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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  Lovin my affordable Jag - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By hhinnh - July 26 - 10:18 am

  Little known to the average consumer but the lincoln LS is on a jag base with a jaguar engine. That may explain some of the touchy behaviors and high repair track records. Just got my 2000 LS because it has bad valve gaskets/cooling system issues . Its fixed and now on the road. My husband is a mechanic so we were able to do it oursleves cheap. Its a tight squeeze in the engine compartment and requires a lot of special tools and lots of labor /time to do simple repairs (hence the costs) This has been a great car so far, though I am leery as I know the history with Jaguars reliability. So dont nock ford or Lincolns for this one, its the choice in engines and drivetrains thats the problem

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  Comfy - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Haven - July 26 - 2:00 am

  The Lincoln Aviator is a very comfy and luxury SUV that we enjoy a lot. It also has a classy exterior look.

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  one for the Americans - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By former foreign guy - July 25 - 2:03 pm

  After owning foreign cars, my last 3 purchases have been Ford family vehicles. Test drove the Lexus, and found the MKX to be quieter and offer a better ride. Gas mileage has been acceptable and better than expected. Around 16 in town and 23 on hwy.

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  Love It ! - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By Topcat55 - July 24 - 10:00 am

  Total strangers have told me what a nice lookin I have . It handles like a sports car , Ive had a few . The mid-range is quite strong & its just a great lookin " Vivid Red " beauty .

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  fun, fun, fun - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By randysgram - July 24 - 10:00 am

  It handles well even on wet roads and has good visibility. My passengers and I love the smooth & quiet ride. I open the trunk, fold down the two back seats, lay a blanket down, and my dog rides to the vet in style. Took him a minute to figure out he had to enter from the trunk but he loves it now.

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  MPG - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By edgar - July 23 - 7:33 pm

  My 2005 Lincoln navigator mpg Gauge is going down. When I bought it was reading 13.2 then 12.9 now is reading 12.8. I would like to hear from some one if this is normal or something is wrong.

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  Everyone should drive this! - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By eyerly - July 21 - 8:34 pm

  This is truly an amazing car! I have yet to discover a flaw. My LS V8 has everything I could ask for and so much more. Its never given me problems and always gets me plenty of compliments. The look of the car is so classy and elegant. This car is a blast to drive, its so quick and feels very sporty and luxurious. Why anyone would drive anything else baffles me. This car is perfect. Ive driven many luxury cars and nothing compares! This car impresses everyone that sees it. Since Ive had mine I have had at least 10 friends buy them because they envied mine. The Joness wish they could keep up with me!

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  Awesome! - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Esmerelda - July 21 - 10:00 am

  Fabulous SUV! I have love it since I first test drove it. Drove many other luxury SUVs, but went back to this one.

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  4 wheel perfection - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Bilbo - July 20 - 10:26 pm

  Amazingly smooth, faster than the CTS I drove, better materials than the Mercedes 430S, better road tests/handling than a 540i and a LOT more reliable than my neighbors Lexus. (ZERO repairs in 100K miles and just did my first tune up and sealed coolant change as designed) AND for $36K off the lot! What an amazing car! (At track days we hit 139 mph on the 17 inch Michelins - do not tell me insurance agent plz!) and other than adding an upgraded ceramic brake pad the car performs like the Jaguar S type (engine/trans and chassis/brakes are the same) but is a sleeper in subtle but classy style. Beat Lexus for JD Powers delivery awards in 2005. PLEASE keep building them like this!

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  Aviator - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By Big Al - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Lincolns got it right, better than BMW, MBZ and lexus amazing performance