With the passenger-car shakeup at Ford still settling, the fate of the Lincoln MKZ is uncertain. Many expected it to bow out in 2019, but 2020 sees it hanging on with subtle changes to package availability. There’s a bit of a color shuffle as well, with Blue Diamond Metallic, Crystal Copper Metallic, Ingot Silver Metallic, and Ruby Red Metallic being dropped in favor of Empire Blue Metallic, Magma Red, Red Carpet Metallic, and Silver Radiance. The MKZ midsize luxury sedan competes with the Ford Fusion, Acura TLX, Lexus ES, and Volvo S60.

Starting with the base MKZ trim, power is delivered via a 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine through a 6-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels, though all-wheel-drive (AWD) is an option. With 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, it’s a stout performer that communicates anything but “base.” Sixty miles per hour will arrive in around 7.5 seconds, which speaks to the MKZ's nearly 4,000-pound curb weight. Thankfully, the MKZ boasts a standard feature not usually found on base models: an adaptive suspension. This means the ride remains comfortable and compliant despite the car's heft.

Additional standard features include dual-zone climate control, 10-way power heated front seats with driver memory, adaptive xenon headlights, aluminum accents, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated power auto-dimming mirrors, and the Co-Pilot360 safety suite. Technology is delivered through Lincoln’s Sync 3 infotainment system on an 8-inch touchscreen display that offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an 11-speaker stereo, two USB ports, and four 12-volt charging ports. Every MKZ also comes standard with Lincoln Connect, which allows you to interact with your MKZ through a smartphone app, giving you the ability to start the engine and climate control; lock and unlock doors; monitor fuel, tire pressure, and oil levels; and locate your car via GPS.

The MKZ Reserve trim adds some extra luxury to the proceedings with genuine leather upholstery and wood trim, ambient lighting, a power-adjustable steering wheel, navigation, adaptive cruise, a 110-volt outlet, and two additional USB charging ports in the rear. From there you can really tack on the luxury with an optional park-assist system, panoramic sunroof, and upgraded 14- or 20-speaker stereo options. With the Reserve, you can also upgrade the engine to a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that pumps out 350 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque in front-wheel-drive (FWD) configuration and a solid 400 hp if you go for AWD.

That said, you’re not locked into these trim configurations if any specific features have caught your eye, as there are four new packages available for 2020. The base MKZ can be fitted with a Convenience package that will add ambient lighting, “smart” power mirrors, a power leather-wrapped steering wheel with memory settings, voice-activated navigation, a power soft-close trunk, a 110-volt power outlet, and two additional rear charging USB ports. For the Reserve trim, an Elements package will add heated and ventilated front seats, as well as a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. A Luxury package will add LED headlamps, multi-contour front seats, and an upgraded, 20-speaker stereo. The Monochromatic package will add black, 19-inch wheels and a black-painted grille. And finally, the Magnetic package can be added to Reserve trims with the V6, and that will get you a painted grille and unique 19-inch, machine-faced alloy wheels that can also be ordered as a standalone option.

Whether the MKZ will stick around is still up in the air, but for now it represents a solid and often overlooked entrant in the luxury sedan category.