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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  The Last of the LS? Too Bad!! - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By kpie - July 17 - 3:16 pm

  Dollar for dollar this is the best vehicle Ive ever owned. Good looks, style, comfort, very tight handling and quiet as a tomb. Performance and economy are more than adequate. Fit and finish are fine. Now at 55K+ miles it is as good as the day I bought it. I only wish I could buy another one that is brand new. However, these are rare and the prices are much greater than what I had paid for my car. But, Id buy a new one if I could find one with even a reasonable price.

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  Best Car Ever - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By goodyrl - July 16 - 9:00 am

  This car rocks ! Service great! Like the looks of Beemer Drivers that have paid thousands more and got less!

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  Poor Mans BMW - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By John - July 14 - 1:06 am

  We were looking for a performance car with 4 doors and a V-8 to replace our aging Grand Marquis. We settled on the LS after our first test drive. The LS delivers when it comes to power and acceleration and gets decent gas mileage on the highway (24 MPG) and has all the creature comforts you would expect to find on a luxury sport sedan. I would compare it to a BMW 7 series in styling and performance for about half the price. There have been no problems since we had it and the bumper to bumper warranty with free maintenance has made the LS a worry free purchase. The 6 speed transmission shifts flawlessly under full power and the sound from under the hood tells you that this car is a beast!

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  COOL MAMA IN A COOL CLASSY CAR - 2013 Lincoln MKT
  By Classy, coolco - July 12 - 4:09 am

  My car is cool, classy and it stands out amongst the other boring looking SUVs. I leased my 2013 MKT and my lease is up soon. Im thinking about buying another one. Ive been researching and test driving other SUVs and none of them compare. I tested the enclave, MDX, qx60 and none of them have the excitement behind the wheel as the MKT. I tend to drive pretty swiftly and I love the powerful ecoboost engine. If I need to pass another driver I can do it with great confidence. I also love that I have the benefits of a minivan without actually having to drive a minivan.... Im too cool for that! My husband loves my car too and agrees that buying one when my lease is up is best. LINCOLN PLEASE DONT STOP MAKING THE MKT!!!!! Lincoln hmade a classyclassy SUV that out performs any other SUV on the road in this price range!

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  Best value ever - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By marh42 - July 11 - 11:12 am

  I bought this car Feb 1st for $450.00. One service and a window regulator is the ONLY money I have spent. Has 234,000 miles, acts like most 50,000 mile cars I have been in.

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  The Greatest Travel Vehicle - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By Bobby Hodum - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I absolutely love this vehicle. I bought it used with 20,000 miles, and I have loved driving it. Ive often said that if someone offered me a free new vehicle of my choice, I would choose another Navigator. My only complaint is with service. Fortunately, Ive needed very little service, but when I do, my experiences with the local dealer have always been negative. If you have a good local dealer, thats great! But my local dealer may have driven me to purchase another vehicle.

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  Great value great service - 2015 Lincoln Navigator
  By James - July 10 - 6:49 pm

  I have a 2015 Select Navigator L. Bought this truck in November of 2014 before the dealer had any on display in the lot and still got a great deal. Service has been very good. A year after buying the car I asked about replacing a seat cover that had a slight factory defect (wrinkle) I noticed when new but not till after purchase and bothered me over time. They did the right thing and replaced the seat cover under warranty ] to the tune of about $1200. Probably Im lucky to have a good dealer but not all manufacturers would oblige me this way after the sale Im sure. Like a previous review said this is a very nicely powered great riding and functional suv. I have had no issues and it tows my boat on vacations like its not even there. Surprisingly easy to maneuver for such a large truck. Its so big I have to park it diagonally in my 3 car garage but bliss alleviates the need for hanging a tennis ball. The main thing is everything works well and I think Lincoln did a good job of updating with mature tried and true 6 speed transmission, ecoboost engine and bug free navigation. Voice command works well and features like nearby movie theatres and show times is really nice. Not super fast and interface is a little complicated but ultimately rewarding Bluetooth and hd radio sound best on the THX audio system.The platform doesnt allow for some of the newer features like adaptive cruise but I find incrementing the speed using the steering wheel buttons works well on trips and I dont have to worry about the car slamming on the brakes when passing a semi like Ive read is happening with other manufactures who have bugs in their advanced electronics. Has all the nice luxury features I need like power everything (steering column, pedals, folding seats and heated and cooled seats standard. This truck is exceptionally quick, smooth, and roomy, and CAPABLE. Fit and finish is pretty good but not as good as like and escalade but then this is much less expensive and much nicer looking than the expeditions interior in my opinion. I like to research and am glad I bought this over its domestic rivals due to all the problems they are having with their all new designs which I think are too small inside and not advanced enough in their mechanical engineering which is where I think Ford has a leg up on the competition.

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  Most under-rated Great car on the road. - 2002 Lincoln Continental
  By PERRY - July 8 - 7:06 am

  I purchased this car in Nov. 01 and its been great. Really dont understand Ford decision to stop making such a nice car. Would buy another, if given the chance.

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  I love my MKX - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By Meg - July 7 - 3:35 am

  Comfortable and enough get up and go to keep me happy. I really do like this car and feel like driving it is stress free and almost relaxing. Great in snow and on ice with the AWD. I am getting better mileage than the sticker sheet said so am pleased with that.

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  Good car. Wish part quality was better - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By LSSport 01 - July 6 - 10:00 am

  I have only owned my LS Sport for four months, but so far, it has proved to be a reliable, fun-to-drive, comfortable car that competes well with foreign makes. I do have a few complaints, however. Mainly, materials are inferior to similarly-priced imports. This car has its share of shortcomings, but could be outstanding if some of them are addressed.