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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  Best car ever - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By Ronnie Stripp - June 19 - 10:00 am

  My Lincoln is the best car I have ever driven. Its fun to drive, responsive and a beautiful design. I recommnd this car to anyone who can afford to buy it.

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  Disappointed Owner - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By FormerLincolnLover - June 19 - 10:00 am

  Almost every item listed in tech bulletins applies to this vehicle. Frequent chimes with no read out, automatic windshield washer functions according to the mood of the car, sometimes comes on on a bright sunny day for a couple of swipes, frequently needs a boost to begin operation in the rain. Engine light, check Advance Trac and Cabin Filter lights often show, moisture in headlights. Re-setting a computer seems to be the standard answer. Steering column assembly had to be replaced because of worn bearings. One sway bar broken, other replaced because of excessive wear of bolts. Trunk lid and left rear door were out of line. Because of this auto has only 18000 miles.

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  2006 Licoln LS, Great Buy ! - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By Fatboy1904 - June 10 - 3:30 pm

  This car replaces my 2001 LS V8. I love it. Cant believe I waited to trade up my other LS, as it had almost 108K on it. It is a true shame that Lincoln decided to discontinue this car. For the price, this car blows away 3&5 Series BMW, Lexus, Acura and all the others. Everyone who rides in this car cant believe it is a Lincoln and finds the complete luxury experience that you would expect from higher end vehicles. I bought the Elite Package with power everything, heated front & REAR seats, THX audio with Navigation, HID lights etc. The engine is smooth and quiet, not to mention 280 hp is more than enough to get in trouble. The car by far out handles most cars of this weight and class.

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  Sports Sedan - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Jiggs - May 28 - 7:10 pm

  What a great sedan! Its good looking, well built, handles like a BMW and is surprisingly affordable. Why Lincoln didnt just continue to improve and fine tune it instead of stopping production in 2006 is beyond me.

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  They STILL dont believe its a Lincoln! - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By Stan The Man - May 22 - 2:00 am

  Actually, Ive had my 2000 LS since 7/00 and have had no problems. A lot of great options for the money. Ive driven in all types of weather and this (rear wheel drive) car is very sure footed. Handles like no other car Ive ever driven! (Mercedes E320, Caddy Deville) Even now, they ask me what kind of car it is. Wouldnt want to own anything else!

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  A hidden jaguar - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By roman_capps - May 19 - 5:38 pm

  A great friend of mine has a 2002 Lincoln LS but the engine is the 4.0 jag engine which isnt compatible with the transmission which holds up surprisingly. The person before us was a complete idiot of putting a jag engine in it. But it is B-E-A utiful it rides like a calm sea current they interior is greatly put together some cracks in the seats and window controls blemishes it. I have never , never have found such beauty in a car much rather something built by ford. I automatically feel in love with it when I drove even though it was stuck in over drive 1. lovely just lovely, but always get a car fax report when making a used car purchase you may never know what you find !

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  Appealing to the eye - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By tonyat - May 4 - 3:40 pm

  I purchased my car 2 months ago with 80,000 miles on it. The day after I got it, it wouldnt crank. I thought it was the battery. I got a jump and it worked with no problem. It did the same thing the very next day. I tried to get a jump but it wouldnt start. Found out the alternator was bad. I got that fixed. So now Im noticing that sometimes when I put in in drive, it takes a while to shift and move. I dont know whats going on. I dont know anything about cars but that seems like something dealing with the transmission. After reading some of the other reviews, Im starting to get worried.

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  What an incredible car !!! - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By JoeL - April 30 - 2:00 am

  This car was made for me. It has every possible feature and gadget that Id ever wanted and its just the right size, big trunk, seats four, folding seats, and an near perfect safety record. But its real strength is its handling and performance. Plenty of power (especially at highway speeds) and very controllable, neutral handling. Nothing upsets this car. The 2003s upgrades read like a list of the items that I wanted addressed when I drove the 2001. Lincoln has really created a great car.

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  A great car made even better. - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By mrgdr - April 30 - 2:00 am

  This is my second LS. I also own a 2000 LS V8 Sport. Lincoln engineers have made a great handling vehicle even better by improving the NVH properties of the 2003 model without sacrificing the solid, razor -sharp feel of this car. Most people dont appreciate the superior properties of the platform the LS is built on. I have every confidence that my 2003 LS will be as dependable and thrilling to drive as my 2000 has been.

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  The encore is even better - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By jjmatt - April 30 - 2:00 am

  Just traded my 2000 LS Sport for a 2003. As much as I loved the original, it had its small but undeniable flaws (storage space, transmission minor hesitation). All these seem to have been addressed, and added more power to boot !! They listedned to their customers and have a real winner!!