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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  Sweet Ride - 2010 Lincoln Navigator
  By rplock - November 25 - 10:16 am

  Beautiful vehicle. Very roomy, quiet and polished. Headlights are great. Power is wonderful. Rain sensing wipers are a nice touch. Power fold mirrors are great. Worth the $$s.

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  10 - 2007 Lincoln Town Car
  By Ben - November 24 - 11:46 pm

  I love this car. Smoothest riding car you can buy, and damn near silent. It just doesnt get any better. The Town Car is the last real American car. Body on frame, V8, six passengers.

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  Great car for a little money - 1995 Lincoln Town Car
  By dropkick - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Interior and trunk room is fantastic! Very good performance considering the engine size (4.6L V-8)and weight. These cars can be found in good condition for well under $10,000 since most of the owners were older and took care of their vehicles. Only Mobil One synthetic oil is used every 5000 miles. Easy to drive. Only hangups-- transmission thunks slightly shifting into overdrive (fluid change may help?) and the driver side window does not work Not bad for an 8-yr old American car.

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  Aviator Rocks - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By abrams - November 24 - 2:00 am

  The Lincoln Aviator is a masterpiece from the ground up. Its fulltime all- wheel drive makes it as though the snow does not even exist on the ground. Its 302 horsepower engine and throaty exhaust is very pleasing when you "step on it". The interior is marvelous and innovatively elegant. It is truly a dream car.

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  Big, Beautiful, Safe, and Equipped - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By Moms car - November 22 - 3:40 am

  Big a best buy. If you are looking for a safe luxury large sedan, big trunk, and technology, this is the car for you. This is not the best handling but its good enough. If you want size and handling, you have to pay at least $75,000 for a European car. The trunk will hold a couple of strollers, groceries, and a big diaper bag its huge. The trunk hides all the mess that you carry and it’s safer to have things in trunk in comparison an SUV or crossover and it looks better too. The navigation is easy to use, the integrated mp3 is great the only thing I don’t like is the rear visibility, but it has a rear view camera.

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  Better than an Expedition - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By JRBTN - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I traded my 99 expedition Eddie Bauer for this vehicle. The cost of this vehicle is about 15k more than the expedtion. Which begs the question - is it worth it? Well if the money is not an object it probably is. The ride quality, horsepower, and build quality is simply better. I definitely like this vehicle more and unlike the expedition am not thinking about getting rid of the vehicle after 2 years.

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  A Satisfied Owner - 1999 Lincoln Town Car
  By plb03 - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the car new and drive about 8000 miles per year. The car now has 34000 miles and has given no problems at all. Mileage on the road is excellent and power is more than adequate. Just made an 1900 mile trip with 4 people in total comfort with a average gas mileage of 25 mpg. That is 100 passenger mpg. (at 75 mph)

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  2001 LS V8 Sport review - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By eor2 - November 18 - 2:30 am

  Owned an LS V8 Sport for 10 months, with about 11,000 miles to date. Car has performed excellently during that period. Minor problem with engine sensor, that was replaced without hassle by excellent dealer. Compared with Jag S type and XJ8, and Lexus prior to purchase. LS is far better value for the money than the Jag. Compared with Lexus, LS is more fun to drive.

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  Comfortable, fun, fantastic car - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By LadyCobra65 - November 16 - 12:03 am

  MKZ AWD driven 120 miles a day with frequent road trips avg 6+ hours in the car. Seating comfort was #1 priority, followed by fuel economy. The 10-way power seat can sit upright eleminating stress on the lower back. Average mpg 25 commute, 27 trip, city 23. Handles nicely, quick excelleration, fun to drive. The controls are all in easy to reach/use places. The upgraded convenience featrues are new must haves. Dual driver memory on the seats/mirrors programmed to the keyfob/keyless entry pad; auto dimming rearview and side mirrors; well lighted entry; cooled leather seats! MKZ has many options you can program to your liking. THX stereo system provides amazing sound. Highly recommend this car.

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  Best used car buy - 1997 Lincoln Town Car
  By roadrunner - November 15 - 6:56 pm

  Bought this car with 47,000 miles on it about 5 or so years ago. Replaced tires and shocks with Biltstine shocks and drove it to death in my business. This car owes me nothing and only recently had to replace all four ball joints and brakes and a switch in the transmission. The last set of tires took me 70,000 miles. This is probably the best car purchase I have ever made and Im 67 years old.