Cargo capacity is impressive at 521 liters. On the other hand, the front cupholders are too small to hold two medium-size coffees at the same time. The interior remains very quiet thanks to effective sound-deadening materials.

Other times, other customs
Not so long ago, anyone would have thought that the MKS was powered by a big, ferocious V8 that screams like hell as soon as you dip the throttle. Oh, how times have changed! The elegant hood of this modern-day Lincoln hides a 3.7-liter V6 engine producing a respectable 273 horsepower and 270 pounds-feet of torque. Until Ford introduces a high-performance EcoBoost variant of this mill, drivers will enjoy decent though not overly inspiring accelerations and a smooth, quiet operation

The elegant hood of this modern-day Lincoln hides a 3.7-liter V6 engine producing a respectable 273 horsepower.

Unfortunately, fuel economy is a tad disappointing, although it could have been worse. At the end of the week, my tester had averaged 13 liters per 100 kilometers.

The 6-speed automatic transmission with Select Shift turned out to be a good performer. Meanwhile, the suspension proved compliant, soaking up road anomalies with effectiveness. I found the steering to be precise in all situations, thereby improving handling. Furthermore, stability is commendable.

The brakes are not on par, though. The car felt heavy at times, a sign of the braking system's limited potential. Also affecting the driving experience is the limited rearward visibility: the substantial C-pillars create equally substantial blind spots.

What about the competition?
The all-wheel drive MKS ($47,799) marks the return of Lincoln in the entry-level luxury segment. Worthy competitors include the Saab 9-5 ($43,900), Acura TL SH-AWD (about $46,000), Lexus GS 350 ($51,000) and Volvo S80 T6 AWD ($56,495).

In the end, the new 2009 Lincoln MKS is designed for consumers seeking discreet, no-nonsense elegance. In other words, forget about extravagance. This car is about tastefulness and purposefulness. It's a grand touring sedan that loves to cruise -- just don't let your right foot get too carried away.


Photo Credit : Matthieu Lambert