Rusty Wallace Lincoln Mercury Mazda

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Driving Impressions

With the notable exception of the spirited, agile Lincoln LS, which the present MKS replaces, Lincolns have never been valued for the sporting character of their driving temperament. Classically, a Lincoln is just about the last candidate one would choose for a race through the darting and veering linked corners of canyon country. The MKS is no exception to this pattern. A sport sedan it is not.

The MKS is an excellent turnpike cruiser, but away from the interstate on a winding country two-lane, this large, heavy car feels less at home. Its moderately high steering effort inspires confidence on the highway, but rewards the driver with little information when driving in the backcountry. Rather, it eschews the virtues of the prior LS and reverts to being a somewhat stodgy Lincoln in the grand old mode.

However, this same time-honored Lincoln character has significant pluses. Primary among these is first-rate comfort and composure during long cruises on the interstate.

The MKS is confident at interstate speeds, and its four-valve 3.7-liter V6 produces an ample 273 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque, more than enough to deliver long, effortless service life at highway speeds. It boasts an exemplary 24-mpg EPA Highway rating. Accelerating from a standing start, the package is above average, which is to say, neither a tire-burner nor in any way slow. Given the MKS's stand-up character, the choice of engine and performance seems just right.

It is in the area of chassis dynamics that the MKS comes up short. Veering off the interstate onto lesser, winding country roads, this Lincoln is decidedly un-entertaining. Driving over undulations at speed, the ride control was generally good, though occasionally the MKS exhibited the barest beginnings of floatiness.

When navigating bends in the road, the MKS seems to caution the driver to slow down. It is out of its element. The steering effort of the MKS is remarkably firm, which in most sport-sedan cases implies an enthusiast character. With the MKS, however, road feel communicated through this firm steering in curving terrain is muted, almost non-existent. And the ride motions of the car are stubborn and somewhat lurching, yielding little road information or driving pleasure. This is not to say that the MKS is in any way hazardous. On a curvy road, its chassis is simply not much fun to drive.

The brakes worked very well. Like many another car in its class, at 4127 pounds (with front-wheel drive) the MKS is a heavy car, but the big four-wheel disc brakes, augmented with ABS, traction control and electronic stability control, are more than up to the task. The problem is that, unlike many in its class, the MKS really feels heavy. Comparing its chassis dynamics to the Cadillac STS, no lightweight itself, the Cadillac feels like a Porsche.

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