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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  Great Car (Fun to Drive) - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Bob A - December 31 - 6:36 am

  Had a friend recommend looking at the Zephyr as I was in the market for a new car. I just moved to Vegas and was looking at some GM products, but when I saw the Zephyr, my search was over, the car has looks, drives great and is loaded with every option that I wanted. Have had the car for two weeks and I am liking it more and more each day. The ride is extra quiet even when doing 65 on the freeways and the stereo is out of sight. The cooled seats will come in handy this summer and I will put the Navigation through its paces as we plan traveling on a whim.

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  AVIATOR ELEGANCE AND SAFETY - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By installer - December 29 - 2:00 am

  SPORTY ELEGANCE GOES WITHOUT SAYING. SAFTEY IS THE KEY, MY WIFE HIT A UTILITY POLE HEAD ON AND SHE AND MY SON WALKED AWAY WITHOUT A SCRATCH. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED $30,000 IN DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, IT LOOKS AND RIDES LIKE THE DAY OUT OF THE SHOWROOM. I AM THINKING OF BUYING A SECOND ONE.

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  04 Aviator - Nice SUV - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By NJdriver - December 29 - 2:00 am

  Its real nice all around, inside and out. Theres nothing like it in its class. All others are either too big, too small or have design issues. We quickly nixed the Envoy XL, GX270 and Volvo for these reasons. Will fit 8 people though only 7 belts. Much better value than higher priced Asian SUVs that seat 7 or 8. I hope mileage improves after break-in. Its our first SUV and easy transition from Mercedes E320 though the MB is slightly superior in every aspect but $20k more.

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  My 3rd LS - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By McCarNut - December 28 - 5:43 pm

  I have had three LSs which should tell it all. I love the handling and elegant styling. Although all three were similar looking there have been many changes & improvements, most notably interior storage. My only complaint is the weak transmission. The first two LSs have had to gears replaced. But the dealership took care of it promptly and the cars were fixed to my satisfaction.

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  lincoln ls v8 - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By dan - December 28 - 2:03 pm

  its a great car that can go fast and has cool features and is fun to drive

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  Step up from MarkVIII - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By Steve Berndt - December 25 - 5:00 am

  Hated to leave Mark VIII, but really excited and pleased with performance style, curb appeal, and all the goodies. Cockpit is very driver friendly, speed and audio controls handy. Heat-A/C seats a gem. Travel from Maine to Fl 10 times a year. Heated wiper, seat is great in snow. Great storage, fold down seats a real plus. Transmission choice brings fun back to driving... Unless a Markclone comes back, Im a happy guy.

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  Fantastic luxury car for the money - 2007 Lincoln Town Car
  By Jack Azevedo - December 23 - 4:46 pm

  This is a great luxury vehicle. Ive been wanting one for 3 yrs, ever since I rented one a drove to Vegas. Ive finally bought one and am not disapointed. It is really luxurious, I feel like royalty driving this. I have the designer and the leather interior, wood accents are great. Roominess and comfort are first class. I even like the style of the car, even though its been around for awhile. I drove Toyota Avalon, Infinity, Cadillac and BMW and this vehicle is on a par, or better than each. I got the navigation system and that along with all the other controls for the seats, climate control, mileage calculations, etc. make for a pleasure to operate.

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  Zephyer vs CTS - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By John H - December 22 - 9:06 am

  I was looking for an entry level luxury car that wouldnt break the bank. Well, I found it. I thought the CTS was going to be my choice but once I test drove the Zephyer it was all over. The car has a sophisticated look of an import and the interior is extremely impressive. Nothing like it in its class. Car handles like a dream, has lots of standard features ( 15 of them you wont get with the CTS - compare at cars.com).I highly reccomend seeing and driving this car before the purchase of the cadillac. My guess, 9 out of 10 will choose the Zephyer.

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  Quiet surprise - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Jeff - December 22 - 12:06 am

  Bought the Zephyr a year ago with every available feature except the Nav system (have cell phone GPS for that). The projected TCO is $0.45/mile so far with the factory 5 yr maintenance plan. Driving has been a pleasant surprise: smooth, quiet ride yet agile handling when needed. Mileage has ranged from 19 to 31 MPG with 23 MPG typical per tank full. The THX II delivers a satisfying volume and quality of about any style of music I know of.

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  Classy Car, Smooth Ride - 2012 Lincoln MKZ
  By Eileen - December 19 - 6:29 pm

  True Lincoln engineered ride... Crystal White exterior, light cashmere interior, nice interior wood features... ample trunk room, moon roof seldom use ... leather could be more durable... why black carpet ... should have been cashmere color. Purchased July 2015 --- one owner, spotless, looks new ... Bad mileage with AC on. Climate control & AC works great. Love backup camera... Received all manuals with some warranty remaining. Manual describes a replaceable interior air filter to mitigate dust, which I need to figure out. Was seeking a luxury car and refused to drop $45K as I drive only 7,000 miles per year, so this was a perfect pick! Considered the Cadillac CTS, but was a bit turned off for a few reasons and my mechanic advised to steer away- too many issues. He worked on MKZs over the years and gives high marks for reliability and no major issues. Newer MKZs 2013/14 are gaudy with back spoiler, takes away class appeal and interior looked cheap with no crafted wood moldings. Receive many compliments on mine and its a smooth drive, nice smooth pull. Very happy!