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 ride - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By BILL FRONAPFEL - June 18 - 1:45 pm

  I have owned many new and used cars in my 50 years of driving. I have owned Lincoln town cars and you could not kill if you did regular maintenance. Since 1987 I have owned only SUVs and crossovers and the MKX is simply the best ever. All controls can be be done any of 3 ways; from steering wheal, voice, and by hand and all controls on the dash are very easy to reach. The only complaint I have is the back trunk cover its not easy to close and I cant seam to get the trunk open with my foot under the car my wife has some trouble. Over all the Best car I ever had.

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  The most underrated car in its segment - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By andy1102 - June 15 - 10:00 am

  I went with the LS V6 for price reasons, and my only dissapointment is that I couldnt get the 17" rims with the 6-cylinder. Ive driven previous models with the V6 and the improvements for 2003 are very evident. The throttle actuation is smooth and the power is sometimes surprising when accelerating from a stoplight. The engine gets a bit loud at higher RPMs, but is always smooth. The ride can feel a bit soft sometimes, but, never floaty, it always feels connected to the road. The suspension is well-damped and does a great job at dealing with bumps and imperfections. While its not a hard-core sports sedan, it always stays planted in the curves.

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  Worse than my 74 Fiat - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Mike Bauer - June 13 - 10:00 am

  Overall this car was a good idea by Ford, but a bad try, flawed in execution and design. Two transmissions replaced, several recalls, stranded us several times. Spent months at a time in the dealership garage. A real lemon. If you buy one of these used (I recommend you dont!) have them run your VIN Number and get a reapir history and make them throw in an extended warranty. Car looked good, handled well, decent performance, poor fuel economy.

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  A Proud MKZ Owner - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By Bob - June 13 - 4:58 am

  I took delivery in October of my new Lincoln MKZ and have never, ever been so delighted with a new car. I decided on the 2.0 turbo and its quick. The car acts like a stallion that wants to run fast....and it often takes restraint on my part to watch my speed. You dont realize how fast you are going since the car is quiet and so smooth. (Just read that the National Highway Patrol approved this engine for pursuit) . I particularly love the Push Button Shift selection, which eliminates the cumbersome shifter all other vehicles have. Also love the sliding volume and temperature controls. After driving the Dodge Charger and its obstructed front view I was so impressed with the MKZ panoramic front view. I also love the cool LED taillights...much more suttle than the GLARING Dodge Charger rear lights. Lincoln sold me on this car. Its a car that makes you want to drive it all the time. In closing, I highly recommend shoppers to test drive this car. Ignore critics who dont live day to day with a car but instead toss personal opinions on the limited time they have to drive it. Outstanding car to drive/own.

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  Fully satisfied - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Bill - June 12 - 3:53 pm

  We bought this car about 1 year ago. It has more than fulfilled our expectations (and we have experienced about every other car in and around its class). Not a single problem so far. Very smooth, comfortable, quiet, and secure ride. Solidly built. No irritating vibrations, rattles, wind noises, or transmission quirks. Wonderful suspension engineered to minimize the “feel of the road” a.k.a. riding on a farm wagon, that several other cars in its class are lauded for (quasi-professional reviewers apparently have a unique sense of what’s appealing to many drivers who might consider buying a near luxury car). Excellent acceleration and power for other than the Datona 500. Highway ~ 27.5 mpg.

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  Some problems but I still LOVE this car! - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Drew - June 12 - 5:16 am

  We bought this car because my dad totaled our 2001 Lincoln and we all survived after a few rolls off a ditch. The safety of these cars is top notch! Because of this, we decided to buy another navi. I freaking love this car! It looks so stylish and is very very comfortable to ride in. The turning radius is great because the front wheels actually tilt slightly when you turn the wheel so you can easily turn around on a small road. The power is excellent with its 5.4L V8 engine...what a monster! We have had a few problems with the nav though, some power seat motors have broken (covered by warranty) The rear a/c unit clicks. And worst of all the gps/radio has crapped out. But I still love my nav

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  Owned many MKZs - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By Ralph Blazek - June 9 - 4:15 am

  We have leased every model year MKZ since the beginning the 2016 MKZ with Ecoboost 2.0L power train is ASSUME ! Great driving vehicle with Old Time Lincoln ride and 2016 state-of-art handling .

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  Broken Wings - 2017 Lincoln Continental
  By K. OBrien - June 9 - 12:42 am

  While the company raves about the position seating, intense instruction on the "key fobs" and how to position the seat without damaging the "wings" of the driver seat should be given. Beginning on the first day of ownership figuring out all the "new features" seat positioning has been difficult. The information that the seat will only reposition back 2" when the car was turned off, was never mentioned; making it difficult enough to enter the seat the next time causing the wing to pull away from the plastic base to which it was secured. Car has been in service department twice in 6 months and with the car being so new, there are no replacement parts.

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  Cant score everything just yet... - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By brookse1 - June 6 - 4:26 am

  Wonderful car. Like driving your living room, with more toys. Lots of room, decent power, good looks. Brakes grab. Corners are wobbly but, *what did you expect*? Better tires would help. Uploading CDs and pics is finicky - hello Microsoft! Overall, as long as the reliability holds up, I love it.

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  Farrell LincolnLS V8 - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Farrell D Hass - June 6 - 2:00 am

  Great Car for 35,000. I have loved my car for 2 years. I would buy another for the quality and price.