Used 2014 Lincoln MKS

A thorough overhaul last year brought a new look to the somewhat stoic MKS, but whether it will be enough to compete with sleeker designs from Cadillac, Lexus and even Hyundai is yet to be seen. Because it is based on the Taurus platform, there are still plenty of thinly veiled crossover parts from the Ford sedan, and no V8 engine or rear drive platform. However, for those not bothered by such trivialities, the MKS for 2014 has plenty to offer. From its standard continually-adaptive suspension and available all-wheel drive (AWD), to its 365-horsepower EcoBoost V6 engine and myriad of cool electronic interfaces such as climate controls that operate at the swipe of a finger, the MKS is luxury done Lincoln-style.

With 304 horsepower pumping from its standard 3.7-liter V6, the 2014 Lincoln MKS turns in a strong performance by any measure. A smooth shifting 6-speed automatic manages both uninterrupted bursts of acceleration and fairly respectable fuel economy. But, it’s the turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine that really makes the MKS feel like a street brawler looking for a fight. With standard AWD the MKS with EcoBoost can run with the best V6s in the class and even some V8s. It’s no Audi RS, but the MKS does feel stronger and more adept than a Lexus ES. The MKS’s adaptive suspension vastly improves its cornering and emergency response reflexes without significantly disturbing the car’s reputation for delivering a smooth and quiet ride. The steering feels more precise as well and on the stopping side, the new larger brakes are powerful and secure.

If simple and straightforward is your style, the complex controls and multiple screens that make up the MKS’s instruments might at first seem overwhelming. Most functions can be controlled via steering-wheel control pads with information displayed on two LCD screens next to the analog speedometer (part of the MyLincoln Touch system) or through the large LCD view screen that displays audio, navigation and Bluetooth functions. Standard heated and cooling seats are a nice touch, as is the expensive and ever so soft Bridge of Weir leather seating surfaces.

The 2014 Lincoln MKS wears the new face of Lincoln, with an expressive exterior dominated by a prominent winged grille with vertical louver-like slats filling most of the car’s front-end acreage. Adaptive HID headlights and a deeply contoured hood round the MKS’s sleek good looks. As the car’s smooth lines flow rearward, its shape is more modest and not as visually striking. Twin tailpipes do help give the big sedan a notion of power. EcoBoost versions receive 19-inch wheels and can further distinguish themselves with an appearance package that includes 20-inch wheels and darkened grille and headlights.

ACTIVE PARK ASSIST
Does the thought of parallel parking strike fear in your heart? This optional system can help. With aid from ultrasonic sensors, Active Park Assist measures an available parking space and then does the bulk of the work to park the car.

CLIMATE-CONTROLLED SEATS
When outside temperatures are extreme, there’s nothing like getting warmed or cooled from the bottom up. The 2014 Lincoln MKS comes standard with heating and cooling supplied by the front seats, while rear passengers get treated to heated seats, also standard equipment.

A 2014 Lincoln MKS comes with the SYNC connectivity and communication system, the SecuriCode keyless entry keypad (some folks love it), adaptive HID headlights, 12-way power front seats, leather seating surfaces (with front-seat heating and cooling), automatic high beams and automatic climate control. For a taste of sportiness, push-button start and 19-inch cast aluminum wheels also come standard. On the safety front, blind-spot monitors, rear-view camera and Lincoln’s Forward and Reverse Sensing system are also standard.

Among the upgrades you can make to the 2014 Lincoln MKS are: Active Park Assist, AWD, a navigation system, heated rear seats, 20-inch wheels, an HD Radio, remote-start system, power rear sunshade, a heated steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, multi-contour massaging front seats, adaptive cruise control, Lane Keep Assist and Alert, THX II Certified Audio with 16 speakers and a 10-inch subwoofer, and a dual-panel moonroof.

Power for the 2014 Lincoln MKS comes from a choice between two V6 engines. The base version is a 3.7-liter good for 304 horsepower and 279 lb-ft of torque. Models with the 3.7-liter V6 come in front-wheel drive (FWD) or AWD. The second option, for EcoBoost models, is a 3.5-liter V6 with two turbochargers. This powerplant makes a robust 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, and puts power to all four wheels. Proving that you can have your cake and eat it, too, the turbocharged EcoBoost engine that’s mated to an AWD system has nearly the same fuel-economy ratings as the less powerful 3.7-liter engine that is in a front-drive MKS. Both engines can run on regular unleaded gasoline and are teamed to a SelectShift 6-speed automatic that can be manually shifted.

3.7-liter V6
304 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
279 lb-ft of torque @ 4,050 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/28 mpg (FWD), 18/26 mpg (AWD)

3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 (EcoBoost)
365 horsepower @ 5,500 rpm
350 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 mpg