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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  One Great Lincoln - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Dareeka - November 20 - 11:20 am

  This vehicle has been superb,have had it 6 months and it has been flawless. My previous 2 cars (Infiniti G35, Infiniti FX35) were complete junk compared to this car. Both were constantly in the shop with recalls, rattles and squeaks. This car has just been awesome, great stereo, seats and a great ride.

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  The continental is so nice, I bought one. - 2017 Lincoln Continental
  By DC - November 18 - 5:05 pm

  This is an update to my original review several months ago. I continue to marvel at the comfort, quietness and performance of this car. It is so comfortable, smooth and quiet that now my other four cars seem noisy and rough. I just love the perfect position seats. I had been looking for a luxury sedan for about a year. I test drove almost every model of every luxury brand and finally decided on the Lincoln Continental. I bought the Reserve model with the 2.7 liter twin turbo engine (380 lbs. of torque) and the perfect position seats (Extra cost, but worth every penny). The Continental is a really high quality, fast, quiet and comfortable car. It is perfect for long trips, where you can enjoy the extremely quiet cabin and amazingly comfortable seats. I tried every seat on the market and the heated and cooled Lincoln Continental Perfect Position seats are the best available anywhere. I have owned seven Mercedes, several Cadillacs and Lincolns. This Continental is by far the nicest of them all. The quality of the leather and wood is outstanding as is the fit and finish of the entire car. The safety and convenience features of the car are wonderful. Lincoln has invested a lot of time and money to design the new Continental and it shows. Lincoln also has put a lot of money into their dealerships and I was pleased with how helpful the dealership and sales staff were. I spent a lot of time driving every model to find the one I liked best and they were most accommodating. I like the fact the Continental has six year power train warranty and a four year, 50,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. When the car needs an oil change or service, the dealer will pick up the car at my home, perform the service, wash the car and return it to my home. There is no fee for this service. The car also comes with lifetime roadside assistance. If needed, Lincoln will provide a loaner car. This gives me assurance Lincoln has confidence in this vehicle and backs it with a very good warranty. There is one more thing I like about my Continental. It is built in the USA by American workers. If you are looking for a really nice, comfortable and well made luxury car, you should try the Lincoln Continental.

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  Worth the money - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By Lynne James - November 17 - 2:00 am

  It is an excellent vehicle, but it really drinks the fuel.

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  2000 Lincoln LS - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By LsReeks - November 16 - 7:16 am

  The only thing this car has is that its prety. Its a nice eye candy. The problem comes from fords quality/design , or lack there of. The transmission went out on me. I had to replace a simple air/breathing hose, which resides under the intake manifold and the fuel injectors. A 99 cent hose cost me 1700$ in labor. To do any type of maintenance, the intake manifold had to be removed because it was layed on the very top. That meant many hrs in labor, no matter what the fix was. Oh, the brake system and suspension was bad as well. Spent much $. Interior had many problems as well. I never thought Id say this, but because of this car, Ive boycotted Ford.

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  Fantastic Truck - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By AutoTerry - November 15 - 3:53 am

  We looked at all makes including the Import Trucks and not one could compare. The Lincoln offered Luxury at its finest and the ability to have a usable bed for hauling, unlike the Cadillacs. The review by supposedly industry critics that ding it for not offering a Navigation system is crazy, the better option here is to buy a Garmin that you can move from vehicle to vehicle and update via the web! The truck has all the luxury comforts, individual style, guts, and looks incredibile! The imports that get all the rave reviews, did not compare. The Cadillac is awesome but so is the price tag! The Lincooln fit a perfect nitch! Great job Lincoln! We Love it and the quality is A1!

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  Has it All - 2010 Lincoln MKT
  By MrBio - November 13 - 4:06 pm

  The unique styling is head-turning. The ride, performance, and quality are evident from the first drive. I compared the MKT to Acura MDX, BMW X5, Buick Enclave, and Audi Q7. This is the only car with: heated AND cooled front AND 2nd row seats; Power fold 2nd AND 3rd row seats; easy entry and exit. The fridge/freezer between the 2nd row captain chairs is great. Blind spot and cross traffic alert, Voice everything-from climate, radio, weather, to Nav., adaptive cruise control, auto parallel park are all excellent features that work very well. Thanks Lincoln for making a car that does not look like any other car out there. I want to be noticed as out of the ordinary.

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  A+ - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By SWIFT1 - November 11 - 10:00 am

  THIS WAS THE FIRST SUV THAT I EVER OWNED AND I DONT THINK THAT THERE IS ANOTHER ONE LIKE IT. IT HANDLES GREAT AND RIDES LIKE A LUXURY CAR.

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  Hmm? New minivan or used gator - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By Family Truckster - November 11 - 10:00 am

  Wow... Whole family loves this ride. Kids talked us into it (well, not much talking was needed) after testing the Surburban, Excursion and Yukon. No contest. I dont understand why anyone would buy a new one, but the used ones are finally affordable without the risk of massive depreciation when you drive it off the lot. The gas mileage is exceptable for what you get in return, and I rated it with that in mind. A well maintained used gator is worth a look before you rush out to buy a new mini van or suv, especially if you are concerned about getting the max vehicle for your hard earned $.

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  Thumbs up for 2001 Continental - 2001 Lincoln Continental
  By syzygy9 - November 11 - 10:00 am

  My Continental is absolutely without question the best overall vehicle I have ever owned (it is my 33rd vehicle!). I look forward to the commute home at the end of the day - quiet luxurious comfortable performance. Reliability has been without incident and I have confidence this will continue. The 4 year/50,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty from the factory and complimentary maintenance services for the first 3 years/36,000 miles as well as a loaner car from my dealer when service is performed just adds to my Lincoln Continental ownership experience.

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  Love my MKX! - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By Janice Ledet - November 10 - 10:36 pm

  I wish I didnt get the black interior but i love driving this vehicle.