Amazing how different people feel or hear different things right? I have been test driving both the FFH and the MKZ hybrids and trying to make this decision myself; I am coming from a 1996 Lexus LS400. Sound System: The THX in the MKZ is much much better than the Sony in the FFH in regards to actual sound and how "clean" it sounds. While the FFH was very boomy the mids/highs sounded very muffled no matter how i adjusted the settings on the stereo. It was immediately noticeable to me when i got back in my 15 year old Lexus that my standard system sounded better :-\ than the Sony in the FFH. The MKZ had a much higher premium sound to it especially as you turned it up and the bass wasn't as overwhelming. Also, typically this is kind of how better sound systems goes....worse sounding systems tend to over compensate with boomy bass to make you not notice the dirty highs. However maybe i am just picky because jrwinsurance didn't notice. Interior: This is hard to describe, it isn't that the MKZ is leaps and bounds better than the FFH but it's enough to make you kind of go "aaahhh this is nice." The best way to describe it is with my current cars, as mentioned i have a LS400 and my fiance has a Camry. Both are nice cars but when either of us go from the LS400 to the Camry you can just tell and feel it isn't as nice; even if it is just purely mental and a shallow feeling you can't deny that it's there. Also it's the simple touches (note i'm comparing with fully spec'd out MKZ). For instance how clean and neatly laid out the controls are versus the FFH, the MKZ seems more organized and because they have plenty of material around the controls with the NAV screen up higher it gives the illusion of more room where as in the FFH i felt everything was too close together and not as ergonomic and cramped. Speaking of NAV, it's simply at a higher position and is better for glancing at; this might effect glare slightly but i'd rather glance to the right than glance right AND down. Added to the previous you get memory seating which is great since both my Fiance and I both drive my current Lexus a lot more than her Camry (probably would carryover with FFH or MKZ since it is hybrid and we live in the city) and it's nice to not have to find your best spot every time. Also with the MKZ you get cooled seats along with the heated which you wouldn't think is a big deal until you have a car with leather interior in the summer and the sun is beating down on it and you sit down and it's so hot it actually stings a bit. I have a friend with a M45 with heated/cooled seats and the cooling really helps with your overall comfort. Last, in regards to sound it is definitely quieter than the FFH. I have read that the MKZ has more sound deadening material to keep it quieter and i would attest to that, one of the ways you can tell is when you go over bumpy roads. Typically the sound from the suspension travels much further than simple road noise and i heard less of it in the MKZ than in the Fusion. When comparing road noise it isn't that big of a difference but when louder noises are introduced (as i said bumpy roads are good to test it on) you can tell the difference. Maybe my ears are just more sensitive since i'm used to how quiet my LS400 is but i could tell. Ride/Feel: This is very subtle but again it's there, the MKZ is definitely damped softer (which probably also helps with the lower interior noise as i noted above). However with this softer dampening the trade off is typically the overall handling isn't as tight and this was evident in my road test. I found some short radius turns and took them at a speed that would test this and also a by product is you get to test the body roll and it was evident the MKZ had a softer feel in the turn and more body roll than the FFH did. Again all of these things are subtle and maybe i'm more sensitive because i've grown up in cushy cars (note i've also owned a few street/strip cars so i know over sprung cars too): i own a LS400, my dad has been a chauffeur his whole life so i've been in town cars and limos for the majority of my youth and even got a 95 town car as a hand me down years ago (side note best motor ford every built, original motor had 340,000 miles on it when i sold it and while it went through about a quart of oil a month it will was only like 1 or 2 less MPG than what the EPA rated and was the comfiest ride i ever had). Other noticeable differences (superficial or not) that i found: -Adaptive HID lighting vs. normal halogen, really no argument here except that HID repair is ridiculous if it ever happens not under warranty. Also don't say you can install HID's on the FFH. You are only installing bulbs and it isn't the same as you are introducing a ton of glare on oncoming traffic since you have a lens that is designed for halogen. While it "works" it really isn't optimal at all. -Chrome wheels look really nice against all the paint jobs except the blue/red imo versus the brushed look on the FFH which can be rectified on the FFH but that is more cost. -stigma: no doubt about it that Lincoln is looked at more of a premium purchase over a normal Ford especially in the business world where some of that still counts. Now obviously it isn't a European ride (BMW,Benz, Audi) but it carries a bit more weight than just a Ford. Plus the MKZ reminds me of the older Lincoln LS sedan which was aimed at the younger professional segment. This does apply to me as i work in corporate finance. -exterior styling, flip a coin on whether you like the MKZ or the FFH better. Both are nice imo. I have been doing a ton of research and have extensively test driven both cars which you can probably tell by my lengthy post but i hoped i have helped some other people who are comparing these two cars. I tried to cover all the main differences i could find and even after all the above even i still don't know if i can justify the price premium since i can find a used 2010 fully loaded with ~ 20k miles for about $25-$27k versus $40k for a fully loaded MKZ but it is brand new. It's even difficult for me to justify an additional $13-$15k for it all or if you are comparing 2011 FFH vs 2011 MKZ (fully loaded) it's less probably in the $5-$7k range. If anyone has any questions for me feel free to ask. Thanks EDIT: One thing i just remembered: I am extremely disappointed that Lincoln didn't AT LEAST put in a power steering column instead of simply using the manually adjusted tilt/telescoping of the FFH. If i was in charge at lincoln whoever left this out and/or didn't think to add it should be fired immediately. This is one of the nicest features of owning a luxury vehicle because this also goes into memory for different drivers and it also adds to the entry/exit of the vehicle. For God's sake my 15 year old Lexus has one and while i haven't test drove the Lexus 250H i would bet it has a powered tilt/telescoping. This was a BIG MISS in my opinion.
