Overview & Reviews

The earliest Lincoln Continental was the automotive equivalent of Catherine Zeta-Jones -- it ought to have come with a warning label that read "May Cause Shortness of Breath." Based on the Lincoln Zephyr, the Continental got its start as a one-off drop top commissioned by Edsel Ford in the late 1930s. Serving as his vehicle of choice during his annual jaunts to Palm Beach, the car's exquisite shape generated so much buzz that Lincoln decided to put the Continental into production. Available as both a cabriolet and a coupe, the Continental debuted in 1940.

World War II and other events resulted in stops and starts in the car's production over the next decade or so, but by the mid-'50s, the Continental was back -- this time as its own brand. That arrangement didn't last (the Continental brand was folded back into the Lincoln marque in 1957), but the Continental did. For more than two decades, it served as Lincoln's flagship model.

As a recipe for ailing sales, the Lincoln Continental was redesigned in 1961. Now available as either a sedan or a four-door convertible (the nation's first in more than a decade) it was hailed for its clean good looks and winning performance. That era's photogenic First Family was often snapped riding in the Continental; it came to be known as the "Kennedy Lincoln" and enjoyed a wave of popularity. Another redesign took place for 1966 and again in 1970, which left the Continental with a blocky, more formal look (highlighted by hidden headlamps and a larger grille) and a coil-link rear suspension.

Fuel economy and emissions regulations forced Lincoln's hand, and the Continental was given makeovers in 1980 and '82. The car rode on a much shorter wheelbase, and offered improved gas mileage. In 1988, the car was given a new platform -- one shared by the midsize Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. This Continental was the first Lincoln to offer front-wheel drive and a fully independent suspension.

Unfortunately, this move to front-wheel drive eventually doomed the Lincoln Continental as it progressed through the end of the 20th century. Late-model Continentals didn't exactly crackle with the same desirability as that very first model, as consumer tastes had moved away from the soft-riding big-car brand of luxury that was the Continental's stock in trade. Even more notably, foreign rivals such as BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz had eclipsed the car in performance and refinement and had become top choices for shoppers in this segment. Dogged by weak sales, Lincoln's big sedan was retired in 2002.

Most Recent Lincoln Continental

The most recent generation of the Lincoln Continental luxury sedan got its start in 1995. This version distinguished itself from its predecessor with a sleeker, more upscale exterior designed to shed some of the sedan's stodginess and attract younger buyers. Other changes included a new suspension and a more powerful 4.6-liter V8 engine.

Sometimes luxury meant not having to worry about petty details, like, say, selecting a trim level for your mansion-on-wheels. Lincoln kept things easy for buyers by offering the Continental in just one trim level, which came with standard features like keyless entry, leather upholstery, full power accessories and an AM/FM/cassette audio system. The options list allowed drivers to raise the level of coddling with features like Alpine audio, heated seats, auxiliary steering-wheel audio controls, a CD changer and a power sunroof.

Literally keeping up with the Joneses wasn't a problem, thanks to the Lincoln's capable engine -- its 4.6-liter V8 brimmed with 260 horsepower and 265 pound-feet of torque. Sending this power to the front wheels was a four-speed automatic transmission. The Lincoln Continental also featured an air-spring suspension and an available Driver Select System that came with variable-rate steering assist and electronically adjustable shock absorbers that could be set for plush, normal or firm ride control. The air springs are known to wear out, so pay particular attention to the car's suspension during inspection.

Lincoln gave the Continental a few useful tweaks during these years. A 1998 refresh gave the luxury sedan a more streamlined look, with smoother lines, wraparound headlights and a new grille. This refresh also gave the Continental a nicer cabin, set off by elegant bird's eye maple wood trim. Audiophiles should choose models made in 1999 or later, since these Continentals were endowed with an improved sound system. The V8's output also increased slightly this year to 275 hp and 275 lb-ft of torque.

Safety took a step up in 2000, when Lincoln's sedan gained standard side airbags, along with an emergency trunk release and child-seat anchor brackets. In 2002, its final year, the Continental got an optional (and now defunct) Vehicle Communications System that included hands-free cell phone communication.

Our editors appreciated the fact that this Lincoln offered a wealth of gadgets and features to use and enjoy. Strong acceleration was another impressive point. Still, this big car had its flaws. In reviews of the Lincoln Continental, we criticized its lack of maneuverability and dearth of interior storage. The sedan's gravest shortcoming, though, was its lack of refinement relative to its competitors. Though the Continental was perfectly adequate, cars in this price range from Germany and Japan offered a driving and ownership experience that was more polished and engaging.

Past Lincoln Continental Models

The previous-generation Continental ran from 1988-'94. The car was less grand than later-model Continentals -- not surprising, since it shared some design cues with its platform-mate, the humble Ford Taurus. As this generation drew to a close, power was provided by a 3.8-liter V6 good for 160 hp and 225 lb-ft of torque, with two trim levels being offered -- the Executive and the top-of-the-line Signature. Those looking for trademark Continental opulence are advised to skip this model for more recent versions of the sedan.

User Reviews:

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  great alternative to Taurus - 1997 Lincoln Continental
  By km - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Bought it at half price (got to love that depreciation.) Very comfortable and I absolutely love the exterior design. It has great acceleration with the V8, and youre doing 80 before you know it. I get about 24 mpg on the highway, about 20 in the city. Auto-dimming rearview mirror had to be repaired at 54000. Wrecked it shortly thereafter, both airbags deployed and worked fine. Dashboard designed to deploy airbags without self-destructing, which would have totaled it out. Replaced steering pump 1 yr later (under ext. warranty) but this may have been damaged in the wreck. I love this car, even though Im 32, and will buy another Lincoln, but will get a good 3rd party ext. warranty.

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  Still Going Strong! - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By bigB - October 9 - 10:00 pm

  I bought this car when it was ten years old and had 86000 miles on it. I must say I wasnt looking for a Lincoln, but it was sitting next to the car I was looking at, and after checking it out on Edmunds, went back to test drive it. Wow, what a car! 21 mpg in town, and 25 on hwy! Had to have the rear air suspension R&R and went with a retro fit set of springs which the local ford dealer installed after I purchased them online. One of the best cars Ive owned.

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  Satisfied Comsumer - 2002 Lincoln Continental
  By louis stoecklin - September 27 - 6:00 am

  This Lincoln has been a true pleasure to own and operate. I have owned this car since it was brand new from the Dealer to me. No major problems and no warranty issues at all. I went and had this car serviced as required and its performance was indeed a pleasure. Just before 100,000 miles I had services preformed and the dealer found items to replace under warranty and all were done at no cost to me, they even provided a loaner while work was done. This car again drives as new and all I had to do was replace the front tires. Rear tires have 100000 miles on them and are still going. Great investment and great car to own, to bad Ford discontinued the platform, its a great car.

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  Beautiful Car - 2001 Lincoln Continental
  By jack - July 30 - 10:56 am

  I totally love this car inside and out. I look around and this black and chrome machine is better looking than most new cars. I bought it used and it apparently had a significant accident front end so as the car got older. Some annoying things started to wrong. At 125k miles keyless entry stopped working, cruise control, and some interior lights. Then engine light came on. 2 misfiring cylinders. Now I have a periodic check transmission. Despite all this I attribute some of the problems to the accident before I owned it. And am seriously considering re investing to bring car back to 100%. The car is a great ride.

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  Too bad its discontinued - 2001 Lincoln Continental
  By Kvegas - June 28 - 2:20 am

  Nice powerful 275hp V8. Front drive is good in the snow. Average 19 mpg in mostly city driving (not bad for the way I drive). Very comfortable front heated seats are nice. Handles well. This is my 4th lincoln and my second Continental. I really like the car and my wife likes it too. She just got a 2002 Continental. I dont know what to get to replace this car. I usually trade after 3 years but I may keep this one longer since i dont really know what to get to replace it. My only complaint is with the chrome wheels, the chrome is peeling off the back.

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  A Great Ride! - 1997 Lincoln Continental
  By Mark McGee - April 29 - 10:03 pm

  The car has great performance, an excellent level of comfort with superb handling for a car of its size and weight.

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  Better Than Any Town Car - 2000 Lincoln Continental
  By JMARKV - April 26 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 2000 Continental in April of this year. Considering this vehicle is more than a foot shorter than the Town Car I traded in and a few inches less in width, the trunk is huge! Gas milage is better. Parking is easier, and the performance is outstanding. Ive had several people stop me in parking lots to admire my car and ask me questions about it. Ive had no problems with my Continental whatsoever.

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  Value of My Car - 2000 Lincoln Continental
  By Ann Taylor - March 23 - 11:26 pm

  The car has never needed any major repairs. Brakes one year old, new tires

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  Great Car - 2017 Lincoln Continental
  By Carlos - December 24 - 7:13 pm

  I just got the car from my dealer. First of all the Dealer experience was above the expected service. They delivered the car to me in a pristine conditions. Fit and Finish is great, the seats are out of this world, I had a Mercedes E350 and the comfort and ambience this Continental has is way above the Mercedes. The power of the engine and the way it is delivered to the 4 wheels. Its feel in a category above. The only thing I would criticize is the fuel economy, if you get to happy with the engine revs then the fuel economy goes down...sad because the engine is a silky machinery that calls to be pressed.

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  Love It - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By Brandi13 - December 17 - 10:00 am

  We love this vehicle. We use it as a family car and there is plenty of room for two children with lots of trunk space. Milage is good for a V8 at 22 miles per gallon. The vehicle handles great and runs great. Only thing that has needed to be done after 126000 miles was brakes and wheelbearings. Love the vehicle, hard to compare to others.