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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  Missing a few items - 2007 Lincoln Navigator L
  By familyman - December 4 - 6:33 am

  Very smooth, quiet ride. We have four teenagers, all tall, and the leg room in the second and especially the third row cant be beat. Looked at the Escalade ESV, Mercedes Benz GL 450 and the QX 56. Decided on the Navigator L because of price, the roomy interior and the power fold third row. I only have had it about a month, but so far I like it. My previous SUV was a 2002 GMC Denali. Definitely an upgrade on interior space, although the Denali was not as firm to drive. I do believe that Lincoln left off a few items that should have been included on their "premier SUV". No bluetooth, backup camera, heated second row seats, mute button on steering wheel or even daytime running lights.

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  You have to drive one to believe it!!! - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By TM1 - December 1 - 10:00 am

  This is something that I recently picked up for my wife. We are expecting our first child shortly and I wanted to get her something that was safe, practical, elegant, rugged, and could perform. Needless to say, all of my avenues led me to my local Lincoln dealership in Clifton, NJ where I purchased the "Ultimate SUV". We love our Navigator. I would highly reccomend this car to anyone.

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  2003 2wd Ultimate Pkg Lincoln Nav - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By JC Cobra - December 1 - 10:00 am

  I call it a Continental on steroids. It rides and handles like a sedan, and has all the amenities too. Lots of bells and whistles make it fun to drive. The interior is very well appointed, and makes you forget you are in an SUV. It is obvious Lincoln made safety features a priority with audible object detection and tilt down exterior mirrors when reversing, standard side impact airbags, "smart" front impact air bags and advanced suspension systems. Power and gas milage are the only low marks I would give this SUV.

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  Nice Town Car - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By CASH - December 1 - 10:00 am

  This Is Our Third TC And They Get Better And Better. The Comfort Cannot Be Beat. I Really Like The Performance On The 03 TC, It Is A Joy To Drive.

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  The Ultimate Christmas Gift! - 2010 Lincoln MKX
  By james - November 27 - 2:10 am

  My wife surprised me with a 2010 Lincoln MXK for the holidays and I am impressed with this vehicle. This is my first crossover vehicle. We live in Philadelphia where the roads are terrible. The MKX is very smooth with excellent handling. There are no blind spots to worry about due to the large side mirrors. The overall responsiveness of the MKX is great when driving in challenging conditions like snow. We just received 24" of the white stuff and the MKX remained under control at all times. The turning radius is excellent as well when trying to negotiate small side streets and tight parking spaces. The MKX is meeting the challenges of the city without hesitation.

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  Excellent in all ways. - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Glynn - November 26 - 5:00 am

  This is one the best cars I have had the pleasure to drive and own. After test driving this car I did not even want to look at any others. I used to long for a BMW or Mercedes, but no longer. I am now a loyal customer for many years to come.

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  40,000 and a few more problems - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Mongo - November 26 - 3:20 am

  Still a fine performer, but have experienced a few more issues. New starter, left rear window stopped working both fixed under warranty. Now the ABS light came on and the cruise control stopped working. I guess we will see the value of the extended warranty next. Still, nothing comes close on the highway.

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  American Icon For Pennies - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By Springunner - November 25 - 6:46 pm

  $27,000 out the door with heated seats, sun roof and adj. pedals. Yes it looks like a Galant and a BMW at times. It is a steal and sure its not the greatest car on the road. However the Mercedes snobs best do a search on the Merc E350 and it is true that the Mercedes is the bomb when its not in the garage or on the side of the road. And who needs the $100 oil changes and the expense. The Lincoln takes care of you for the first 12mo/12K miles on maintenance. Yes I would like to have had more features on the inside- slightly wider seats in the front, better basic radio with less controls and a better dash layout. Sure Id like to have another 50 hp too. But Lincoln treats me like a star.

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  Love my MKX - 2011 Lincoln MKX
  By drewxmas - November 23 - 10:00 am

  I have only had the MKX for a couple of weeks but did take it on a long road trip (3KM). We had a full load with 2 adults, two children, two dogs and a cat. The ride was comfortable and it made the trip a joy. The technology is fantastic. We had the Navigation system lock up once and had to turn the car off to get it to reset. The THX sound system is awesome as well. Overall a fun luxury vehicle - love it.

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  1998 Nav Still Going Strong - Smoothly - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By Carlos - November 21 - 7:06 am

  Had my grandpa up this week, and he still marvels at the look and drivability of my 98 Nav. I have enjoyed it from day 1. Of course gas prices were south of $1 when I first bought it, and I have been getting 15 MPG for as long as I have had it, so this is one of the drawbacks. When it is cleaned up, waxed, and wheels detailed, it is still quite an impressive vehicle.