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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  Whats wrong with this Avaitor? - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By Pierrot - December 23 - 10:00 am

  I have 2250 miles on my 03 Avaitor and it went into the shop the day after delivery. It had a vibration on throughout the vehicle. It has been in the shop for twenty 20 days during the last 35 days. After replacement of many drivetrain parts and tires the dealer says that all Avaitors are like this according to Ford engineers.

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  LEMON! - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By buffmatt12 - October 15 - 4:10 pm

  This car is a problem machine! I bought my 2005 lincoln ls ultimate v8 a few years ago with 22k on it. I loved it for about a week because it looks nice,drives nice, and has every option you could ever want. As soon at the warrenty was at 50k the nightmare began! rear control arm went rims need to be replaced,air conditioning broke,colling system went, 3 wheel bearings,more cracks in the cooling system,7 coil packs, power window broke, electric parking brake switch went,advanced track needed service , leaking rear differential,driver seat moter, and now the power steering is acting up. all dealer repairs coasting over $6K .This really is the car from hell! DONT BUY!!!!!!

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  2016 MKZ Hybrid - NOT worth the money! - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By Benjamin Jones - October 13 - 5:36 pm

  1. MKZ Hybrid is advertised as getting 40+ mpg city/highway. I promise you it will never, ever do that. The best my wife and I ever get is 36.6. Our average is between 30 and 35. So dont be fooled by the salesman. 2. The style is actually incredible. We both love the look and feel of the interior. The outside is pretty sleek as well, but the "white" version is not a true white - more of a pearlescent white. 3. At a full tank the dash reads 500 miles to empty, give or take some. We get maybe 350 miles before we have to actually fill up, so do not be fooled into thinking that a brand new car is any more advanced than its predecessors. My old pickup truck is more accurate in fuel estimation. 4. Heres the biggest freaking problem we had with this car: It has had 2 mechanical repairs and 1 fuel efficiency evaluation done on it since we drove it off the lot a few months ago. The dealership in Stockton put up a huge fuss about how this couldnt be really happening, it never happens to these cars, and we must be mistaken. Well we were not mistaken. A fuel fumes leak was repaired, a purge valve was replaced, and we insisted they give us an extra 10,000 miles on the lease because of the incredible disappointment this car has been for us. It will not get the amazing gas mileage promised, it has a very slow and low performing engine, there is minimal trunk space, and our dealership (even though they make it seem like Lincoln owners get treated SO much better) treated us like trash. I am not kidding when I say that I had to call them countless time to even get an answer on our problems. It was a full-scale disaster. My suggestion: buy Ford Fusion hybrid if you want the American made car. Its the same engine system as the MKZ Hybrid and its like 30% cheaper! Dont fork out big money for something that doesnt deserve it and wont earn it.

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  2006 Lincoln Mark LT - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By Roy Ford - October 5 - 10:53 am

  Traded a Cadilac Escalade for the new LT. After a few weeks of owning the vehicle my impression is that Lincoln missed another opportunity. The interior is inferior to the Cadilac, there is no Nav system offered, the sound system is basic, only one 12v power source, the back seat rattles, no wood steering wheel, just an F150 with a little xtra. A swing and a miss.

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  Engine and road noise - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By Dr. Jim - September 12 - 10:00 am

  Very high engine noise in the passanger compartment while in second gear. Lower noise level in drive. Road noise very discernable. Not near as quiet as a Caddy.

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  Not bad for a Ford - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By gswar2003 - September 9 - 10:16 am

  I was a bit skeptical to buy it since my ford Exploder days. But I must admit it has been a joy to drive. I have had no major mechanical problems except running through brake pads like water. All & all a nice vehicle. The only think is for a $50,000 vehicle the cheap plastic pieces that break off need to go. I am looking forward to buying 04 or 05 Great family vacation car!

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  Disappointed Del - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Disappointed Del - September 7 - 12:50 am

  I am so disappointed in my 2004 Lincoln Aviator. I really wanted a Lincoln Navigator and when I went on the lot and saw the Aviator, I thought I was getting a deal. My warranty ended last year, 4 years came first and 56,000 miles at this point and I have a burnt valve inside the head. $3,000 is the estimated price quote to repair this problem. I have had nice luxury cars all my life and this is my first and last Lincoln. I am so disappointed. I have a 1995 Nissan Maxima with 160,000 miles no problem, I have had a Honda with 200,000 miles and no problems. My first car was a Hyundai and I had a 100,000 + miles and no problems. I think Ill stick with foreign cars in the future.

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  2003 Aviator A/C stinks, - literally! - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By Carol - August 4 - 3:53 am

  Chose an Aviator as an SUV that wasnt huge but had the power to haul our boat. Like the interior and the ride, but have been very disappointed with the number of problems we have had. Currently experiencing problems with the A/C which blows foul smelling humid air at us. Service rep says this is due to condensation sitting in the compressor creating mildew and is normal. Technicians repeatedly claim they cant detect a foul odor. Have recently met another 03 Aviator owner with the same beef. Wonder what kind of health hazard might be posed by mould or mildew in the air system. Anyone else with this problem? We are taking it to the regional level with the dealer. Will post our results

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  Great Car - Do NOT get the My Touch Nav System - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By Michelle - August 4 - 1:07 am

  This care is so comfortable and drives fantastic... BUT do not let them sell you on the My Touch navigation system. They are moving all this year to Sync 3 which is great but are still selling early 2016 models with My Touch - It is frustrating, slow and will leave you stranded. I had a loaner with the Sync 3 and it was night and day. I love this car but I bet I will get rid of it within 3 years due to the navigation system....It takes forever to compute and randomly the keyboard just disappears. I have taken it in and they cant do anything about it... I would recommend this car to anyone as long as you dont get suckered into the old nav system. I do have to say that the service folks and Gwinnett Lincoln have been a pleasure to deal with. I do wish the Lincoln dealership/Service was completely separate from Ford due to it is very busy but the staff does go above and beyond.

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  I hope this review saves you from making the same mistake I did - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By dunndarryn - July 27 - 5:36 pm

  Dont buy this car if you have any kind of budget to live on. My mom bought my LS when it had 60k miles in 2006 and gave it to me in 2011 and I sold it in November 2012. It was beautiful for a while but as the miles stacked up, so did the problems. Between the money we both had to put into that car in repairs to keep it running, we paid for it at least 3 times. They are beautiful cars but they are problematic and expensive to fix. If you are dead set on getting an LS, get a Gen. 2 (2003-2006) with LOW miles and do your research before making a decision! I cant stress that enough.