2018 Lincoln MKZ Premiere

The MKZ is Lincoln's mid-size sedan, a more distinctive take on the Ford Fusion underneath, and it's the model that helped the brand feel modern again. It's tuned for smooth, quiet cruising rather than sporty responses, so the steering feels a bit relaxed, but the ride is genuinely comfortable for long trips. The cabin looks sharp with its push-button gear selector and sweeping dash, though some plastics feel a bit cheap for the price, and rear headroom is tight for taller passengers. You get a big touchscreen with Lincoln's Sync 3 system, which is far easier to use than the older MyLincoln Touch, plus standard driver aids like blind-spot monitoring. Choosing the Premiere over the Select means giving up a few luxuries like heated seats and a premium sound system, but you keep the same 245 horsepower engine and save a couple thousand dollars. This Premiere pairs the 2.0L I4 with all-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic, and it returns 23 mpg combined. The Premiere's standard 17-inch wheels and cloth seats keep things simple, so if you want leather, you'll need to step up to the Select.