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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  JDH - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By JIMHOFT - December 1 - 2:00 am

  GREAT SUV - BEST SUV I HAVE OWNED.

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  Blackwood - 2002 Lincoln Blackwood
  By THomas May - November 30 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my Blackwood for only 2 weeks. I have received many positive comments on the vehicle. I love IT!!!

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  A money looser - 2010 Lincoln Navigator
  By t - November 26 - 10:36 am

  Glad we purchased this used a 2010 in 2013. at that time it had already lost $ 30,000 from its original value. it is now 2015 and we found out it lost another $ 10,000 in value from date of our purchase...So if you want to loose $ 40,000 in value for a vehicle in less than 6 full years go ahead and throw your money away. We will be purchasing a Toyota which holds its value a lot better than this Lincoln. This vehicle, on the other hand is a great towing vehicle for our 34 Travel trailer, and did great in our last 2 winters of heavy snow here in norther Indiana where we get lake effect snow. We have had about $ 2,000 in repairs out of our pocket since purchasing, (bad brakes, battery, oil leak, computer problems) some were covered with the "ford certified" some where NOT. We wont waste our money on a certified car again. The car had 46,000 miles when we purchased it and they had never replaced the brake pads! The MPG is a lot better than we had hoped for at 16 city/20 highway

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  True value of my car - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By JUDITH L. NIEWOEHNER - November 24 - 1:26 am

  It is a pleasure to drive - simply love the ride. I am curious as to the true value of my vehicle.

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  Youve GOT to CHeck this one OUT! - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By gepfund - November 24 - 12:26 am

  Well I just traded in my Jaguar X-type for the new Zephyr(I wish they would keep this name) who wants a mark Z??? I dont get it. Anyway, This car is really unbelievable. It has almost every fun option I would want on a car. You have to get the navigation and THX system. Its like front row seats at a movie or concert. All of you beamer, acura, lexus and audi lovers Talk to me when you can have Air conditioned seats. I have test driven almost every model out there in the 30,000 dollar area and as far as styling, fit and finish, options, you just cant beat this. The first day I had this car three people came up to me to tell me what a great looker it is. Try that in a Acura or lexus.

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  YEAH ! BEST IN 30 YEARS - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By BBMCACEO - November 23 - 2:00 am

  HANDLES POWER RIDE LOOKS 400,000MI ON MY 88, STILL STRONG THIS ONE FEELS IT WILL GO IT TOO, HANDLES STABLE ON ROAD GREAT AT HIGH SPEED, MANEUVERS AND HAS TIGHT TURNING CIRCLE BEST FOR THE MONEY, WOULD RAISE THE TOP OF THE REAR OF THE ROOF

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  Whats not to like! - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By Bill Holt - November 22 - 9:26 pm

  We bought our 1999 Continental about 2 years ago for $7,500. Low mileage on the car when we bought it. Weve had no trouble with the car at all. Good power, nice-looking, decent gas mileage, large trunk, comfortable for 5, just the right size.

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  Little Red - 2015 Lincoln MKC
  By retiredlt - November 21 - 2:53 pm

  I have had my 2.3 ruby red with hazelnut interior MKC for 6 weeks and 2400 miles and am very happy with it. I have used the normal, comfort and sport modes but generally keep it in sport. The 2.3 has great power and I am averaging 19.8MPG with combination of city/highway driving. I first had to learn how to manage the gas pedal to avoid too rapid acceleration. The front seat comfort is outstanding and quality nearly perfect. Before buying, my 63" 15 year old had to sit in the backseat to see if there was headroom and legroom. With the front passenger seat somewhat forward and his seat reclining, there was no problem. The multitude of features and the THX stereo are superb! Go, Lincoln!

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  excellent - 2002 Lincoln Navigator
  By joeh - November 21 - 10:00 am

  great running and driving car with super comfort

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  Very reliable - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By MO - November 21 - 6:10 am

  I use this car for car service this is the best car for transporting people and their luggage.A very reliable car and roomy.This is my third tc and best one yet my first one i put on 3 hundred fifty thousand and the second one i still have and am trying to sell it which has 573,423 miles as odometer reads so you can imagine how reliable these cars are.