Overview & Reviews

Lincoln is an automaker with a long history of building upscale vehicles for the American market. A division of Ford, Lincoln differentiates its vehicles through additional luxury features, more powerful engines and unique styling. The automaker's lineup includes cars, pickups and SUVs.

The company was established in 1917 by Henry Leland, an automotive parts manufacturer who had previously founded the Cadillac brand. He named the company after his boyhood hero: the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln. Early Lincoln models include the L Series and the K Series. The company quickly hit dire straits, however, and was bought by Ford Motor Company in 1922.

Lincoln had found its niche in the luxury-car segment by the 1930s, riding high with the likes of Cadillac as a purveyor of premium status-mobiles. The 1936 model year saw Lincoln's launch of the popular Zephyr. The car's name and styling were inspired by the sleek lines of the Burlington Zephyr, a diesel-powered express train that boasted record-setting speed. The car was a big hit for Lincoln; at one point, nearly 80 percent of all Lincolns sold were Zephyrs.

The '40s also saw the rise of the glamorous Continental. The vehicle's development was shepherded by Edsel Ford, son of Ford's founder Henry Ford. After World War II, Lincoln maintained its premium status with vehicles like the Mark II and the '60s-era Continentals, which gained fame through their "suicide-style" rear doors and use as U.S. presidential limousines. The Continental Mark III luxury coupe rolled out in 1968 and by the late '60s, more than 1 million Continentals had been built.

The 1970s saw the launch of the Mark IV as well as a new Lincoln, the Versailles. The Versailles was the first midsize sedan from the marque, and right from the start, it missed the mark with the public. The Versailles was based on the Ford Granada platform, and many blamed its failure on its obvious similarity to its less exclusive -- and less expensive -- twin.

In 1981, Lincoln released its now iconic Town Car, the full-size luxury sedan that has since served as the marque's flagship. Though its moniker had been used to designate trim levels in previous years, 1981 was the year in which the Town Car came into existence as an individual model. Lincoln also distinguished itself during these years as the first American car line to offer antilock braking. The Mark series continued to evolve, and shrunk down considerably with the debut of the Mark VI. That velvet-lined cruiser was followed mid-decade by the Mark VII, which was more European in nature and could even be powered by a BMW turbodiesel engine.

The '90s saw the debut of the Mark VIII, which featured a four-cam V8 and air suspension. By this time, sport-utility vehicles had emerged as a segment to be reckoned with, and Lincoln made the most of this trend by launching its very first SUV, the Ford Expedition-based Navigator, for 1998. Bedecked in chrome and fitted with plush leather and luxury features galore, the massive truck was a breakout hit.

The new millennium marked the debut of the Euro-flavored, midsize LS sedan that shared much of its platform with Jaguar's S-Type sedan. More recently, Lincoln has dropped the long-lived Town Car and updated its lineup with the MKS and MKZ sedans as well as the MKX crossover SUV in hopes of attracting a new generation of consumers. Some of its offerings fall short of the competition in areas such as performance and refinement. Still, the marque is a favorite of car buyers seeking a generous dose of all-American luxury.

User Reviews:

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  most disappointing new car i ever bought--- licoln not a luxury brand - 2017 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
  By joseph os - March 20 - 11:21 am

  terribly underpowered and cvt is anemic --hardly any passing gear--- loud hybrid engine noise just touching the accelerator--- very nice lighting and design details --- interior leather--ette is second class---I wrote clayton ford and mark fields, ceo--- promised rsvp that never came--non responsive and they brag about new luxury service-- downgraded engine and cvt-do thorough road and freeway test

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  Never again - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By Kcwayne - December 27 - 10:00 am

  I bought the 99 Lincoln new, and ownership has been a nightmare. I have had a bad alternator, a bad AC compressor, bad fuel pump, and a catastrophic failure of the rear suspension. Each visit to the shop was a multi-week excursion. It took the service department 5 weeks to figure out what was wrong with the fuel pump, and 3 visits to find out that the problem with the AC was the compressor. The transmission is acting like it is ready to go now. Thankfully, it is a lease, and Lincoln gets it back next week! I will NEVER, NEVER, NEVER buy a Lincoln product again.

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  Linclon - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By Darrin Davis - November 5 - 10:00 am

  I just bought a Linclon LS and a Linclon Towncar both for $77,000. The LS has a dream ride and a good reliability record but has sevral other problems. The car doesnt handle like my old LS or my old Toyota Avalon. My Towncar is even worse. It doesnt drive, is to big, and has already needded a new transmission after 2000 miles. By Toyota instead

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  Should have gotten an IMPORT! - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By AndyLuck - October 16 - 10:00 am

  the ls was nice when i 1st purchased it. smooth, classy & stylish. thats until a month later i had to take it to the shop and ever since. i been having to take it in every other month for a problem. it seems endless. worst yet, for some reason, no other auto machanic place will service the car. not even for breaks???? there is only one lincoln dealer in this city and they stink at the repairs. the problem comes back everytime. nothing gets fixed. this car is an american headache. get an import!

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  Not as good as it should be - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By slim - October 10 - 12:00 am

  Dealer was the best ive ever dealt with. The truck is beautiful (burgundy color) and gets lots of compliments. Air wouldnt blow cold at idle unless it was a overcast day and it had no power at all. Probally the weakest vehicle ive ever owned. The local dealer said they just reset the computer code and all was well. Not so , the air blows cold MOST of the time but it still has NO power and the gas mileage is terrible. not really a lincoln, just a F-150 with some chrome. Lincoln can sell it off the name and the looks but they really need to make it a Lincoln for those that know the difference.

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  Vehicle mpg not true. - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By edsmerc50 - October 6 - 1:42 am

  Disappointed in the mpg. sheet states 45mpg. Dealership rechecked 04/01/2014 for mpg and no problems found to justify why Im only getting 34.3mpg. Im going back to Audi,VW,Honda or Toyota. Ive own these vehicles before and they live up to their build sheet. American brand name vehicles are flawed and people selling them are either more enterested in selling the car than telling the truth or they dont know enough about the product their selling. Price too high for really what your getting.

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  Concerns / Quality & Reliability - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By Robert Lorenzo - September 11 - 6:40 pm

  To all, I have been reasearching & paying close attention to vehicles of all makes and I would say that the domestic market is using strategies: "Employees Price" to sell cars and SUV that dont meet the minimum standard of quality, Reliability and safety needed in most cars. I have experienced it my self. I have been driving a 2005 Lincoln Town Car since February 2005, and I have encountered many problems. Trouble with Moon Roof Installation, Draft around the front passenger doors, Electronic trunk opener, Bad odor from the A/C and horn unoperational due to new design on the steering wheel. Body & bumpers durability not meeting expectation. The last and most important: unreliable service.

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  The Good. Bad, the Ugly - 2011 Lincoln MKZ
  By sverige - August 25 - 6:15 pm

  At last a Ford product that doesnt need four acres to turn around. Peppy adequate engine with and excellent handling. Blind spot warning great, as is backup monitor. Interior is very quiet. Some road noise but the OE tires are not the quietest in the world. Front seats from hell. Probably OK for fat, obese people but anyone lesser needs a pillow for sit comfort if going over 50 mies. The remote trunk opening switch is perfectly located to bump with your knee when the driver enters at least 3 our of four times. Rear head restraints block out part of rear view vision. Good fit and finish.

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  Sunroof Leak in new Aviator - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By John Stevens - August 22 - 11:10 pm

  within the first week of ownership, our brand new 2005 Lincoln Aviator has a water leak from the sunroof which is dripping down through the overhead driver light switch. The dealer had the car overnight and didnt fix the problem. Ford technical support stated some Mountaineers and Aviators are having the same problem. This is a $50,000 luxury vehicle. No wonder the Aviator is in its last year of the current design and will emerge in the fall of 2006 as a downsized model. What do we do in the meantime? Our Aviator only has 282 miles on it and its going back to the shop for the same problem.

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  like driving a boat - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By jp - August 14 - 4:30 am

  have leased this car 6 months ago took it down south to the mountains and it was a very big disappointment the handling or lack of it makes me very sad about my decision to lease this vehicle