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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  lincoln LS - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By llsrunner - June 1 - 10:00 am

  Well made car. no issues at all, still solid as a rock

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  Best Ride Ive Ever Had - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By garyfahle - May 31 - 5:10 am

  The ride is ultra smooth. The vehicle is totally responsive and surprisingly easy to maneuver. The load leveling feature is remarkable. The comfort is the best Ive had in 40 years of driving. It has more features than I imagined and a CD to show off the vehicle.

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  killing time - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By ausagi69 - May 28 - 10:00 am

  This SUVis fun to drive and comfortable can be less for larger men but great comfortable ride

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  The Lincoln Aviator - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By B Braffet - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Fabulous riding automobile. No truck like rides in this car.

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  Service - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By Bill Senter - May 28 - 10:00 am

  This is the fourth Lincoln that I have owned and this is the best service I have ever received by any dealer. The Service Department knows their business and works with the salesman to keep the customer happy. I have no hesitancy in recommending this dealer in the highest category.

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  Exceeded expectations - 2016 Lincoln Navigator
  By John Boyer - May 27 - 4:39 am

  I have owned seven Expeditions and had wonderful experience with all of them. Very capable and reliable. I test drove a 2016 Expedition and then a Lincoln Navigator. Navigator was superior fit, finish, ride and very quiet in comparison. I own a Lexus LS 460 sedan which is top of line Lexus. My Navigator is actually quieter than the Lexus. I was astounded. Other large SUVs such as Tahoe, Escalade, QX 80 did not have the capacity or the ride that I wanted. Also I had read about reliability issues on other vehicles. I have been driving large SUVs for 19 years and found this car is just easy to drive. So, I bought the 2wd Navigator Reserve. I could not be happier. No regrets.

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  One of the best to come - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By Travis Bruce - May 26 - 7:06 pm

  This car is just so pleasing and is very capable. So powerful and fast for its time and still is with some of these other car. When i purchased this car I felt like i had something before its time.

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  the review - 1994 Lincoln Town Car
  By bobbi fletcher - May 26 - 10:00 am

  the car is built to be a pimp car and i love to drive it to the parties and formal dances. i get many looks from different people.

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  1997 Lincoln Town Car - 1997 Lincoln Town Car
  By Joanne Taylor - May 26 - 10:00 am

  This has been a very good car & I am still driving it. It has 85,000 miles on it with some hail damage over 3/4 of the vehicle. It is still a very comfortable car & I only need the value of it for tax purposes. My experience with this car has been good.

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  Love My New LS - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Ann - May 24 - 10:23 pm

  I just purchased a new 2005 LS & love it. Since the new 2006s are out, I got a great price. I plan to drive this car for a long time so the year model wasnt an issue for me. My friends are all quite impressed. One remarked that it was so quiet that it didnt sound like a car, it sounded more like a kitten purring. So far, Im getting 19 mpg city driving & I havent tried it on highway driving yet.