It is in the area of chassis dynamics that the MKS comes up short. Veering off the interstate onto lesser, winding country roads, this Lincoln is decidedly un-entertaining. Driving over undulations at speed, the ride control was generally good, though occasionally the MKS exhibited the barest beginnings of floatiness.
When navigating bends in the road, the MKS seems to caution the driver to slow down. It is out of its element. The steering effort of the MKS is remarkably firm, which in most sport-sedan cases implies an enthusiast character. With the MKS, however, road feel communicated through this firm steering in curving terrain is muted, almost non-existent. And the ride motions of the car are stubborn and somewhat lurching, yielding little road information or driving pleasure. This is not to say that the MKS is in any way hazardous. On a curvy road, its chassis is simply not much fun to drive.
The brakes worked very well. Like many another car in its class, at 4127 pounds (with front-wheel drive) the MKS is a heavy car, but the big four-wheel disc brakes, augmented with ABS, traction control and electronic stability control, are more than up to the task. The problem is that, unlike many in its class, the MKS really feels heavy. Comparing its chassis dynamics to the Cadillac STS, no lightweight itself, the Cadillac feels like a Porsche. Next Page