That may sound like faint praise, but it's a huge accomplishment, and it's thanks to the arrival of the MKZ midsize sedan and the MKX SUV.
In 1998, Lincoln was the best-selling luxury brand in the United States, cresting a wave of excitement that began with the debut of the Navigator SUV.
Lincoln was the hot brand, easily outselling BMW, Mercedes and Lexus.
Then the bottom fell out. Lincoln misfired with the 1999 introduction of its LS sport sedan, a good car that never found an audience. The brand then bailed on the car market, not introducing a meaningful new car until the 2007 MKZ.
Last year, BMW sold more than twice as many cars and trucks in the United States as Lincoln. Lexus outsold it nearly 3 to 1.
Lincoln's descent was as graceless as a drunk falling down a flight of stairs, with tumbles including the ill-advised Aviator midsize SUV and a nonsensical debate over whether to kill the brand's best-selling model, the Town Car.
Lincoln just regained its balance, thanks in no small part to the MKZ, an attractive and modern midsize sedan that can easily compete with cars such as the Acura TL, Lexus ES 350 and Volkswagen Passat.
Alongside the equally appealing MKX, the MKZ makes Lincoln a legitimate player in the luxury market, with a couple of good-looking models that offer excellent value, stylish interiors and appealing features.
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