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:

• 

  One of the Best - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By Vera and Mike - July 30 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my share of automobiles, Cadillacs, SUVs, etc. So far this is one of best I have driven for confort.

• 

  Town Car #2 - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By KenL - July 27 - 5:56 am

  After a roll over crash in a SUV I have been a big fan of large sedans. Have owned a 1994 Crown Vic, and a 1999 Town Car Signature in the past. Last week I purchased a 2004 Towncar Ultimate with 53K miles on it. Whom ever owned it took good care of it as it looks like brand new. Without question the most comfortable vehicle I have ever ridden in with luxury featurs galore. I am disappointed to hear that Lincoln is planning to discontinue this model. That would be a big mistake. I love this car.

• 

  I love this car - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By Anne - July 23 - 5:03 pm

  this is my second navigator and I love it. I do miss the arm rests that my older navigator had.

• 

  My Lincoln LS - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Jane & Wes Breschini - July 23 - 5:26 am

  My experience with my Lincoln LS has been very satisfactory. I had driven a GM Buick Park Avenue for 7 years and also had a good experience except, I wanted a smaller car but with the same amenities and quality as my Buick. I love this car....it is smaller in size and I ride in great comfort. I purchased it off the lot.......I had a list of what I wanted and there it was, color and everything with some extra features. I am 70 years old.

• 

  Lovin my Lincoln - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By Mitch in N.C. - July 22 - 3:53 pm

  08 brings std. cooled seats, reverse sensing and new sync system with hands free, voice activated mp3 and phone features. Drives,rides and looks great! Dont waste your money on foreign competition, give this car a test drive first! We can pick any car apart,but with the money we save on this car, it will come in handy with gas prices headed way up!

• 

  Luxury on Wheels - 2000 Lincoln Navigator
  By Peavley - July 22 - 2:00 am

  I had considered purchsing a 2002 Cadillac SUV, but after purchasing the Navigator from a Cadillac dealership I realized that the cost of a vehicle does not represent the comfort level received. Scott Haberman from LUND Cadillac made my buying experience memorable. The car rides like a luxury car. In my opinion it is better that the Cadillac.

• 

  Continental review - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By Lexus Owner - July 22 - 2:00 am

  Its a great car!

• 

  What an Amazing Car! - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Very Impressed - July 21 - 10:40 pm

  I am so happy that I got the MKZ. I never thought that I would have ended up buying a Ford car, but I must say the MKZ has really changed my mind about Fords cars. It looks way better than the Lexus inside and out, has plenty of power and a nice sounding growl from the V6 and to top it off, it even runs on regular gas! AWD is a must if you live in a snowy region. The transmission is always in the right gear and it is extremely smooth. This is a fun to drive car for me, and at the same time has plenty of luxury and comfort features such as standard heated seats. The quality of the MKZ is up to or better than the Japanese offerings. For the price of this car, it simply cannot be beat.

• 

  navigator - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By chad bowers - July 21 - 1:13 am

  good

• 

  Great Addition to the Lincoln Line - 2017 Lincoln MKC
  By Charles W - July 21 - 12:38 am

  As another reviewers title says, "This is not your grandpas Lincoln." I thought that when I first test drove one, and I would have used the title here if it hadnt already been used. I have been a Ford product owner since my first new car, and this is my eighth new car. I traded in my 2002 Eddie Bauer Explorer with almost 250,000 miles on it for the MKC. I wanted something a bit smaller with better gas mileage while offering quality. I will say that I always said Id never spend more than $35,000 on a car, but the MKC Reserve certainly stickered for substantially more. However, I believe that for the price and from a comparison standpoint, the MSRP is not out of line. The fit and finish on the vehicle is outstanding, and Ive had a number of compliments on the car from passersby. People really like to comment on my kicking under the rear to open the rear hatch. People also love the welcome lighting in the car. Ive had the car for almost 10 months, and I can honestly say it has exceeded my expectations. Ive read reviews from individuals and ratings companies (e.g., magazine editors) that the mileage estimates are way off. I have to say that is not my experience. Other ratings Ive seen in some reviewers were actually lower than I expected. At speeds from 65 to 73 on the highway, Ive actually hit 34+ mpg. Thats better than the highway mpg on the window sticker. So, this is definitely good mileage. And with over 11,000 miles on the car now, the average mileage since Ive owned it has averaged 24.4 miles. I love BLIS, adaptive cruise control, the heated and cooled seats (cooled are going to be very important in the southern heat), the My Lincoln app, extremely comfortable seats, active park assist and other options. I joke that I actually had to read the manual to learn how to use the car. Oh, and I cant forget the push button start and remote functions, including starting from my phone. And speaking of the phone, my iPhone works great with SYNC 3. Bluetooth works well, voice recognition is great, and the nav system is handy - I had no desire to get the nav system, but it came with the package, and I actually use it to see what traffic is like when going to and from work. And the THX optional sound system is outstanding - its a new way to listen to my music! After 10 months and 11,300 miles, I still find no negative issues with the car. Burgundy velvet with the ebony interior is a great combination, too.