  2013 Lincoln MKS. Click image to enlarge |
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Manufacturer’s Website |
Review and photos by Simon Hill
Photo Gallery:
2013 Lincoln MKS
While the Lincoln MKS isn’t an especially common sight on Canadian roads, selling only 485 units in 2012, it’s an important car for Lincoln, staking out the brand’s territory in the important full-size luxury market and selling 12,524 units in the U.S. over the same period (for the statistically inclined, that means the MKS represents roughly 14 percent of Lincoln sales in the U.S., versus only about 8 percent in Canada).
The current-generation car hit the market as a 2009 model, and for 2013 Lincoln has refreshed the MKS inside and out, giving it a bit more power, better brakes, a revised suspension, new front and rear fascias, and a much-improved interior with more available features.
It’s technically what you’d call a mild update rather than a thorough reworking, but the changes do add up to decent effect, giving the MKS more ammunition in its battle against a wide variety of full-size and mid-size competitors such as the Cadillac XTS, Hyundai Genesis, BMW 5 Series, Audi A6 and even cars from mainstream brands like the Toyota Avalon and Ford’s own Taurus (which shares the same D3 platform as the MKS).
The styling changes for 2013 give the MKS a slightly more refined look, but if you’re not a fan of Lincoln’s signature waterfall grille you’re not likely to be impressed. If anything, the changes emphasize the grille, giving it finer slatting and a more upswept shape that really draws the eye. At the back the trunk lid has been redesigned for a cleaner look, with the license plate moved down from the decklid to the rear bumper, and access to the positively enormous trunk has also been improved.
  2013 Lincoln MKS. Click image to enlarge |
The mechanical tweaks mean that the base 3.7L V6 engine now produces 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, up significantly from 273 hp and 270 lb-ft in the 2012 model. As before, you can also opt for a more powerful 3.5L turbocharged Ecoboost engine, which is what my test car had. This engine produces 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque, which is a 10-hp increase over the 2012 model, and on the road it is stout-feeling in a way normally associated with V8 engines.
Thankfully, the power increases don’t come at the expense of fuel economy, with the new MKS turning in slightly better numbers than the previous year’s model at 11.6 / 7.5 L/100km (city/highway) with the 3.7L V6, and 12.2 / 7.8 with the Ecoboost V6. I was able to achieve reasonably close to the posted economy during mostly city driving, but at nearly 13 L for every 100 kilometres it did rather add up over the week.
