The big news for the former Zephyr is that its latest incarnation is available with all-wheel drive. The car also gets a larger and more powerful engine, going from 221 horsepower to 263.
The Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system "thinks" by constantly monitoring each wheel for slippage and transferring torque to the wheels with the best grip. This technology helps to make the MKZ AWD a very safe vehicle, especially in conjunction with its standard front and side air bags, ABS, and traction control.
The MKZ puts out 263 horses from its 3.5-liter V6, which is paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission You should expect fuel economy of 18 city and 26 highway miles to the gallon, about 1 mpg less than the 2WD trim achieves. The car runs beautifully on regular unleaded, which will help you a bit in the wallet, and its ride is remarkably quiet. It's also visually pleasing - the car has won accolades for its lovely interior.
Beyond the drive-train difference, the two trims are the same when it comes to standard equipment: leather seating (with heaters and 10-way power-adjust for the front), heated power side mirrors, quad halogen headlights, cruise control, 17-inch spoked aluminum wheels, and a chrome-finished dual exhaust.
All occupants enjoy ample space, and the backseat features a useful leather armrest with cupholders. Optional back seat heaters, but back seat coolers are not available as they are for the front. Other options include a 14-speaker/600-watt audio system, satellite radio, a power moonroof, chrome wheels, a satin-nickel aluminum package, and a DVD-based navigation system.
Standard safety equipment includes ABS, dual-stage front air bags, side air bags, remote keyless entry, an anti-theft system, and traction control. The MKZ earned 5 stars in the NHTSA front-side crash test, but only 4 stars in the rear-side, driver front, passenger front, and rollover tests.