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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  Great SUV - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By TheGoodLife - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Got my 03 in Sept & have loved driving it. Quiet & smooth ride. The handling characteristics give you confidence in any situation. Very agile despite size. The fuel economy is poor. Supposed to use 91+ fuel so that adds to the expense at the pump.Love the pwr running boards.IMO they help getting in & out especially for older passengers. We take father-in-law to dr appts & he absolutely loves & prefers the ride in that car over his.(Works for Caddy dealer) We could have purchased an Escalade $50 below dealer cost, but I was so impressed with the Navi & all the features that it had that the Caddy did not that I paid the higher price for the Navi

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  The perfect small SUV - 2008 Lincoln MKX
  By Pete - September 16 - 5:26 pm

  Im a coupe kind of guy. I like to be low to the ground and have a grip of where all my tires are. The idea of an SUV has never really intrigued me... that is until I test drove the MKX. It was small enough that I felt like I still had control of it and large enough to handle any extra storage we may need. I loved the black interior with natural colored wood grain trim. Its the perfect combination in my opinion. On top of the black exterior. For an 08 the features are pretty outstanding. The white dash lights are very nice as opposed to the green or amber Ive been so accustomed to. The ride is very comfortable and the cooled/heated seats make it even more comfortable. The interior lighting is bright, but its not annoying to the driver. The only thing we had come up with it is the speed sensor went out 1500 miles after owning it. Fortunately, the dealer put a 3000 mile warranty on it, pretty surprising for an 8 year old vehicle, and it was covered. Otherwise, it was about an $800 expense. Regardless, I love this SUV. Im very glad we held out and went with Lincoln. Even though Im a Toyota guy, I have always liked Ford, and I figured Lincoln was the way to go if I wanted all the features.

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  What a machine!!!!!! - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By Steve D Henegar - September 12 - 10:00 am

  My experience with this new car has been awsome. Its hard to believe that this an american made automobile. The handling and performance is almost unbelievable. My last three cars have been BMW 5 series, and I hate to say it but after buying this 03 LS my BMW days are probably over.

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  Outdated, needs upgrades - 2007 Lincoln Navigator L
  By jr17 - September 10 - 3:08 am

  I bought the Nav thinking I would come to love it, but it never happened. The rear end, tail lights, looks really outdated. Make the taillights more stylish and make the rear window smaller. That giant window in back is getting old and boring. Add a back up cam, and make this more aerodynamic. I like Ford, and it drives nice, but the motor like the chassis is outdated. 300 hp for a vehicle this big? Come on, this think should have 350 hp with 15-17 mpg. If you cant get this., fire your engineers and hire someone else.. No more Ford for me.

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  Best of the Lux SUVs - 2007 Lincoln Navigator
  By NavRick - September 9 - 10:30 am

  I tested them all, and being a minivan guy, all the new SUVs had shortcomings. The Navigator had the most pluses with the least minuses. I wanted smooth, quiet, luxury, and functionality, and I believe I got it! This is my first SUV, my biggest hurdle was getting over the fact that while these vehicles are much larger than my Sienna minivan, they all have much less interior space, storage and functionality. That said, the family wanted to change and we are very happy with the purchase.

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  My Truck - 2007 Lincoln Mark LT
  By Sharon - September 3 - 6:56 am

  I like to drive this truck. I am a 5 4" woman drove 7,000 miles in nine days PA to CA and back to PA. My truck preformed great. Had some problems with the chrome wheels peeling, Lincoln replaced all four.

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  Towncar - American luxury at its best - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By TomnMaryland - September 3 - 5:16 am

  Ive owned many vehicles in my 25+ years of driving. BMW 5-series, other imports, domestics....My wife literally LOVES her car. Now, I do too! The overall combination - roomy interior, gas mileage, easy to drive - makes Towncar an awesome choice. Get one for yourself, youll agree.

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  Great Car - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Sally Steiner - September 2 - 5:16 pm

  What a welcome change from the lumbering behemoths of Lincolns recent past. This car was really quick, fun to drive, good looking inside and had very good amenities for driver and passenger alike. White Pearl finish was awesome. I wish Lincoln would have simply kept working on upgrading the car instead of discontinuing it. Could have been a classic.

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  Not My Expedition - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By Golfingg - September 1 - 10:00 am

  I traded in a 2003 Eddie Bauer Expedition for the Aviator. It was a great trade. It has more power and although it is not quite as big, it is still very comfortable for my family of four. The power is unbelievable.

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  Riding your best chair & tv - 1999 Lincoln Town Car
  By JustRon - September 1 - 10:00 am

  If were any smoother, quite, you would need a wake up call. The loudest thing in the car is the thumb switches on the steering wheel. Long trips require waking up at least every hour. 30-100 mph do differance, real smooth. One window need ajustment.