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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  T.C. = TOWN CAR or TRASH CAN - 1999 Lincoln Town Car
  By lafayette_la_boy - July 6 - 10:00 am

  Well sense the transmission only seems to last about 3 years and 40,000 miles and takes a good week and a half to have rebuilt at the dealership because thankfully the car is still under factory warranty! The leather wrapped steering wheel, yeah dont get used to it! Ok, luxury cars should have full sized spare tires not DOUGHNUTs. BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, and Volvo may cost a little bit more but you pay for what you get! DO NOT BUY A TOWN CAR!

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  2000 Town Car - 2000 Lincoln Town Car
  By Jlodato - July 6 - 10:00 am

  The Town Car has lots of leg and head room. I love the way the car performs.

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  what a buy - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By janice - July 5 - 8:10 am

  we bought this lux.car with 64,000 for less than 5000. people at my husbands job were saying who got the new lincoln, and when he said it was 11 years old now body believed him,,they actually looked at the inspection sticker...it is such a pleasure to own this luxury car, handles great all the giggits and gaggets and very roomy, love the heated seats great car

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  WAKE UP EDMUNDS - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By sgw2002 - July 3 - 10:00 am

  The car is superb! This is what a full size luxury car is all about, not a mid size or compact foreign brand but a true full size American piece of iron. But the reviewers at Edmunds have forgotten the true purpose of a vehicle like the Town Car. The fit and finish of exterior metal is excellent as is the interior. Quite, comfortable, lots of space, descent MPG, more then adequate get-up-and go at a fraction of the price of a Deville. Caddy, eat your hear out! Edmunds, I little more objective reviewing, please.

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  I love my car! - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By cyn - July 3 - 3:00 am

  We bought this car in 08, with 42000 original miles on it in immaculate condition. We went from a Chevy Blazer to the Lincoln LS. What a difference! We got the deal of the century, and couldnt be happier!

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  So far so good on my first Lincoln - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By jak51 - July 2 - 11:13 pm

  Ride is very smooth and engine is very quiet at idle. Transmission shifts are barely noticeable. Interior still has some items that look like cheap plastic and dont fit very well. I will have them replaced.

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  Never Ending Problems - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By VegasRob - June 29 - 2:33 am

  I wish This car was more reliable because it was comfortable and fun to drive. It got about 16 mpg, the headlights always fogged up, and the computer message center malfunctioned quite often. I had this car less than a year and it was in the shop for repairs four times and for a total of a month and a half. My extended warranty took care of my collasped driver side window, and my reconstructed transmission, but I forked over around $800 each for faulty t-stat and cracked radiator fluid tank, and shorted MAF sensor which fried my computer system in the car. The car was stolen about a week ago and the cops havent found it yet. Maybe its a blessing in disguise. Who knows.....

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  Lincoln LS: Disappointment - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By D Waters - June 28 - 5:13 pm

  When we first got the car, I was somewhat (not very) excited, but now Im just disappointed. There are several pros and cons. PRO: The seats are pretty comfortable in the front. CON: In the rear seats, I noticed that this strange mix of dust and dirt blows in when you open the vents. PRO: At times, when youre slowly inching along (around 30 mph), you can get 40 mpg( the average is 16 mpg). CON: the radio is awful. PRO: So far, this car seems to be quite reliable. CON: The rear seats are very uncomfortable. CON: It was way overpriced for what its worth. (another)CON: This car just cant seem to stay in competition with foreign automakers. Were soon going to switch to a Mercedes S65 AMG.

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  Beware - 2008 Lincoln MKX
  By Lemon-08 - June 25 - 3:20 pm

  Whatever can go wrong with a car has on this one. Service department only contributing to issues. Over 50 days in the service department (not even 12,000 miles) Rebuilt transmission, transmission leak, sync, navigation system replaced, usb port replaced....

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  I love it - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By romaniv90 - June 25 - 2:46 am

  I bought my first LS in 2007 with 104K miles on it. Yesterday, Ive bought my second LS, and I love it. Yeah, I had some trouble with it, but its a used car with a lot miles on, so you should expect some repairs. The only problem Ive had with is it was overheating in traffic, so I went to many different mechanics, and they told me it might be a radiator, or a water pump. Eventually when I changed both of them myself, the motor on the fan broke, and that was the issue. So, I think its not the car, but some mechanics are just not educated enough.Otherwise, the car is amazing, Ive just got a black on black one with low miles, and I can tell you its something amazing for an 18 year old.