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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  Broken Wings - 2017 Lincoln Continental
  By K. OBrien - June 9 - 12:42 am

  While the company raves about the position seating, intense instruction on the "key fobs" and how to position the seat without damaging the "wings" of the driver seat should be given. Beginning on the first day of ownership figuring out all the "new features" seat positioning has been difficult. The information that the seat will only reposition back 2" when the car was turned off, was never mentioned; making it difficult enough to enter the seat the next time causing the wing to pull away from the plastic base to which it was secured. Car has been in service department twice in 6 months and with the car being so new, there are no replacement parts.

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  Excellent Value - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By bluestreak2 - May 15 - 8:26 am

  I bought a 1999 from an elderly woman a couple years ago with 40,000 miles on it and have only put $800. dollars into it after 50,000 miles for new Michelins and rotors and pads. Minor glitches I have fixed myself, but no cronic problems. The car now has almost 90,000 miles on it. Am trying to find another one with the center console shifter and a 2002 model.

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  Owner - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By Letitia - May 6 - 2:03 am

  This is the best auto I have ever had in my long lifetime! There are just two suggestions for improvement: 1. the placement of the speedometer is not visabble enough. 2. the headrest is not placed right I owned a Lincoln Town Car prior to this car and of course, the ride is not as comfortable as the Town Car

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  nice car - 2000 Lincoln Continental
  By 1 van go - April 19 - 2:00 am

  great style,powerful engine,lots of room. nice to have those side airbags just in case.I still have my 1994 cont. The 2000 model is even better but I like the air shocks all around on the 1994 until I had to replace the rear ones at 130,000 miles.

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  1997 Lincoln Continental Base - 1997 Lincoln Continental
  By hmeister - April 18 - 4:33 am

  Bought with 37k miles and car was only driven 2800 miles per year. Florida car and I have driven 10k in the first year. Car has plenty of power and runs great on the 4.6L 32 valve. Transmission was changed out but sometimes hunts for the OD gear on highway. Tracking on car at highway speeds is wonderful. Assisted steering is great. No stress driving long miles on highway. 26MPG on highway and 19MPG around town. Ride comfort is 10 out of 10. I changed out the original tires as they were dry rotted and replaced with Michlin MXV4 - drives even better! 13 year old car and very little so far for issues. Tie rods are dry and will be replaced soon. Very common on this car.

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  Good used car - 1997 Lincoln Continental
  By Otis Campbell - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car when it was 2 years old for 20K. Had 2 years left on warranty, which I only used to have the rearview mirror replaced (seems to be a chronic problem with these cars). Car has been reliable, gets up and goes, and gets good mileage considering the size and power. Its a geezer car, but I dont care

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  faiths continental - 2000 Lincoln Continental
  By Faith - March 25 - 7:50 am

  This is a beautiful car. It is silver with a navy cloth top and gray interior. It has all the extras avilable including a five disk cd player. This car was pampered, always garage kept.

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  Hot Rod Lincoln - 2001 Lincoln Continental
  By Dr. Detroit - March 24 - 1:33 pm

  I bought this black over grey fully loaded Continental after driving a Park Avenue Ultra, Cadilac Seville, and Chrysler 300. This car was just plain faster and handled better. Itll run rock solid at 80 mph and still get 25 mpg. The user adjustable air-suspension and steering are valuable because you can get very good ride control. It wont float, bounce, or lean at speed. The engine is red-lined at 6,500 rpm and itll run that fast. Low-end torque, say below 1,500 to 1,800 rpm, is somewhat slight; so, if you are used to a standard normal V8 then youre gonna have to goose it a bit more than usual off the line. But, after that just hold on.

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  7 year owner of 1998 Continental - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By BILL HOWARD - March 8 - 3:03 am

  Had real problems with this car when I first bought it. Had to have it towed into the dealership 3 times, and their final answer was that I had had fuel pump problems. Also had a clicking sound at that right left front side of the car and they determined that a ball joint was cracked. Havent had any trouble along those lines since. My only complaint now is that the right front suspension is making a grunting sound that I notice when driving into the garage and also when driving slow and going over uneven road surfaces.

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  My Continental CE - 2002 Lincoln Continental
  By Robs - CE - February 10 - 10:00 am

  At first I was a little unsure about the comfort of this car. However, the more I drive it the more it fits me. It took all of the first 100 miles for me to completly enjoy this car. The Continental drives with litte effort, the vehicle handles like a car built to be smaller and more nimble. It doesnt "float" like other full size cars I have driven, it has road feel and is a car for all roads. Lincoln should reconsider their dropping of this car. The style and ride are 5 STAR.