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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  Satisfied Owner of several Navs - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By jack - June 12 - 8:13 am

  This third Nav I have owned. Very satisfied with this and other Navs. Fuel economy is only fair with an Avg. 14.2 MPG.Very good dealer support with few required service items. Dealer has "tires for life" program and recently replaced 4 Mich. tires for Fl tax and labor only. Only feature I did not like, the elec. window controls in center console, has been relocated to door for 07.

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  Our Navigator - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By Randys Wife - June 11 - 2:00 am

  I am not a car fiend, but I love this vehicle. My husband bought it for me for Christmas, and now I look for an excuse to drive. It handles very well, and is super comfortable.

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  2006 Licoln LS, Great Buy ! - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By Fatboy1904 - June 10 - 3:30 pm

  This car replaces my 2001 LS V8. I love it. Cant believe I waited to trade up my other LS, as it had almost 108K on it. It is a true shame that Lincoln decided to discontinue this car. For the price, this car blows away 3&5 Series BMW, Lexus, Acura and all the others. Everyone who rides in this car cant believe it is a Lincoln and finds the complete luxury experience that you would expect from higher end vehicles. I bought the Elite Package with power everything, heated front & REAR seats, THX audio with Navigation, HID lights etc. The engine is smooth and quiet, not to mention 280 hp is more than enough to get in trouble. The car by far out handles most cars of this weight and class.

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  More to Come - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Great Vehicle - June 9 - 5:06 pm

  I truly enjoy this vehicle. The ride is smooth and everything about this vehicle says quality. Although it seems that I need to fill the tank every four or so days its well worth it.

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  AWESOME SUV - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By Rick - June 7 - 10:06 am

  Drove many different SUVs, ranging from Lexus 470 to Expedtion. This by far was the best SUV.

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  Great Value - 2007 Lincoln Town Car
  By TC Cruiser - June 5 - 7:13 pm

  This is my 3rd Lincoln and it is by far the best Ive owned.My 07 rides better than my 96 and gets better gas mileage. This car truly excels on the highway where the soft ride, excellent sound system and more than adequate power consumes miles without effort. I have owned Acura, Mercedes and other quality cars and for the money, they cannot match the TC. The interior is so large and comfortable you cannot compare it to any other car. The gas mileage is great for such a large car. On long trips I have averaged almost 25 mpg going 75 mph - all done on regular gas. This car does everything extremely well at a very compelling price.

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  head turner lincoln - 2002 Lincoln Blackwood
  By rtfree - June 5 - 10:00 am

  Driving this "truck" is pure joy. Plenty of room for all passengers. The steering is solid and accurate and the "truck" handles high speeds with agility. In town the vechicle can manuver easily in and out of places considering its size. This truck has a after market super charger adding about 100 hp. Yet the "truck" feels like it is strong enough to handle additional 100 hp. I have a hard time calling it a truck though, with the bed so nicely detailed I dont ever see myself throwing bales of hay in the back. However the with the power tonteu cover I do use the back to carry the things that usually collect in the back seat.

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  Went Lincoln over Lexus, Acura, BMW - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Chris Mcpherson - June 4 - 6:06 am

  I was going to pickup a BMW a couple months back, until I drove the Zephyr. I am very impressed with everything about it. Gets lots of looks, but its not gaudy. Lincoln has a notion of sophistication. Everything from Cooled/Heated seats, automatic Up/Down widows, comfortable seats and high quality seat and dash materials, awesome fit and finish! I drive over 27k per year in city and highway, so I am very stringent on what I buy. Better materials inside than BMW, more power and no tin box feel like Lexus. This car performs well, shifts are dead-on, steering is tight, lights on and off highway are bright, regular (87) gas, comfortable, very roomy and open feeling. Plus its American! A+

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  Beautiful!! - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By KD - June 3 - 6:43 am

  I traded in my Cadillac CTS for this car and am even more pleased. I had to get my windows tinted because I had so many people stopping by the car and riding directly next to me on the highway just to gawk.

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  Worth Every Penny & Beautiful - 2010 Lincoln MKT
  By MRBIO - June 3 - 5:53 am

  The styling is unique, which is why I bought it. I do not want a car like every other car on the road. I compared to Audi Q7, Acura MDX, BMW X5 and Buick Enclave. What other car has heated and cooled front and 2nd row seats, a fridge/freezer between the 2nd row seats, power fold 2nd and 3rd row seats, and safety like this? For the money, it is a great deal. Oh, and it is worth the extra money over the ford Flex (the box). The quality of the interior cannot even be compared.