2013’s The Bad 8 – Lincoln MKS

Originally, the Lincoln MKS had but one stylistic fault. And that’s where this story gets really bizarre. Lincoln’s designers took that one fault, the MKS’s ungainly schnoz, and enhanced it. No, enhanced is the wrong word. 

Lincoln amplified it. Exaggerated it. Embellished it. They took an ugly Santa Claus sweater and ironed on snowman appliques.

It’s established then. The Lincoln MKS only looks good in the dark. 

The MKS has other problems, though. It’s big inside, yes, but it’s huge outside. The gargantuan exterior doesn’t pay off inside to the degree you’d expect. With just two extra inches of length, the Mercedes-Benz S350 BlueTec has 18% more interior passenger volume. 

The 365-horsepower EcoBoost six-cylinder is only as eco-friendly as the 402-horsepower V8 in the Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic.

The Lincoln MKS is far from pretty. Sadly, it’s not as roomy as it could be, not as powerful as it should be, and not as fuel efficient as they lead us to believe it might be.

Alternatives: Like big American cars? Why not drive the Chrysler 300C? Like big luxury cars? You should consider the Audi A6. Like Lincolns? The new MKZ is unusual, but its retractable roof is cool.

Base USD/CAD Price: $42,810 / $47,700 

It Sucks, But… You could get the very similar but much better-looking Ford Taurus SHO for $39,200.

Sales Stats: Canadians don’t know the MKS exists. In the U.S., the MKS sold just once for every 3.6 Cadillac XTS sedans in October.

Kia Rio 5-Door – Fiat 500 Turbo – Volkswagen Golf GTI
Jeep Wrangler Unlimited – Dodge Ram – BMW 328i
Ford F-150 SVT Raptor – Chevrolet Suburban –
Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Wagon – Porsche Boxster S – 
Porsche Cayenne S – Land Rover Range Rover

The Bad 8

Chevrolet Spark – Chrysler 200 Convertible –
Ford Escape Titanium AWD – Honda Crosstour – 
Lincoln MKS – Nissan Versa Sedan –
Toyota Corolla CE – Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid

The Bad 8 Rules