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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  96TC current value - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By Richard Welker - August 8 - 2:00 am

  Have replaced theengine at 105,000 with salvage yard motor with 70,00 miles on it. Current odometer reading 145,000. very small hail damage spots.Car is in excellent condition.Load leveler bags replaced,left door window mechanism replaced, all new shocks,ties-.006 each-Michelin.Heater gate valve replaced.

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  Never Ford again - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By Poo - August 8 - 2:00 am

  This was the biggest waste of money I have ever spent on a auto. I have a 2000 with 60K miles and it is a piece of you know what. Paid $30K for it and I cant even get $9K for trade in. Please, please, dont make the same mistake as I did. No resale value at all. Brakes have been replaced at least 4 times and now it feels like the transmission is going out. Power window motors replaced twice. Windshield replaced three times due to cracks. NEVER AGAIN!!

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  1995 Town Car Signature - 1995 Lincoln Town Car
  By bjfrier - August 7 - 10:00 am

  Wonderful trouble free car. We have 118000 miles on it and it still looks and drives like new.

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  Does what its designed to do - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By ARicko - August 7 - 10:00 am

  One can not compare this vehicle to forgien offers. It is made by Americans for Americans. The car does what it is designed to do well. Luxury transportation within the speed limits and under 35 Grand. This is the definition of performance.

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  Ok first we leased 2 of them both Reserves - 2017 Lincoln MKC
  By Ken - August 7 - 12:14 am

  First a background on what was being replaced and current driven vehicles. 2015 CTS coupe (lease coming to an end), 640 BMW convert. (lease coming to an end) and a 328 4 door. My background on vehicles driven primarily in the last few years involves a H2 Hummer, and the above vehicles with daily drivers usually being a coupe. I started to test drive many new vehicles and was not set on a small SUV. I have recently had 2 Infiniti coupe leases a convertible and a plain coupe (loved both) Then I test drove the new "red sport" coupe with twin turbos can I just say WOW! Perfect car for me but they quotes were insane for a car in that class at just under 800 a month so it was off list. Drove the Porsche Macan S and can I say right here and now it was hands down one of the best cars I have ever driven. I have owned a Cayman S and a Ferrari recently (yep love cars) and the Macan S was as fun and tight as anything I could compare it to, it beat! However the reality check came when the lease quote was at 1150 Mo for a 74k car and it seemed of by a long shot since I paid the same on a 98k 640 convert (made no sense to me) So what the heck I drove the Infiniti SUVs and ended up in a Lincoln showroom after reading some reviews. Turns out my daughter was also thinking of what car to get next and she wanted a bit more room like a small SUV could provide. I do not want to drive a car without the latest safety and tech features since I really enjoy them. The MKC size seemed to be right for both of us and ended up ordering 2 of them both Reserves in white. Very pleased overall in vehicles. Quiet (not as quiet as many would have you believe) Nice look and features. Fast for a tiny 4 cyl turbo. BUT and a big but here, this was my first front wheel drive car for both of us other than rentals. Huge change when you step on the gas and have to hold the wheel when passing to keep control, it feels like driving a go cart. Love all the features on the car and still have not had been brave enough to test the self parking assist. Ok now the down side of this nice lil SUV. Both cars for us are getting HORRIBLE mileage (worse than my caddi and everything but my Hummer H2! I would have never ever got two of these if I knew the mileage numbers were going to be this bad! 17-19 combined driving for both vehicles! I was conservatively estimating 22 combined, nope, nada no way. The next very irritating thing to me is the rear and front bumper proximity alarms, they suck! You cannot adjust sensitivity and are basically useless since you have to be very close to get the beep. (cross traffic alert works great) Next irritating thing to me is the Apple car play, you really cannot use any apps you want ( I use only WAZE for navigation and it will not work on the car system. Next is the navigation, just plain difficult to set to make it easy to read and the worst out of any system I currently have or have had. Next the voice commands seem to have too many steps to get to where you want to be. Overall the vehicle is good, motor and transmission have been bullet proof and has many nice features but I was deeply disappointed in the MPG and irritated with the crash avoidance system (completely useless at low speeds)but will alert you at higher speeds (but not stop the car). Even though we are located in Miami I am glad I got the heated rear seats it is great when someone is use to it. All of the small features have been reviewed many times such as the hands free lift gate something you dont think about until your hands are full! My eldest daughter drives a Rover and saw that feature and now she wants a SUV with it (makes sense for moms with kids and all the accessories) For me when I get another vehicle I feel anything out there now should get over 20MPG and as I get older I felt it was going to be my benchmark and I would never buy a car that averaged under 20 (hopefully 24) MPG not as an economic issue buy more like supporting companies that are progressive and responsible and this is why I was very disappointed on the mileage issue. I do not see how you could go wrong with this vehicle when you compare vehicles based on quality and price.

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  The epitome of perfection - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By Wise Owl - August 6 - 5:20 pm

  I think the Town car is the only true luxury sedan on the market. I can find nothing wrong with the design of this car! It truly is a masterpiece. I hope it lasts forever. Ford should not touch this car, in fear of ruining it! I love it, I get 31+ MPG on the highway, how can you beat that? I do find that if you drive this car prudently the mileage is ridiculously high for a car this size. However, if you drive it like a sports car, say goodbye to economy, and rightfully so! If you want to own and drive true American craftsmanship, made with pride, buy this car! You will not find a better car for the money.

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  Not so Impressive - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By Disappointed - August 4 - 11:53 am

  I have owned the MKZ for all of 45 days, to say the least, I was impressed with the outward appearance and the interior features for the price. After purchase, I noticed several items of poor workmanship. As a previous Honda, Infiniti and Lexus owner, you recognize quality. This car is not quality built, I am afraid if I pull or push on something too hard I might damage it. Ive had problems with the seal around the windows to the point objects have gotten down inside the seal and window and scratched the glass. This area also accumulates moisture and the windows are left dirty once you let them down after rain or car washing.

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  k gants lincoln - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By K GANT - July 31 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is very comfortable to ride in - it is smooth on the road. The gas mileage has been very reasonable. I enjoy the huge trunk space. The leather seats are very enjoyable in extreme temperatures of weather. I have kept the oils changed at the suggested time that I have owned the car. Good tires on the car and the suspension was just recently repaired.

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  2004 Navigator - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By bothielm - July 30 - 6:46 am

  I drove my 04 Navigator off the lot brand new. I love it! It has been the most comfortable and reliable SUV I have ever owned. I especially love the DVD and sound system. Have never had a moments problem with the car. The only thing I would change would be a little less plastic in the back and maybe some door controls in the rear. Other than that I would not trade it for anything. You can not replace the comfortable ride you get while driving it!

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  A stylish work-horse! - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By MJ Collins - July 28 - 7:40 pm

  I love this car - have only had it 7 months and have driven it in all sorts of road/weather conditions. Recently took a major road trip (5000+ miles) without any trouble or hint of a problem. It is SO comfortable and stylish - not sure why there arent more on the roads!My every driving wish seems to be its command - it is very responsive. You get a whole lot for your money with this car and I am looking forward to it being as good as the 11 year old Town Car that I traded in at 192,000+ miles. Why buy foreign cars when Lincoln is the best money can buy - and as American as baseball! Love my car - or did I already say that? ;))