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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  Best value for a used luxury car & FAST - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Chris - April 14 - 5:20 pm

  I do quite a bit of driving, and sometimes, unfortunately, some quick driving on 2 lane roads when Im running late to the courthouse (Im a lawyer.) This car is prestigious, inexpensive and an absolute blast to drive. I was just rear ended the other day and Im hopeful that my car isnt totalled--I really enjoy it. I suppose if it is, Ill look for another V8 LS.

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  Fabulous - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By Priley - April 14 - 10:00 am

  Fund to drive - seems to be very stable on the road - very comfortable to sit and relax on the road. The cooling in the front seats are great. I love it.

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  They got too cheap - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By 98wasbetter - April 14 - 10:00 am

  Had a 98 Nav, power was great and AC worked wonderful. The 2003 model has less power and the AC blows hot air when traffic, not good in Texas. Been told that when RPM goes under 1000, the AC will blow 5-10 degrees warmer, what a engineering piece of crap. Also, mirrors make a lot of noise, muffler makes noise, overall, not as smooth and quiet as my old truck. Will never buy another one, its embarrasing that it spend so much time in the shop, and nothing is ever fixed, there is always a reason for the faultiness.

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  I love my Aviator - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By Ricardo - April 9 - 1:43 pm

  The Aviator performs exactly as I thought it would. Its a pleasure to drive, and my wife and I look forward to trips in it. The mileage isnt red hot, but I knew it wouldnt be when I decided to buy the vehicle. Its great for hauling groceries, golf clubs, and friends. We love it!

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  An American Classic - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By little - April 8 - 10:00 am

  The fourth SUV that my wife owned, NONE compare with this beauty. leave it to Lincoln!!!

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  Merk LT - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By ken - April 4 - 11:00 am

  This is a great truck even though its only a glorified F-150. I like the unique interior and exterior trim upgrades. I have found numerous small factory defects in trim that I find totally disappointing. There are not the options that are available in the Navigator which is also disappointing. If thery were targeting an F-150 buyer to move up the both hit and missed the mark. Put the options in it that the Navigator has.

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  Awesome - 2007 Lincoln Town Car
  By James Michelli - April 2 - 2:35 pm

  Buy it.Awesome

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  High Value Vehicle - 2008 Lincoln MKX
  By Brian - April 1 - 2:16 pm

  Have 2800 miles on the car and I absolutely love it. SYNC (very easy to use), THX sound and Sirius are outstanding. Cooled/heated seats, very quiet & comfortable interior, headlights that move with steering, power liftgate are major additions. Engine/transmission powerful and smooth. Comparing my Limited with any competitor was not even close from a value perspective. This was a great buy. Mileage better than I thought - 19 around town and 22+ on the highway. Handles equally well in town or on the highway - a true pleasure to drive. Seats 4-5 people more comfortably than any of its competitors. Insurance cost was surprisingly low. Dont overlook this car. It is awesome!

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  LS Sport V8 - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By mwsouth - March 31 - 6:00 pm

  The Lincon LS is a car that has been overlooked by the public thanks to Lincolns poor job of advertising and promoting car. I have been stopped numerous times ith people asking me what car is that . It is understated, extremely comfortable and fun to drive. Lincoln has called me three times so far to see how I like the car.

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  Good used car - 1997 Lincoln Continental
  By Otis Campbell - March 31 - 10:00 am

  I bought the car when it was 2 years old for 20K. Had 2 years left on warranty, which I only used to have the rearview mirror replaced (seems to be a chronic problem with these cars). Car has been reliable, gets up and goes, and gets good mileage considering the size and power. Its a geezer car, but I dont care