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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  unknown answer - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By h82bbt - January 13 - 10:00 am

  I enjoy the Town Car, especially the exterior design. The interior need some work

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  Linc-tastic - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By Kevin Markin - January 13 - 1:00 am

  The lincoln looks like a car of the future, I got the panoramic sunroof, with white paint. Everybody looks when you drive this baby by, gas mileage is so-so, not too sure yet.

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  Competent. Reliable. Luxurious. - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By JMARKV - January 11 - 10:00 am

  I found the car competent and powerful. Gas milage was exceptional (18-24 mpg). Despite its size, the TC was very agile and composed even when pressed to the limits. Loved the cars looks.

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  Great value in a luxury midsize SUV - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By CB - January 9 - 3:30 am

  Im very pleased with my new 05 Aviator so far. The handling and driving performance are excellent, comparable to my previous SUV (2002 Lexus RX300), and thats saying a lot. Very plush, feature-laden interior with excellent use of space. Logical instrument layout. Overall looks are great--definitely like taking all the best things about a Navigator and shrinking it down slightly to a more manageable level, while still having an ample 3rd row for families with kids. Employee pricing and other incentives make this a hard deal to beat in this segment! If youre looking for a luxury SUV with a 3rd row, youd be hard pressed to find a better combo of value, styling and performance.

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  Great SUV - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By MjM - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I have driven a lot of SUVs and this is by far the best. Beautiful vehicle and beautiful ride. It has everything that you could want.

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  Best Yet - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Don Williams - January 8 - 10:00 am

  I have owned three Lincoln Navigators and this is by far the best yet. There is only two things, and these are minor, that I would like to see changed. First the tilt lever on the steering wheel, you can do better! The location of the window buttons, put them back on the armrest. Thats all, great SUV. When the lease is up on this one I will have another.

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  I wish I never bought it. - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By dreamer - January 7 - 8:26 am

  It was my dream car before I bought it, now it is my nightmare. I have 20000 miles in it. I have had and still have many issues with this car, and I seriously regret to buying it. During this time I had several rental cars while my car was being fixed, but all of them were far more responsive and sped up faster than my car, even the cheaper/basic ones. The service department at the Gengras Lincoln in East Harford CT is telling me that everything is fine with the car and it matches with the manufactures specification, the transmission hesitates to switch down or up, but this is how it was planned and supposed to work. Needless to say when you spend this amount of money on a brand new

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  I love this truck! - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By Iron Mike - January 4 - 2:00 am

  What can I say, this truck is the most comfortable SUV on the market for a big man. Im 67 and fit in like a glove. I bought it used with 17k miles, I put almost 40k in two years and changed the oil (mobile 1) every 5k, air filter, and front breaks/rotors which is normal.

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  great car - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Vinnie - January 2 - 4:33 pm

  Finally a car that runs as they say it should. This includes the gas mileage

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  great - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By lauren banninger - January 2 - 10:00 am

  i think this is a great car. i think that lincoln is one of the best