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 Used Car Buy - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By jonp - May 19 - 10:00 am

  What a great car! Good for me it depreciates fast. I have owned Bimmers, Volvos, SAABs, and others and the fit finish is great. The value for the used car dollar is awesome!

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  love the ride - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By bacdoc - May 19 - 12:16 am

  We have owned this vehicle 1 yr. with 10000 mi. on it. So far it has been very reliable, excellant in the snow with the stock all seasons. Seats are firm but very supportive. One trip of 2000 mi avg 25 mpg however driving lots of hills where we live is only 14- 15 mpg. Probably the nicest highway car we have owned, smooth, quiet and handles well.

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  most comfortable car i have ever traveled in - 2011 Lincoln MKX
  By sanford10 - May 17 - 10:01 am

  the car is so quiet it is unbelievable. i can hear a watch ticking when traveling on the highway at 120 km/h. i spent 2 hours in a porsche cayenne one time and i felt like i was beaten up by the time i arrived at my destination...the MXK is way more comfortable. there is plenty of power and it handles very well. the glass roof is very nice. i love the thx stereo. the leather is beautiful and the interior is very well done. nothing feels cheap on this car. many people complain about sync/my touch but i have had none of the issues. it is easy to upgrade by yourself and maybe many of the complaints are on older versions. both of our bluetooth phones works perfectly. great machine!

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  Great Car - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By Mikees - May 15 - 10:00 am

  Love this car. The heated and cooled seats are fantastic. V6 engine has plenty of power and nice on gas mileage. Plenty of cabin room and storage space.

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  My Aviator - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By maltese - May 15 - 10:00 am

  I love the lumbar support, the navigation system is easy to use

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  Amazing - 2010 Lincoln MKS
  By DREW - May 15 - 12:53 am

  This car is power filled. Sharing the platform with the Ford Taurus the new Twin Turbo 3.5 liter Ecoboost Engine this car has power. The ride is smooth and quiet the Transmission good but not fantastic.

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  Towncar review - 1998 Lincoln Town Car
  By KW411 - May 12 - 2:00 am

  I purchased my Lincoln Towncar with 28k on the board back in 06/2000. I now have 78k on the odometer. I have driven the vehicle countless times from MA to FL to vacation in the hot Florida sun. This vehicle has always been a pleasure to drive on both short and long distance trips. Other than the replacement of front and rear shocks, at a nominal cost of $300 and scheduled oil maitenance I have not encountered any mechanical malfunctions. This car has been a pleasure to own.

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  A quiet comfortable and smooth ride - 2017 Lincoln MKZ
  By Daniel Justin - May 7 - 7:16 pm

  I just traded in my Toyota Avalon Hybrid for this 2017 Lincoln MKZ hybrid and I am glad I did. American cars have really improved. This is one comfortable-quiet-smooth ride. You get so much more for your money. I am averaging 40 MPG although I am a conservative driver. The only downside to this car is that the acceleration is a bit on the slow side, although that is not a problem for me personally. Its like driving with the eco on all the time. And the other downside is the very small trunk area and no spare tire. But everything else is fantastic. From the very first look and test drive I knew this was the car for me. The dealership really took care of me and they made the experience simple and easy. It takes some time to learn all of the ins and outs that the vehicle can do, but that is understandable considering the complexity of the system. I am a car nut and I am really digging this ride. If only the traffic out there wasnt so insane.

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  happy as a Lark(Zephyr) - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By mike nicholls - May 6 - 1:26 am

  I purchased this vehicle for my wife. its size,great looks and comfort were the deciding factors.The pricing i thought was good. all the bells and whistles offered were purchased for under 36k out the door, she also liked the Acura TL but the exta 25 cent a gal for prem. gas was the deciding factor. Both vechiles were priced similarly and are good buys compared to others in their class we also wanted to help the econmy by buying American. Mike

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  Excellent Car - with a few irritations - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By tarheel6521 - May 5 - 11:27 pm

  I had the itch to trade and had researched the MKZ, E350 and BMW 5-Series in the previous weeks. My irritations are with build quality - which I blame on Ford shipping their luxury car brand assembly to Mexico. As this was the most expensive car Ive ever bought or leased, I expect ZERO defects. My MB and 2012 Taurus were perfect during my entire ownership experience. I expect the same from what was Americas luxury car leader for so many years. remains they are left to clean up the issues caused by mother Ford/Lincoln by farming assembly to Mexico to save costs, but still charge a big price for their vehicles.