2017 MKZ - Initial thoughts...

[KenZ]

Thoughts on my new 2017 MKZ 3.0T FWD - after my first full week of driving with roughly 300 miles.  In many respects, this is in comparison to my 2013 MKZ which I traded in.   Both were fully loaded with whatever was available at the time.   Or my 2015 MKC, which I still have.

 

This is the first car where I have not read the instruction manual from cover to cover.  But it is also the first time that I bought a 2^nd generation of the same car.   The 2013 and 2017 are very similar.  I typically switch brands from car-to-car.    But after my 2013 MKZ and then a 2015 MKC, I think I have found a brand worth keeping around.

 

The feel and sound of the 3.0T is amazing.  Although I have not pressed it during the break-in time frame, the power is exactly as the commercials say – effortless.

 

I do not like the 2017 cupholders.  My 30 oz. insulated Kodiak cup doesn’t fit well in the 2017 cup holder.   You can jam it in, but then it is hard to get out.  It fit perfectly in my old 2013 MKZ and also fits nicely in my 2015 MKC.   Don’t know why they spend money on redesigning these things…. it’s a friggin’ cup holder for God’s sake.

 

The button to open the trunk has moved from the license plate area to a small button about waist high hidden in the area of the red “brake” light strip across the spoiler.  I keep reaching down to open the trunk, but will get used to it.  The technology exists for the “foot kick” motion detector to open the tailgate on my MKC, why wouldn’t they do it on a car trunk.  It is the handiest thing ever.

 

Not totally sold on the new buttons on the center stack.  Although there are more of them so they are handy. I like the redesign, but I liked how easy the old array was to clean.   The jury is still out on design vs cleaning vs handy.

 

They put a button to “kill” the parking sensors in the button array just to the right of the Sync screen.  That was genius.  Wish I had that on my MKC.  I like having the parking sensors on – but then they start beeping at every drive thru (bank, coffee, etc).  I have a routine down to kill them via the menus on the MKC, but that single easily accessible button in genius.

 

Love love love having a digital (actual numbers) MPH available on the center screen.    

 

Lane keeping doesn’t seem to be quite as aggressive.  I need to experiment more with that.  I like aggressive.

 

Massaging seats are “da bomb” – albeit a little creepy.

 

The single best and highly used change is the adaptive cruise control that brings you to a full stop and then starts you up again.  Really great in bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic during rush hour.

 

Sync 3.  Jury is still out for me.  I was so used to the old Sync and loved the four corner concept.  The new screen is very nice and doesn’t show finger prints nearly as much.  I guess it also has more pixels (or whatever) since the fonts are smaller and various buttons are clearer.  The map in the Nav System is still horribly out of date.  I live in an area that is growing - streets/highways/new off and on ramps that have been built for 2-3 years are not on there yet.  New businesses, like my closest Dunkin Donuts (2+ years old) are not on there yet.   But that is not Sync per say, it is just that they are using crappy out-of-date data.  The data is readily available since Google Maps and Apple Maps has it.  I do like the (tablet like) ability to use my fingers to squeeze the map to zoom in and zoom out.   Jury is also still out on Apple Play.  If Apple allowed Google Maps rather than Apple Maps – I might use it more.  It is not easy using Apple Play options and then getting back to the Sync Nav screen.  It sort of seems like they want you to use one or the other but not both in conjunction with each other.  As I play with it more, maybe I will find an easier way.    

 

Voice recognition is 1000% better.  It has gotten it right every time.   Just wish it covered more items like turning on the AC seats.

 

I had CocoMat Floor Mats for the front seats – kinda pricey but really nice.   They are 3 years old but still look new – very durable.   The passenger side from the 2013 fits perfectly in the 2017.  The driver’s side, not so much.  I can jam it in there and it kinda sorta fits, probably no one else would know.   But I know that little piece sticking up by the foot rest on the left shouldn’t be there!   

 

My ProClip iPhone mount from my 2013 fits perfectly in the 2017.   It sorta hides a couple buttons on the center stack because those buttons didn’t exist on the 2013.   You can reach around to use those buttons – frankly, the phone is way more important than those buttons. 

 

The 2017 has individual tire pressure amounts (i.e. 36 psi, etc).  Rather than just saying low pressure as it did on the 2013 - and not knowing which tire!    Great feature.     

 

The 2017 has a padded right side driver’s seat arm rest that the 2013 did not.  I love that arm rest.

 

The front grill will have to air dry.  It is way to intricate to actually dry with a cloth – unless you have a whole lot of free time!

 

Enjoying every minute of the new car...

Edited August 8, 2016 by KenZ

[hermans]

I have Sync 3 on my 2016 Edge. I also find it way more responsive than my other cars. I like just speaking the street address. It has been 100% accurate so and I have spoken about 30 addresses so far. Sync 3 is much-much faster than MyFordTouch.

Edited August 8, 2016 by hermans

[shortspark]

Great review and it is nice to hear you are loving the car.  One thing I would like to get your opinion on (and I ask this of everyone who owns a new MKZ) is the night time driving experience.  Because I live in the country with no street lights (and lots of deer) I need a superior headlamp.  I currently own a Mercedes with their optional "light package" of Bi-Xenon lamps.  They are the widest, brightest headlights I have ever seen.  How does the lighting look in your car?  How well does the auto feature work and the dimming with on-coming traffic?  Thanks in advance for any insights on the night driving experience you may have.

[KenZ]

Great review and it is nice to hear you are loving the car.  One thing I would like to get your opinion on (and I ask this of everyone who owns a new MKZ) is the night time driving experience.  Because I live in the country with no street lights (and lots of deer) I need a superior headlamp.  I currently own a Mercedes with their optional "light package" of Bi-Xenon lamps.  They are the widest, brightest headlights I have ever seen.  How does the lighting look in your car?  How well does the auto feature work and the dimming with on-coming traffic?  Thanks in advance for any insights on the night driving experience you may have.

 

Totally forgot about the headlights...  I am not a big night driver and mostly on fairly well lit roads.  I did take a ride out into a more rural area to see how the adaptive headlights worked.   The adaptive headlights followed the steering wheel really well - I purposefully drove on a very curvy road.   I had adaptive headlights on a prior car (I think it was an Acura) that I did not like, they seemed to over compensate and sometimes made me a little dizzy.  The lights themselves were significantly brighter (whiter) on both low and high beams - than the 2013.  On high beams, the light was startling white and bright.  I did notice there was not as harsh a "light line" at the top - as the 2013 or my MKC.  The autodim worked as well as the 2013 (never made a mistake and faster than I could have ever reacted).  The lights seemed quite a bit quicker when changing from low to high and back, the change was seemingly instantaneous.

 

Also forgot to mention the ambient lighting in the cabin.  It is vastly improved and really impressive.  Besides the footwells, cupholders, etc - there is a line of light that runs along the inside of the doors - about 6 inches below the windows, both front and back.  The 2013 did not have that.  

 

The door handle lights and Lincoln welcome mat lights are a nice touch.  I also have that on my MKC.  Although, rarely do I ever park anywhere that is dark enough to see them.           

[brucelinc]

Excellent review, KenZ!

[shortspark]

Thanks!  That is really good news because of all the night driving I do on these back roads.

[KenZ]

One thing I just realized.  The 2017 MKZ (vs the 2013) seems to have a little more clearance in the front.  Last night, I was going to Quik Trip and when I came back to the car, I realized that he front end of the car was over the curb.  I could not do that with the 2013.  It would always scrape the curb at that Quik Trip.  

 

Was also reminded that when you lock the doors with the little ridges on the handle or the fob... you now get an audible tone.  It is not the car horn, but an audible tone.  Love that.

Edited August 9, 2016 by KenZ

[drolds1]

Thanks for the review, Ken.

 

The relocation of the outsider deck release button is one of those little changes that's really noticeable.  I had a service loaner last year that had it and it was really nice no to have to put your hand under the bumper, especially if it was raining.

 

WRT the ambient lighting, my 2014 has the light strips in the doors.  IDK if that was an update from 2013 or yours weren't working properly.  They had to reprogram mine once, as all the door strips weren't lighting.   

 

I'm glad to hear you can shut the parking sensors off. It does get annoying at my drive-through ATM but I just put it in Park to shut them off there.  It's good to hear about the other little improvements as well.  It shows that they're listening to the customers' input.

 

BTW, do you have the LED headlamps or the (now) standard HIDs?

[KenZ]

Thanks for the review, Ken.

 

The relocation of the outsider deck release button is one of those little changes that's really noticeable.  I had a service loaner last year that had it and it was really nice no to have to put your hand under the bumper, especially if it was raining.

 

WRT the ambient lighting, my 2014 has the light strips in the doors.  IDK if that was an update from 2013 or yours weren't working properly.  They had to reprogram mine once, as all the door strips weren't lighting.   

 

I'm glad to hear you can shut the parking sensors off. It does get annoying at my drive-through ATM but I just put it in Park to shut them off there.  It's good to hear about the other little improvements as well.  It shows that they're listening to the customers' input.

 

BTW, do you have the LED headlamps or the (now) standard HIDs?

 

HIDs.

 

Interesting on the ambient lighting.  Thinking I was a little crazy, I went back and looked at my pictures from May 2013 when I picked up my 2013 MKZ.     The ambient light strip is there, but it was only really bright toward the front of the front door, then faded out as it went backwards.  There was none on the back seat doors.  Not sure if it was supposed to be that way or not!    If I did not know it was wrong, then I guess it wasn't!

Edited August 10, 2016 by KenZ

[drolds1]

Thanks for the reply, Ken.  It's good to know that you're satisfied with the HID headlamps that are now standard, in place of the former LEDs.

[International J]

I know people are tired of me asking but I have to! Have you noticed any lights like abs or parking brake or anything else happening to the car? Any abnormalities at all? I know it's still new but I need to know!

 

Thanks and great review!

[KenZ]

I know people are tired of me asking but I have to! Have you noticed any lights like abs or parking brake or anything else happening to the car? Any abnormalities at all? I know it's still new but I need to know!

 

Thanks and great review!

 

I don't think that Lane Keeping is working the way it should - or at least it is not working as aggressively as my 2015 MKC or the 2013 MKZ I  traded in.  I have the settings on Alert+Aid with high intensity.  It is definitely not bouncing me back into the lane as my other cars did.  I am also noticing some light wheel resistance when I shouldn't (blinker is on, etc).       

 

The Sync System has done a spontaneous reboot 2 times (maybe 3).  I am not exactly sure about the first time it might have happened since I was not paying close attention.  In each case, it was when the car had just been started and was put into reverse.  I probably only noticed it because the back-up cam went out for a couple seconds until the system cycled thru the Lincoln welcome screen.  

 

Those are the only weirdnesses so far.  Roughly 2 weeks, 500 miles in.  

[DeeCee]

Good overall review. I just recently purchased a 2017 MKZ Hybrid. My previous car was a 2013 Ford Fusion SE Hybrid so the transition was rather painless as the drive train and hybrid displays are quite similar if not the same. . Loved the FFH but the MKZ is much nicer. Really like the Adaptive Cruise Control that brings you to a stop and then starts again in stop and go traffic although it took some getting used to to trust it was really going to stop! Haven't tried the Lane Keeping system yet but will shortly. Had it on my Fusion but seldom used it. Sync 3 seems to be more responsive and easier to use than the Touch system in the FFH. Cooled seats are new to me and quite nice this time of year.

[hermans]

.....................................

Edited August 26, 2016 by hermans

[riff raff]

I had a Taurus rental with the digital speedometer, I miss that on my 2014.

Good review! 

I love my Pro-clip mount, it is in the perfect spot.

[Drwilsc]

New member to the MKZ forum.

 

I'm likely going to be getting a '17 MKZ 3.0t AWD with reserve and panoramic roof. Coming out of a '14 Cadillac ATS 3.6.

This Lincoln is a beautiful car. Love the Sync 3, much more responsive than Cadillac CUE, and fewer fingerprints.

 

Lincoln 3.0t I think overall is slightly faster then ATS 3.6 (400hp vs 321hp), but the turbo is a bit more laggy than the naturally aspirated 3.6. Lincoln rides better, Caddy handles better.

Edited August 28, 2016 by Drwilsc

[schteve]

New member to the MKZ forum.

 

I'm likely going to be getting a '17 MKZ 3.0t AWD with reserve and panoramic roof. Coming out of a '14 Cadillac ATS 3.6.

This Lincoln is a beautiful car. Love the Sync 3, much more responsive than Cadillac CUE, and fewer fingerprints.

 

Lincoln 3.0t I think overall is slightly faster then ATS 3.6 (400hp vs 321hp), but the turbo is a bit more laggy than the naturally aspirated 3.6. Lincoln rides better, Caddy handles better.

[schteve]

 

New member to the MKZ forum.

 

I'm likely going to be getting a '17 MKZ 3.0t AWD with reserve and panoramic roof. Coming out of a '14 Cadillac ATS 3.6.

This Lincoln is a beautiful car. Love the Sync 3, much more responsive than Cadillac CUE, and fewer fingerprints.

 

Lincoln 3.0t I think overall is slightly faster then ATS 3.6 (400hp vs 321hp), but the turbo is a bit more laggy than the naturally aspirated 3.6. Lincoln rides better, Caddy handles better.

I don't know if I would call the 3.0 "laggy". It does take a bit of effort to spool up from a dead stop - it's not as "immediate" as a N/A or supercharged engine for sure.

 

From my comparisons of other supercharged and turboed cars I have owned or driven I was pretty impressed with the tt and the smooth power delivery it offers. (Mines the 3.0 awd drivers pkg)

 

The biggest "downside" to the TT motor is the exhaust note. Turbos in general, really soften the note and you don't get the "pop" you get from a N/A or S/C.

 

Depending on your "comfort style" I might suggest the driver package. See my thoughts on the difference in suspension tunes here

 

http://lincolnmkzforum.com/topic/1748-2017-mkz-orders/page-15?do=findComment&comment=7530

Edited August 28, 2016 by schteve

[Drwilsc]

Do any of you have the luxury package with the Revel Ultima? How does it sound?

 

I have only heard the standard 14-speaker system and thought that it was only OK.

[Zalvern]

Do any of you have the luxury package with the Revel Ultima? How does it sound?

 

I have only heard the standard 14-speaker system and thought that it was only OK.

 

Yeah I have it. Amazing sound system and clarity. Like Lincoln claims, playing lower quality music files actually can sound better through the car speakers. It is impressive. Everyone sitting in the car can feel true surround anywhere. I like the Audience surround setting, as the other is onstage.

 

As for handling, if you want that performance handling, then Driver's Package is a must.

 

Turbocharged vehicles can be more temperamental in regards to the weather. On cool, clean air days, they're extremely responsive and churn out even a bit more power than usual. But if its really hot and humid, with moisture in the air, they can be bogged down. Some prefer the more linear response NA/Supercharged engines bring, but I like the variable behavior of a turbocharged vehicle personally.

Edited August 28, 2016 by Zalvern

[Drwilsc]

 

Got my 2017 MKZ 3.0T Reserve. Loving it!!! Have the luxury package. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima sounds awesome.

Edited September 19, 2016 by Drwilsc

[riff raff]

Handsome, love the color choice!

[Drwilsc]

Thanks.  I'm a first time Ford/Lincoln buyer, no regrets so far whatsoever.

[riff raff]

Thanks.  I'm a first time Ford/Lincoln buyer, no regrets so far whatsoever.

Same here.  My 2014 is the best car I've ever owned, enjoyment-wise.  I've also never rec'd as many compliments about one of my vehicles.  (I've had some pretty interesting cars over the years)

[BizzyGeek]

That blue is awesome. I'm jealous. You didn't get the driver's sport package?