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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  Arctic test - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By NORTHPOLERMIKE - August 27 - 9:16 pm

  6200 miles since Dec 1 mostly during harsh,cold(-50F)rough road trips. This vehicle handles OK on ice & snow,tracks well & stops better than 2003 4Runner. But it rides rough at -20 and below, maybe due to monotube shocks and tires. Had the drivers heated seat go out; replaced unitis intermittent.Great power going through the mountains.Leg and hip room are a little tight in the cockpit. Instruments are well lit, easy to read,and laid out smart. The tranny is smooth; accelerates on demand. Leg room in the 2nd row quad chairs is lacking; on an 800 mile/23hr roundtrip hr 1 passenger was so uncomfortable he had to crawl into the rear benchseat to stretch out;2nd row needs to move back 3 inches!

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  Highway cruiser - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By Frank - August 25 - 11:20 pm

  I drive a lot of highway miles for work and wanted a car that would make that as painless as possible. This car has met every expectation I had. Great ride, fun technology, great sound system, bluetooth and sync work flawlessly. The transmission needs some work and a few more miles per gallon on the highway, this car would be perfect.

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  Navigator #2 - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By bk183 - August 21 - 3:56 pm

  I like the look of the Escalade a little better but after test driving 3 different then the 05 Navigator there was no comparison. The Navigator out handled, was quieter, smoother ride, and just easier to drive. Big improvement over my 01 which was no slouch. I have to say, so far this is the best vehicle I have ever owned.

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  Tired of Fighting - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By tired owner - August 10 - 10:00 am

  I do alot of driving-23,000 miles in 8 months!I owned a Navigator before this Aviator and loved it. Since 2000 miles, it shimmies at 75mph.Theyve replaced tires, rotored brakes and cant seem to fix it. The drivers seat moves and they say its normal after replacing the seat and track! Im tired of fighting to get a quality SUV for my money! I have not gotten anyone to help - even at Customer Relations Headquarters!

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  First impressions of 2002 LS8 Sport - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By Longtime Ford man - August 8 - 10:00 am

  First impression after owning my 2002 LS8 sport one week and driving it 600 miles. I have experimented with the SelectShift transmission in various situations and so far it has performed well. I have not experienced the problems that I see mentioned frequently in reviews. If I shift it as one would normally do with a manual when RPMs are at a reasonable level, it reacts without delay and shifts smoothly. Even when shifting more aggressively, the transmission performs well.

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  Good but could be better - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By cristo - July 14 - 1:30 am

  I have owned this Zephyr for 2 years now. All in all it has been a good car for me. There have been some issues,however. Since day one of ownership the car has idled very high after sitting for more than a couple of hours! It takes several minutes for the car to idle down on its own! Have been to the dealer and they say all is fine! My mileage is now dismal and I believe it is due to the high idle every morning and afternoon. 2006 was the only year this particular engine was used.Ive talked to other owners of 2007-08 models they have no problems. They also have more power as Lincoln added about 43 horsepower! A friend drove my car and thought it was a 4 cylinder!

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  good truck, bad on gas - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By joe mcc - July 10 - 10:00 am

  bad gass milage, but great truck.

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  fun car - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By trectony - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I got my 2001ls8 back in oct.03 its been a pretty fun car to drive the only problems ive had was the sun roof and the rear right window just stopped working the dealership replaced both rear window motors so I wasnt to mad.

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  My First Ford product - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By leadfoot4 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I was always a GM buyer, however when they discontinued their RWD models, I was forced to look elsewhere. I had heard some things about the LS, so my interest was aroused. I took my wife to the dealership to test drive one. Although she wasnt initally won over by the rather conservative styling, she was impressed with the way the car handled. Its very sporty and responsive, yet is still very comfortable. Weve had the car 4 years, and the car has just over 30,000 miles. Weve had no major problems with the car. Bottom line, we really like this car, and would recommend it to anyone looking for a medium sized, sport sedan.

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  Fuel - 2010 Lincoln MKX
  By Vicenta Calzadilla - June 19 - 11:10 am

  We owned jeeps Grand Cheroke all our lives. When we took a look to the Lincoln MKX, we fall in love with it. #1 it advertise 21 miles in the city and 27 on Hiway. We just went to orlando and we loved the ride. The only problem is that my old 2002 /8 cyl.jeep make better mileage, than the Lincoln mkx, which mark an average of 18 miles per gallon. We are senior citizens and travel all over. I am concerned about the gas. If it does not improve we will trade it back. Please let me know if there is something wrong with this car. thank you. Vicky Calzadilla.