Overview & Reviews

When the Lincoln LS was first introduced, it was heralded as the domestic answer to the premium midsize sedans from Europe's luxury brands. At the time, the rear-drive LS had the look and the technology to compete with Europe's best in a way few American cars could. Early reviews pegged it as a 10 in terms of fun to drive, and some described it as a car that offered the roominess of a BMW 5 Series at the price of a 3 Series.

The LS had the option of a V6 or V8 and, thanks to its rear-wheel-drive configuration and well-tuned suspension, was reasonably entertaining on a back road. But as good as the LS seemed initially, the car became less appealing over the years as the ranks of newer, more competent and more luxurious entry-luxury sedans grew. With sales slowing, Lincoln discontinued the LS after the 2006 model year.

Though lacking a little in terms of prestige and refinement, the Lincoln LS is still a respectable choice for a used luxury sedan with sporting tendencies. Its pricing is lower than many competing models, and maintenance costs should also be slightly lower than those of some European cars, but don't expect the LS to be as trouble-free as its competitors from Japan.

Most Recent Lincoln LS

A midsize entry-luxury sedan, the Lincoln LS was produced for the 2000-'06 model years. Originally, the LS was available in just two trim levels differentiated by the engine equipped. The Lincoln LS V8 came with a 252-horsepower, 3.9-liter engine that moved the sedan from zero to 60 in 7.5 seconds. A five-speed automatic transmission was standard.

The less expensive choice was the LS V6. Its 3.0-liter engine provided just 210 hp but slightly better fuel economy. For this engine, Lincoln initially offered either a five-speed manual transmission or a five-speed automatic.

Standard features for both cars included dual-zone automatic climate control, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, alloy wheels, foglights and ABS. However, a few upscale items, such as a navigation system, weren't initially offered.

At the time, we found that V8 versions of the Lincoln LS delivered smooth and acceptable acceleration. The ride was comfortable and compliant, and the LS was at its best when being used as a touring sedan rather than an all-out sport sedan. Notably, it was roomy enough to provide comfortable quarters for four adults. The interior materials were lacking in terms of quality, though, and storage space was minimal in the cabin.

Early models had automatic transmission problems, so it might be wise to avoid them on the used market. Even when that issue was addressed by Lincoln, shifts from the automatic were not exactly smooth and many customers still complained. For this reason, we'd advise any prospective LS buyer to do a thorough test-drive before making a purchase.

For 2003, Lincoln did its first major update on its midsize luxury sedan. Output for the V8 was raised to 280 hp, and the V6 added 12 hp for a total of 222. The five-speed manual that was available with the V6 was dropped due to lack of consumer interest.

Other changes that year included retuned steering (resulting in better feel), a retuned suspension (resulting in a slightly softer ride) and improved interior materials and storage. New features were also added, such as a navigation system, side curtain airbags and a THX sound system. To make the most of your used-car dollar, we suggest looking at 2003 or newer LS models.

A few other changes occurred before the Lincoln LS was discontinued. Satellite radio was added as a dealer-installed option for 2004, and Lincoln made additional improvements to the automatic transmission to improve shift quality. For the final year, the V6 version was dropped from the LS lineup.

User Reviews:

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  My 2nd LS - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By Aaron - February 4 - 5:50 pm

  I recently purchased a 2006 LS Ultimate. This is my second LS. I had previously owned a 2002 LS V8 Sport. We were so impressed with it that when looking to refresh our car this year, we considered only the LS. We decided to purchase new because the Ford Family pricing (in Canada) and other incentives brought the price in line with what we wanted to spend. I love this car. However, I dont love everything about it. The rear seat leg room is poor. The fuel economy is merely acceptable, but the Premium (91+) requirement means spending even more on gas. The interior is beautiful, with real wood trim and premium leather. Power adjustable everything with memory is great with two drivers.

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  sweet ride - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By james - February 4 - 1:46 pm

  this is by far the best vehicle i have been in since well ever. The only thing I dont like is the gas mileage is not as good as our last car, however our old mercury could never do half of what this lincoln can. the epa number is to low we get 19-20 around town and 29-30 on the freeway. our mercury mystique got 33

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  Enjoyed this car! - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Pete Shemetulskis - January 30 - 1:10 am

  Other than the transmission which I have found to be a problem for Lincolns, unless the fluid is changed early, this car has been a very good addition to my family. I would highly recommend owning one.

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  I love my towncar - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Pasquale - January 25 - 10:30 pm

  I have owned 3 Lincoln Towncars since 1990 and I have loved them all. The ride is as good as any and the value is great when you compare the price of a Linclon ($30,000) to a Lexus, BMW, Mercedes, etc... ($50,000-85,000). OK you get the prestige and one-upmanship with those foreign nameplates but personally I would rather drive a Lincoln and pocket the difference in cash, but then I am just an average middleclass American.

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  Fits Me - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By Good Looking - January 12 - 3:20 pm

  I have had my LS since April of 06. Bought it brand spanking new. I traded my Mercury Mountaineer for it because I wanted a car something sporty for a 40+ yr old female, good looking. It growled at me at the dealership showroom. The performance is excellent. It will git up an go. The color, Silver/Platinum nice. Now, the only problem I have is the rumbling noise in the dash. Supposedly it is coming from air in the heater line?

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  Fasle Expectations - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Mark - January 8 - 9:36 pm

  This car rode great for the first year of ownership, after that, things started falling apart. Took it to the dealer twice for transmission problems. I have replaced the tires twice to reduce road noise and interior noise from the engine is bad. Scheduled maintenance on this car is expensive, interior materials like imitation wood trim and vinyl are of the lowest quality and I cant wait to get out of it. I expected better quality from Lincoln.

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  Sassy Car - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By Heltonkj - January 7 - 2:00 am

  Great car, I purchased a black on black and get tons of comments on the car-all positive. I love driving the car and it handles well; except it is missing front wheel drive and unfortunately I purchased the car on a winter that we received 12 plus inches of snow in one day and it does not handle well at all compared to the Taurus that I had in snow. It actually did well up to 6 inches of snow tho. The car runs so quiet folks dont even know that the engine is running.

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  Happy for 3 years - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By mdsamitchell - December 14 - 10:00 am

  First time in this catagory of vehicle and first Lincoln (now have an Aviator). Bought for the price in catagory and like made in USA. 38000 trouble-free miles.

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  MY LINCOLN LS V8 - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By ED EBERT - December 2 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE MY 2003 LS, IT HANDLES GREAT, ITS QUICK AND THE BRAKES ARE INCREDIBLE. THE ADVANCED TRACTION CONTROL IS A MUST. YOU CAN NOT SPIN OUT IN THE RAIN NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY. THE INTERIOR IS VERY COMFORTABLE AND HAS EASE OF CONTROLS.

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  Fabulous Vehicle - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By hhornstrom - November 26 - 2:00 am

  I love my 2004 Lincoln LS. Great handling, fabulous ride. Try it, you will fall in love with the quality of this vehicle for a much more reasonable price than other comparable luxury cars.