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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  axle issues on 2003 models - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By eugeneinchicago - May 19 - 7:46 pm

  I own multiple cars, 98 town car, s500 98, mercury GM 98 and this one 2003 town car. Better ride than anything else, not as soft as 98 town car though, they changed the front suspension and the ride became firmer. All model year 2003 town cars (made in the year 2002) have issues with the rear axle, I had to replace mine after 18,000 miles on it, and I dont drive much at all so it was at my expense, there was a recall on all of these cars but a free repair was only for vehicles sold to fleets rather than individuals, If you hear a whining sound from the rear, or any sort of "road noise" that means the rear axle is bad. They did resolve the problem on all of 2004+ town cars.

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  Great to drive - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By Richard - May 18 - 5:36 am

  Fun to drive & dont take up my whole garage. Most of my driving is turnpike avg 17.5 mpg. Not bad for the Navigator look without the bite at the pump.

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  luxury meets affordable - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By Richie rich - May 17 - 11:03 am

  The ride is comfortable. I love the drivers seat that is programmable for 2 drivers. Just push a button and seat goes to your drive setting. Love everything about this car.

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  Town Car - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By stang99x - May 12 - 10:00 am

  An excellent riding car that almost drives itself.

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  The ultimate big ride! - 2000 Lincoln Navigator
  By Thespecialist - May 12 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the most comfortable, family friendly SUVs around. This is the 4th Lincoln I have owned, so I may be biased! Awesome styling, a car- like ride, tons of power, and head- turning looks are all standard. I dont care too much about the gas mileage - hey, how many people buy big SUVs for the economy? You buy them because they do what you want them to do, and do it well. So if I get 14 MPG versus 20 for a generic mini-van, who cares? I will gladly pay the extra price. The prices for used Expeditions and Navigators are very reasonable, and they really are great values.

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  Great Value as Late Model Used Car - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Ridgeliner - May 10 - 7:53 am

  We bought this car in mid-2008 at a time when dealers were hurting. It had 9,000 miles on it. We are now over 27,000 miles and the car has performed wonderfully. No this is not a European/Japanese luxury car. But it delivers good gas mileage, 23/29, great comfort and it looks sharp. It has also proven to be very reliable. As a late model used car, the MKZ can be a super value!

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  Love my Navigator - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By Kendall Harris - May 5 - 9:56 pm

  All I can say is that Ive Never had any problems at all Only thing Ive had Replaced were the Brakes which at the time I thought were to early but after talking to people they said 48000 miles wasnt that bad for a car this size.

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  Best bang for buck - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By David - April 28 - 7:23 pm

  I looked at all the SUV crossovers and I think that this is the best mid sized SUV. The brakes are good, fuel economy could be better but the engine is not broken in yet. I think Ford has a winner, but they need to educate their dealerships about the car. Not up to BMW or Lexus standards, which I also own.

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  Loving my MKZ - 2013 Lincoln MKZ
  By petemkz - April 26 - 3:01 pm

  Ive had this car for about a month now and Im loving it more each day I drive it. First of all it is BEAUTIFUL inside and out, it drives like a dream and I love the "VALUE" I got from this car. I looked at the BMW 528 and MB E300H and they start at 50k+ and dont have some of the great stuff I has. I got 46mpg from two fill-ups, but I drive mostly on electric and in traffic and take my time! if you drive slowly and give yourself lots of stop distance you can get 45+mpg. Love the LED lights inside and out and the AC front "seats" and the adaptive cruise / LED headhlights / ride controls. The voice control system is awesome,it can control almost anything (calls, Nav, Temp and Radio / Sat).

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  Buy One - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Chuck C. - April 24 - 2:00 am

  I tried them all.cmfort,ease in driving and good looks.Buy U.S.buy lincoln.The cost of maint.compared to BMW&MBZ your $$ahead with Lincoln