2016 Lincoln MKZ

midsize luxury car / 4-door sedan

2016 Lincoln MKZ 4-door sedan

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Basic

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2013-16 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Ford Fusion SE 4-door

The Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ were redesigned for the 2013 model year. Beginning with 2013 Fusion models built after early December 2012, structural changes were made to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.) The tested Fusion and all 2013 MKZ models were built after the structural changes were in place.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side and leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and had sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects.

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained reasonably well.

The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but then slid off the left side. The side curtain airbag extended far enough forward toward the A-pillar to protect the head from contact with forward side structure.

Except for door hinge pillar deformation, intrusion into the driver's space was reasonably well controlled, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1236
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 16
Footrest (cm) 7
Left toepan (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 5
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 5
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 9
Upper dash (cm) 8
Lower instrument panel (cm) 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1236
Head
HIC-15 54
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 14
Femur (kN)
Left 1.2
Right 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 4
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.67
Right 0.44
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.3
Right 0.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 41
Right 27

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2013-16 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Ford Fusion SEL 4-door

The Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ were redesigned for the 2013 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a Fusion conducted by Ford.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1207
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4
Left (cm) 4
Center (cm) 3
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 6
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 3
Right (cm) 2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -1
Rearward (cm) -2
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 3

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1207
Head
HIC-15 127
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 20
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.6
Femur force - right (kN) 0.6
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.21
Maximum tibia index - right 0.39
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.0
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 39
Right 35

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2013-16 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Ford Fusion SEL 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front seat-mounted torso airbags

The Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ were redesigned for the 2013 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a Fusion conducted by Ford.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1212
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -12.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1212
Head HIC-15 365
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 40
Lateral force (kN) 1.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 33
Average deflection (mm) 30
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.15
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.33
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.0
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6
Combined force (kN) 3.5
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.5
L-M moment (Nm) 25
A-P moment (Nm) 69

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1212
Head HIC-15 153
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 38
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 35
Average deflection (mm) 24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.92
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.42
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.6
Acetabulum force (kN) 2.7
Combined force (kN) 3.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 21
A-P moment (Nm) 100

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2013-16 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Lincoln MKZ 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,864 lbs
Peak force17,357 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.49

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power Leather Seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power Leather Seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 15
Distance below top of head (mm) 30
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 16.1
Head contact time (ms) 52
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 524

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • All trims equipped with Technology package
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims equipped with Technology package
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 86.5 m None
Straightaway left edge 63.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 62.4 m 0.2%
250m radius left curve, left edge 51.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 125.0 m
Straightaway left edge 105.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 60.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.5 m

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED projector
Curve-adaptive?Yes
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type LED projector
Curve-adaptive? Yes
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2016 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 86.5 m None
Straightaway left edge 63.4 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 62.4 m 0.2%
250m radius left curve, left edge 51.6 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.4 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 44.1 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 125.0 m
Straightaway left edge 105.7 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 60.3 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 50.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.5 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional Collision Warning with Brake Support

Package name

  • Optional Reserve + Technology Package for 2014 Models
  • Optional Technology Package for 2015 to 2016 Models

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2014-16 models

Basic
Basic
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • Autobrake not available.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-20 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimbase/Premiere
Seat type leatherette

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimbase/Premiere
Seat type leatherette
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 23
Clearance angle (degrees) 65
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 22
Clearance angle (degrees) 63
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 6-8
Force (lbs) 33
Clearance angle (degrees) 61
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 6-8
Force (lbs) 21
Clearance angle (degrees) 64
Tether anchor
Location Rear deck
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation