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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  Excellent Luxury Vehicle! - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By pop123 - April 20 - 7:00 am

  This suv is a very good value, i love the seats, they are so comfortable, and the ride is amazing, the Engine is very powerful, i love the black clear coat, and Soundmark sound system, heated and cooled seats are Great job Lincoln! shouldnt have ceased production on these fantastic vehicles!also a plus. Never had one problem with this truck yet.

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  Luv It - 2008 Lincoln Navigator
  By Laura - April 18 - 2:26 am

  Love it! This is the most comfortable car I have ever been in. When my friends and I go out their Hondas and BMWs stay home and we take my Navigator becuase its the most comfortable of all of our cars. I love that it never goes back to the dealership. My old Mercedes G500 spent more time at the dealer than with me so this is a wonderful improvement. My husband tells me that my Navigator is based on the same vehicle as his Expedition and he puts over 150,000 miles on them with no problems. I look forward to keeping my car for a long time.

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  Awsome ride - 2010 Lincoln MKX
  By Alex H Smith - April 17 - 1:53 pm

  I just purchased the Lincoln MKX and took it on a 5000 mile road trip. At the very beginning we ran into a snow storm the highway was poorly plowed and the MKX with AWD did not miss a beat I saw numerous vehicles off the road 18 wheelers, cars and trucks. The MKX was awesome, it was hard to see the shoulder and I drove on it several times it just did not miss a beat. The best driving car I every drove.

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  2008 - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By Matt - April 14 - 4:30 pm

  Beautiful looking car. Needs more interior head room for anyone taller then 6. Trunk lid should be easier to operate. Powerful, comfortable. No mechanical failures 2400 miles. Good buy for the money so far. This is my 3rd Ford product.

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  My Pleasure - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By gtex - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Pleasure to drive. Comfort plus performance,

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  Lincoln Navigator Rocks - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By t time - April 13 - 10:00 am

  The new Lincoln Navigator is not only beautiful, particularly on the inside, but it is unbelievably comfortable and powerful. Plus, they thought of everything. The navigation system is easy to use, easy to read, and hard to believe how accurate it is. The power folding split rear seat makes it so versatile. Kids love the power retracting side steps. The new oversized side mirrors make terrific visualization. The heated and cooled front seats are ultra-comfortable. Plus, the interior is so cool looking!

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  nice - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By donny190 - April 13 - 10:00 am

  looke at the caddy and the mercedes to much for mercedes and cadillac was nice but the ride wasnt as good. this vehicle has the best ride in its class plenty of room and great feature have owned a lincoln before and liked it but i found somethign better and this time nothign bet it. fun to drive for such a large car and will enjoy this car for many years.

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  My Little Smoothie - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By Gredblg - April 12 - 6:03 pm

  After having cars in my life that could spin tires from a stop light or carry loads of lumber, I decided that I needed a smoother, quieter, more luxurious car. I am in my car everyday as a sales guy, so I wanted something that would make my very active day a pleasant, calming experience. I got everything I wanted and more in my beautiful, Tuxedo Black Lincoln. I enjoy the smooth,velvety,quick 0-60, the library quiet cabin, the 14 speaker THX stereo with voice activated everything, the heated/cooled seats, the huge amount of room and the subtle, tasteful design that people compliment me on almost daily. Great job, Ford. Who needs a stipped down, bland, boring Lexus for the same price?

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  5 years of ownership - 1997 Lincoln Continental
  By scopen - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Great power for a big car. Great trunk size. I always had trouble with brakes every 20M miles. rear view mirror stopped working and will cost $500 to replace. I havent, still looking for a used one. Other than that, still a great car. I have 95M now. Id buy another one, but they stopped making them.

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  Lincoln Navigator - Essence of Luxury! - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Rahul Kapoor - April 9 - 4:13 pm

  I have owned the Ultimate Navi almost three years now and it is unbelievably reliable. I do not want to get rid of it as of now because it sticks out much more boldly than the newer SUVs at this time. SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade, Hummer H2, Range Rover, Infiniti QX56, Mercedes Benz GL Class, etc... This vehicle is at the top of the luxury chain in my opinion rated bias or not. I have test driven other SUVs and nothing compares to this. It gets me and my family around comfortably and it feels like home even on the road considering the ultimate entertainment system. I have had no problems when driving it and the only thing I see when I drive is heads turning. Overall, this SUVs amazing