t handle the same.

My demo model was the fully equipped version with the 3.7-litre V6 and all-wheel drive. Not available on the Ford, this engine offers tons of torque and draws the maximum out of the six-speed automatic transmission.

For those who want to push the MKZ’s performance to the limit, there’s a Sport mode to modify the suspension’s firmness in real time, manage torque and make the accelerator more responsive. You can even switch gears using wheel-mounted paddles.

The MKZ wasn’t made to be driven on the track, and yet it performs pretty well when you’re looking for thrills. Unfortunately, this V6 with 300 horsepower and 277 lbs.-ft. of torque chugs gas: 12.8 litres per 100 kilometers in mixed conditions.

The saviour?

The MKZ was tasked with reviving Lincoln from bleak anonymity. Not only has it succeeded in changing the way people think of the brand, it’s paved the way for Lincoln to develop new concept cars like the Continental Concept.

Now that Lincoln is back in the game, it’s time that everyone looked at their products with fresh eyes—even if you never dreamt of shopping for your granddaddy’s favourite make. Today, Lincolns are more contemporary than ever.