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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  Awesome! - 2010 Lincoln MKX
  By maryr - September 12 - 2:20 pm

  I recently purchased my 2010 Lincoln MKX and LOVE this vehicle. It has lots of cabin space, a smooth ride and equipped for a queen! Luxury at its best. We took it across country and never got tired of driving. This is a dream to drive! My advice: take into consideration the reviews of those of us that have purchased this car. You wont be sorry!

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  18,5 K Round Country Road Trip - 2002 Lincoln Blackwood
  By yugo26 - September 12 - 8:36 am

  Hi All, I travelled from WA to TX, FL, AR, VA, PA KS and back to WA, from JUL to DEC. This was a great truck on the road. Very comfortable ride and power. Gas mileage was not great but I was going at 80 MPH on the interstates. More than once folks came up to me and said that they did not know that Lincoln made a pick-up truck. High WOW index. The Ford dealer network is excellent for routine, trustworthy maintenance at a fair price. Thanks Edmunds for your great site!!

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  Zephyr: a value in luxury - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By David F. Butler - September 12 - 7:03 am

  Finally an american car manufacturer has met and beat the foreign competition in the mid-size luxury market. The Lincoln Zephyr is truly an amazing vehicle. It has the power,design and luxury amenities of a $40,000 vehicle for about $30,000. The exterior style is impressive. The interior is even more impressive and would meet the discerning taste of the most discriminating car buyer. My only complaint is that XM radio is not available.

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  My Coach (Turned Into) A Pumpkin!!! - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Cinderella - September 11 - 10:00 am

  What a difference a few months makes. Until very recently, I was very happy with my Lincoln LS Sport V8. All of a sudden, Im having all these problems; electrical, sliping trans, and the other day, the darn thing just wouldnt start. If its doing this at just under 13,000 miles, whats it going to do at 130,000? Im glad my LS isnt my beloved husband of 20 years or we would be gettin un-hitched!!!

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  Excellent Luxury Vehicle - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By hrw5000 - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Most comfortable car in the world with excellent quality and reliability.

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  Love my Town Cars - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By michkey - September 11 - 10:00 am

  Have always loved town cars. this is my third

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  MKZ - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By z28 - September 10 - 9:13 pm

  All wheel drive was not on our "must have" list, but we are pleased so far and look forward to some winter weather to really test this feature. Interior is as advertised. I like the retro feel of it. The seats are a little lower and therefore a little harder to get out of when compared to our Park Avenue. Would be nice to have some way to close the trunk other than grabing the sheet metal and hoping your hand has a good grip. The trunk opens wide and the lid itself points straight up. Akward I feel. The power is nice and the gauges easy to read. Quiet riding after a short break-in period in whick I felt the suspension was going to be too stiff.

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  Smoothest Ride - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By Wood - September 10 - 5:33 am

  The Navigator drives extremely well. The air suspension makes the drive smooth and the air tight doors and windows makes for a quiet drive. The power deployable running boards and liftgate is an outstanding feature for anyone especially women with children. The extensive safety features on this vehicle was a buying factor for my family. The side air bag curtains seems like a great feature to have for the safety of my children. The roll stability sounds great knowing that SUVs tend to flip. The fuel economy is within normal range of a large SUV, although the increased gas prices do not help. Not featured in most SUVs is the 3rd row seat that is comfortable with plenty of leg space.

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  Many of Compliments - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By Adam - September 9 - 9:13 pm

  Since I picked up my Mark LT I have received nothing but great comments. It handles better than most cars with the security of a truck. I love all the options but it is not gaudy like some of the other luxury vehicles. I highly recomend.

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  Great Car and Great Value - 2010 Lincoln MKZ
  By AKR - September 9 - 12:50 am

  Love this car. Get lots of compliments on its appearance. My "fully loaded" sangi red, ultimate package model has lots of useful extra features. Important to me, it is an American brand and, with sales incentives, also costs several thousand dollars less than comparable Japanese and German entry-level luxury vehicles. Our other car is an Acura RSX Type S, a sporty performance coupe that I enjoy driving. I am equally pleased with the handling of the MKZ, given that it is a quite different type of automobile. Absolutely no problems with car at 1,500 miles.