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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  AWESOME SUV - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By Jerry J. - August 18 - 2:00 am

  This is a great SUV. Liked it better than the pricey Range Rover, and the dressed up chevy suburban: the Esclade. BEST LUX SUV!

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  Bring Back The Town Car - 2001 Lincoln Town Car
  By gelf58 - August 17 - 4:37 pm

  These cars are awesome. I bought one with over 395K miles on it. The original owner took extremely good care of it. I have owned it for 11/3 years and I am approaching 423K. It still has the original engine and transmission. at 412k I had to replace the a/c compressor. Other than regular maintenance thats it. The key is to do the regular maintenance and these cars will last a log long time. Unlike the Cadillacs whose Northstar engines have valve cover issues and the transmission usually fails at about 150k

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  MKT a Winner - 2010 Lincoln MKT
  By J & L - August 10 - 6:36 am

  We wanted a AWD, 7 passenger luxury crossover with low front seats with good handling and power for winter driving. We considered a MDX, GX450, MBR, BMWX5, Enclave, and Q7. After test driving a MKT we were blown away. The EcoBoost is very fast with little twin turbo lag and the handling great for a vehicle this large.( we also have a 2004 Porsche 911 Cab ). We ordered out a loaded 7 passenger so we would have a full second seat to hold our 106 pound boxer dog and lots of grand kids. The car interior heats up very fast and the heated front and back seat are super. The MKT is a lot of luxury for the $ and can compete head on with the Germans and Japanese with it head held high at less $.

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  First Lincoln - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By lovemycar - August 9 - 11:43 pm

  This is my first Lincoln and I love it. The car drives so smooth and handles well.

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  400 HP AWD 2017 MKZ - 2017 Lincoln MKZ
  By Mr Frank - August 9 - 10:09 pm

  Great little muscle car . Throaty sound and impressive acceleration . Gas mileage not that bad for 400 horses . Surprisingly comfortable driving position and a pretty nice ride . Maybe could be a little softer . Electronics work well and are intuitive . Easy car to learn to use . Fun to drive . Lots of nice features , including lights up on approach with the key in your pocket .

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  mkz-nice - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By charles - August 6 - 2:20 pm

  was driving a mercury sable, but missed the lincoln ride, dealer made me a nice offer on the mkz,whats not to like styling, ride, interior design,just a sweet ride,was not disappointed with this purchase,would I buy again? you bet !! ford got this one right.

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  satisfied - 1998 Lincoln Town Car
  By goldfish - August 6 - 10:00 am

  77,000 miles never been to the dealer for any reason. replaced tires at 70000 had never rotated tires complete satisfactioon hit a deer at 65 miles per hour $1500 damage time to buy a new one

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  Kicks Major Butt - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By dlounj - August 6 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd SUV and hands down is the best. This car literally flies and can beat almost any other SUV on the road. Interior is beautiful as is the exterior. Ride is real good. Supposedly engineers created this auto with a plane in mind, thus the name Aviator and when you start it up and the light go on, you feel like your at the control panel of your own 747.

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  Two Month Report - 2009 Lincoln MKZ
  By Roger Fellers - August 4 - 6:00 pm

  Very pleased with everything except the trunk. There is no handle to hold while opening and closing and the car lacks a cargo net to keep groceries, etc., in place. Fit and finish excellent, responsive acceleration, smooth shifting, handles road bumps very well. Overall very satisfied except for trunk.

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  1999 Lincoln Continental - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By jrussell - August 4 - 2:40 pm

  I love my Lincoln Continental. It is fun to drive, has all the options that I could ever want and gets decent gas mileage for a larger car.