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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  goodness - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By car salesmen - December 13 - 10:00 am

  this is a very finely built vehicle.

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  FANTASTIC - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By LS1 - December 2 - 10:00 am

  BEST CAR IN ITS CLASS

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  ls review - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By gphd - December 1 - 2:00 am

  The body hides the hidden power in this vehicle, when you pounch on the accelerator it gives a little rumble sound like youre driving a nascar, great to have an american car with a suspension that when making turns at any speed will give you the control to compliment the power.

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  2000 Lincoln LS - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By LsReeks - November 16 - 7:16 am

  The only thing this car has is that its prety. Its a nice eye candy. The problem comes from fords quality/design , or lack there of. The transmission went out on me. I had to replace a simple air/breathing hose, which resides under the intake manifold and the fuel injectors. A 99 cent hose cost me 1700$ in labor. To do any type of maintenance, the intake manifold had to be removed because it was layed on the very top. That meant many hrs in labor, no matter what the fix was. Oh, the brake system and suspension was bad as well. Spent much $. Interior had many problems as well. I never thought Id say this, but because of this car, Ive boycotted Ford.

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  Lincolns little known wonder - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By jerrym3 - November 8 - 11:13 am

  I have a 2003 TBird, and the LS is my wifes car. Except for the TBird being an attention getter/convertible, Id rather drive the LS. Since they share engines/trans, straight line acceleration is the same, but once you start hitting road bumps and taking sharp turns, the LS is the easy winner. Anyone looking for a Sports Sedan that doesnt give this car a shot is being foolish. With the folding seats, plenty of trunk space (got three 17" wheels/tires in the car). Seats are comfortable, fit finish are great (ash tray is out of line, but Ill get that fixed by the dealer). Because of the TBird, I wasnt shocked by the way this car accelerates, but you may be. Styling will never get old.

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  Daughters car - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By unhappy father - November 3 - 1:13 am

  My early-twenties daughter bought a 2000 LS8 with 121K last fall (2007). I was about to deploy with the reserves, so did not pay as much attention to her purchase as I normally would. CEL went on during her drive home from dealership, they replaced O2 sensor at their cost, CEL still came on, they did some repairs costing us $1400, car has same problems, surging and CEL on; now it has a coolant leak so she is driving my car until I come back this fall. I am not happy with the car or the dealerships treatment of a first-time car buyer...they should have known that this car is expensive to maintain. I would not recommend this vehicle to anyone, especially if it has higher mileage.

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  LS#2 - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By bob metler - October 31 - 10:00 am

  Very good ride & handling.Great heated&cooled seats.Should have MXV4+ 235/55/17 tires and LED tail lites.Drive by wire could be a problem.Window up and down buttons are a pain and should be the same as the 2000 model.Excellent paint job.

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  I think my next car is German - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By Craig VonStraten - October 22 - 8:23 am

  I love this car to tell you the truth, but Im going to be forced to buy a German vehicle next (maybe Audi or MB). Its overpriced, there are more features on a M-Benz C230 Sport Sedan than on this vehicle. Not so impressed with leather. Pretty nice handling. Ive also noticed that D Waters is right! My LS Doesnt only blow dust in from the back rows, but from the front rows as well. It might attract more business if its called a V6, cause no one really wants a very weak V8, they want a Powerful V6. Luxury options are too pricy, and I might say the exterior is, well, ugly. However, the Interior is pretty nice. On an overall, I would recommend a BMW 330i or a MB C280 or Audi A4.

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  LS V6 Sport w/ Manual Trans - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By Storm33 - October 19 - 2:00 am

  I have been very impressed with the LS. I have owned Japanese & German sports cars in the past, and wanted something sporty AND classy - so I decided to try some Detroit steel for a change. Couldnt afford a V8, so I opted for the V6 w/5-spd manual, which helps in the performance area. This car handles better than the VW GTI VR6 and the Nissan 300 I owned! The LS corners like its on rails, and the AdvanceTrac system is fantastic when you push it too far in a corner. I have driven a 530i since I owned my LS, and I definitely prefer the Lincoln. My next car will be the V8 Sport version, though.

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  disapointment - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By jonny blazer - October 17 - 10:00 am

  when i first bought this car, i thought its was an amazing car, but as time wore on, so did the quality and transmission. the LS had very little reliability, ihad to return my car to the daleship for repairs about six times- about three times to fix the ac, once for stuck windows, once for broken interior locks, and another time for engine problems. as a driver, i amvery disapointed in the build and quality of this car.