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The Lincoln MKZ comes from a 3.5-liter V6, introduced for 2007, that delivers 263 horsepower, on par with the Nissan Maxima and Infiniti G35. Moreover, the Lincoln engine delivers full power on regular 87-octane gas, and was EPA-rated at 18/28 mpg City/Highway. This new engine benefits from the efficiency of a six-speed automatic transmission. The Lincoln's 3.5-liter engine delivers great acceleration in the instances most drivers need it. It doesn't turn the MKZ into a rocket, but acceleration is more than acceptable for any reasonable task, including a quick merge onto a busy Interstate. And it's satisfying just to feel the rush of power. The Duratec 3.5-liter is smooth and fairly quiet. The six-speed automatic cannot be shifted manually, feature some drivers like. Moreover, Lincoln could improve the control program for a quicker response at low speeds. From a dead stop, or when traveling at 50 mph, the transmission works great. Slam the accelerator as you pull out to pass and it kicks down nicely, one or two gears, to put the engine in the high-torque part of its power band. But at 10 mph, it's a different story. Creeping out of a parking lot, for example, the transmission will shift up a gear or two, apparently to save fuel. But when the driver approaches the street and hits the gas for a hole in traffic, the transmission doesn't want to kick back down to first gear. The MKZ bogs a bit, and the anticipated acceleration isn't there. We like the handling of this car. On a rough surface the MKZ does a reasonably good job of shielding its occupants from broken pavement and poorly repaired potholes. But the engineers were clever enough to combine that ride with handling that is reassuring and satisfying. Despite having much of its weight up front, the all-wheel-drive model we tested was reasonably quick to change direction and head into a turn, lacking the stubborn, nose-heavy feeling of some all-wheel-drive cars. The steering has a of weight to it for positive, satisfying response. Yet it doesn't feel heavy when pulling into a parking spot. And there's no loose, sloppy feeling when the MKZ is pointed straight ahead. Turn the wheel just a little bit and the chassis begins to respond immediately, with no dead spot. The brake pedal has a nice, progressive feel, and the brakes deliver more stopping power than the typical driver will ever use short of an emergency situation. All-wheel drive is a great benefit when driving in snow or hard rain. We consider all-wheel drive a safety feature because it improves handling stability in foul weather. It can also be a huge help in getting up a slick hill. The system normally operates as front-wheel drive, but sends power to the rear wheels if the front tires begin to lose grip. On loose gravel, we found it worked as advertised when accelerating hard from a stop.
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