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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  The Big Dog - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By Esrom Shaw - August 14 - 2:06 pm

  I was a former BMW driver and thought that I would never find a replacement that would seperate me from the road. My Nav is awsome, the ride the comfort level is great.

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  like driving a boat - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By jp - August 14 - 4:30 am

  have leased this car 6 months ago took it down south to the mountains and it was a very big disappointment the handling or lack of it makes me very sad about my decision to lease this vehicle

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  a classy ride - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By adam nelson - August 13 - 6:03 am

  i was a little worried at first because of all electrical components but after a short time the car seems to be well built. i am however concerned with the talk about the transmission being less than excellent.

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  Impressive - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By Riggity - August 12 - 10:00 am

  I Drive top end cars every day. I have found the Lincoln Ls to be one of the nicest and best handling sports sedans on the market. The Ls with the V8 and advance trac seams to give the driver a piece of mind while take country roads at speeds over 75. This all in a car not priced over 50,000.

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  Love it so far - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By PatinNJ - August 11 - 1:26 pm

  This car is great so far. Drives smoothly. The nav system is useful as well as cool. The interior is just a little too plasticky. Having the Sirius radio built in is a real improvement over the add on set-up in my old car. Power is good but its not as peppy as my Grand Prix GTP which has 20 less horsepower. I did read every review on here before buying it, so thank you to everyone that took the time to post.

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  Outstanding SUV - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By jaybo - August 10 - 4:06 am

  Bought this to replace a beloved Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Aviator is the best combination of performance (300 HP), and whisper quiet comfort along with great deep snow handling that I have ever owned. It was 2/3 the price of the Toyota Land Cruiser or BMW X5 (only 5 passenger) and has superior performance. It is a mystery to me why Ford replaced it with a minivanny MKX. I guess I will be forced to buy German or Japanese next time.

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  05 Town Car Signature - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By Fridge - August 9 - 10:26 pm

  This is a great highway cruiser. When taking long trips, or even short trips, its comfort cannot be matched. Fuel economy is decent for a large V-8 at about 23 MPG on the highway. Riding around town though, this car is big to park and can be hard to maneuver. Some of the fit and finish coulde be better too, for a car in this price range. Center caps on the wheels did not hold up at all, and had to be replaced, but that was largely a cosmetic concern. Chrome molding strips turn brown in the winter, which the dealer tells me is "normal." I dont know about that, but it does wash off.

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  awesome - 1994 Lincoln Town Car
  By todd - August 7 - 4:06 am

  just bought this for 2500 easily worth twice that. car is immaculate, and well serviced. absolutely stunning, and a joy to drive.

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  what a ride! - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By andy fan - August 5 - 5:03 pm

  Weve only had our TC a few weeks but let me tell you we love it! We traded a 2000 crown vic and it has been so much better than we expected. I love everything about the car. I believe it has about every option availible on the signature and Im glad I did not buy a Deville. If you want a happy wife or just an excellent automobile for your family youve got to get one of these!

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  Fun car to own - 2008 Lincoln MKX
  By Ecoboost - August 5 - 12:13 pm

  Terrific car to own and drive. 21,000 miles and getting 17+ around town 24 on the highway. Great in snow and ice and on trips. We take 700 mile trips frequently and always enjoy the ride. Only negative is the hard seat cushions. Handling is good, mileage better than expected and overall performance excellent. Dealer experience is excellent. They went out of their way to satisfy me with the PTU problem and fixed it when other dealers were having difficulty.