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:

• 

  2004 LS - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By MJFetner - November 11 - 5:16 am

  No complaints. Delivered with all the bells and whistles working. The perfect size for me.

• 

  My Lincoln LS - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By 4 door v6 sedan lx - November 10 - 1:40 am

  I do not like the way the front seat safety belts fasten. They are too hard since they are so close to the console.The transmission seems to jerk sometime while changing. I have advised the dealersip of this twice and they cannot find any reason it would do this and while test driving , it does not do it. The time and temp. are hard to read in the daytime.

• 

  mistake - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Steteven Willams - November 7 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car 6 months ago and I have been at the mecanic 9 times for enigine problems. This car is to big and handles just okay. The only thing good about it is its a smooth ride and it has AWD. I awlways buy BMWs and Hondas. My wife still has an 1987 Honda Accord and she also has a BMW 5 series from 1997. Both cars had only 1 problem each. I just sold my 1981 Honda accord for $700 with $300,000 miles on it and one problem in 1990 and one in 2001. Next year I am going to buy myself a new Toyota Avalon.

• 

  The Best Ride Ever! - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By Beth752 - November 5 - 2:00 am

  I wanted to own a Navigator from its conception, and in March 2001 I bought one. After owning one for nearly 2 years, I know Ill keep buying them as long as they build them. It was everything I wanted in an SUV and more. The ride is great, and it handles the road with excellent command. I hope to purchase my 2nd new Navie in March 2003.

• 

  Nice to look at, but VERY poor quality - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By BAR - November 5 - 2:00 am

  Very simply, constantly in the shop from the second day of ownership. Heated seat never worked, power window stopped working, lights went out, wipers went out, trim falls off, thermostat went out, seatbelt incorrectly installed, power locks went out, and on and on. I tried to be a patriot and got really badly burned. This is NOT a luxury automobile.

• 

  bad bad bad bad bad TOWN CAR - 1999 Lincoln Town Car
  By town car owner - November 5 - 2:00 am

  TERRIBLE SERVICE TERRIBLE SEATS I ALWAYS GET BACK PAIN TERRIBLE EVERYTHING ALL I HAD FROM THIS CAR IS PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 

  Love my Aviator - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By LD - November 3 - 10:50 pm

  Had my Aviator since 2003 and loved every day I have had it. I cant beleive they dont make them any more. For sure, I would go out and purchase another one. I also thought this about my Mark VII. I guess I am just hooked on a Lincolns.

• 

  Confused now... - 2007 Lincoln Town Car
  By Confused now.... - November 3 - 7:56 pm

  I have had the car for over a year and not in love with it yet. I am a fairly young driver for this type of car (34 when I bought it). I owned a Deville prior and am leaning towards another one. The air ride was better in the Cadillac, instrument panel had more options, seats were more comfortable, engine performance much, much better, and features that Lincoln doesnt even offer.

• 

  A nice car for the money - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By H.Haller - November 2 - 9:50 am

  Good riding car. Good acceleration. easy handling. Nice appealing interior. Excellent sound system.

• 

  The Only Lincoln That Matters - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By ill drive - October 31 - 12:46 am

  I purchased the LS after having to put up with a company issued Taurus. I immediately got a feel for the road again. The LS is glued to the road. It felt secure on turns even high speed ones. I purchased the V6 so the pickup wasnt great, but it was respectable for a V6. I got it in Silver with Grey Leather. The wood trim really made the interior. I upgraded to larger wheels, which gave the exterior a sporty look. As far as maintenance, it was never a problem. I had it in for regular maintenance for the 40,000 miles I had it on the road.