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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  Edmunds is Way Off Base! - 2010 Lincoln MKT
  By FoMoCoBob - April 21 - 10:00 am

  Have about 6500 miles on the MKT - vehicle is awesome! Styling definitely stands out-not another blah Lexus look-a-like. Performance kicks u- no-what! Lincoln definitely slammed one out of the park with this one. Style, comfort, performance, utility, technology, economy - its all there - the total package! And guess what I forgot to mention - quality - from an American company - you already know it! If you buy from someone else, you truly are non-American. There is nothing the Asian 3 can offer that surpasses this vehicle.

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  2001 LS Review - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By Mick - April 21 - 1:06 am

  We purchased our 2001 low mileage Ford-Certified LS this February. There are few minor problems—they are covered under warranty and will be fixed when we return the vehicle for its complementary oil change. We used CarFax to research its history—thus ensuring a safe purchase. Our LS has extremely responsive steering. Good road feel. The seating is *very* comfortable. The car is very quick—with the refinement of a Lincoln. Absent is the noise and road-roughness usually associated with quick vehicles—making it paramount to pay attention to that speedometer. We are experiencing 18-19 mpg city and 22-25 mpg highway. Overall, this car is a lot of fun to drive.

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  fun on wheels - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By deaconron - April 17 - 2:00 am

  I have just changed from a Marquis to the LS- it is fun,it is fast , it is comfortable with all the bells and whistles, and great handling.

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  Overall Overview - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By Pynna - April 15 - 10:00 am

  We had purchased a used 98 navigator and so far it drives so much fun. It takes off and have a lot of power. The downsides were the labor cost of this vehicle.

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  Cruising in the wind - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Crusin Zephyr - April 12 - 2:43 am

  Having owned this car for two weeks has been great fun. The black on black combination is a real head turner.The performance and handling both have exceeded my expectations. If Tiffany & Company sold cars this would definitely be a jewel in the blue box!

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  fun car to drive - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By mikelb - April 10 - 2:00 am

  great car to drive. nice wide comfortable seats, looks great

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  the ride of your life - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By linconman - April 5 - 10:00 am

  for a smooth ride there is only one car that comes to mind town car

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  MKS great car - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By mjc - April 3 - 5:23 am

  I can not understand why the "experts" say that this car is pricey. I challenge anyone to find a luxury car with all the electronics and features that the MKS come with for this cheap. My last two cars were Mercedes and BMW and the MKS hands down is more sporty, more comfortable, nicer looking, and better value by far. The 20 inch wheels is a must. Navigation and Audio sys. is second to none. Seats are the most comfortable seats Ive ever sat in. rear camera is nice. Another thing the so called experts bash, is the acceleration. This car has plenty of power, I agree its not a dragster by any means but it has plenty of acceleration. Get more power they will complain about MPG!!!!!!

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  Love It!!!!!!! - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By Deb - April 2 - 11:03 pm

  I love everything about my Aviator. I got a great deal from an excellent dealership.

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  Steves Navigator review - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Steven Merrell - March 31 - 10:00 am

  This is my third Navigator and it is the best I have had. The ride is better than ever with independent supention in the rear. Style is better this year. It could use more power though.