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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  Great Car! - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By clujborn - June 18 - 3:44 am

  We purchased this car 5 years ago and its been the most reliable car we ever had.Its got 152 K miles and no problems.The looks of this car are timeless.I cant believe Edmunds calls it "boxy" what?Its got 4.6 lt v8 @275 hp and gets 25 mpg hwy.Need i say more?Awesome car but transmissions were kind of fragile in this car so make sure you change that trans oil no later then every 30K miles.

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  Great Improvement over 2001 - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By drcaveman - June 8 - 10:00 am

  I just picked up my V8 premium sport so realiabilty is more based on the safety recall for imporperly heat treated wheels, and transmission that wont shift smootly into third after 1500 miles. To sum this car up in one easy statement. It Rides like a Lincoln and Handles like a BMW. There are still a few points that remind me that I am in an American, which is not a bad thing. For example, Great low end torgue, a super smooth ride, and lots of neat features, that dont overwhelm IE BMWs I drive.

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  2001 LS V6 Auto - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By Peter - June 7 - 9:30 pm

  The LS is a great car, I have very few complaints other that the V6 with auto is a bit underpowered. I just dont feel a real punch from it. Also the steering is a little too overassisted for my tastes, I prefer a little better road feel. Starting the car presents another problem not just with mine either, all LSs almost never start on the first try in a cold start. It takes some cranking. Cornering ablilty is top notch however and everything else about the car is wonderful.

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  Supprise to own - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By lwalker - June 3 - 4:46 pm

  Bought the car after selling my 02 Corvette. So far I have been impressed with the ride, power, and comfort. The car is larger than most others, but handling is easy and responsive. I have owned BMW and Caddy. I was supprised with the overall satisfaction of owning this car. This car will really win you over when you drive it, not just around the block, really try it out for several hours and see for yourself.

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  2nd MKZ - 2010 Lincoln MKZ
  By MKZ - May 26 - 10:00 am

  This MKZ replaced my 07 MKZ at lease end. Very pleased with the 07 so I opted for another. Basically identical cars but no AWD on the 2010. Better combined MPG 24.7 with the 2010 2wd vs 22 mpg on the 07 with AWD. The 2010 dual Climate control regulation is very poor. Appears to be a factory defect that cannot be corrected. I miss the 07 analog clock. There are too many distractions on the LCD display. I do not have Nav, so the display may be better with it. The radio and temp knobs are identical and too often I hit the wrong one. The sync feature keeps dropping my bluetooth phone and requires resetting. I have owned 33 American autos and one Porsche. The 2010 MKZ gets an overall 8 rating.

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  After two years - Still Great - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By sawmill - May 21 - 10:00 am

  Bought the LS non-sport V8 in February, 2000. Although the dealer experience was the worst anyone could possibly imagine, the Execs at Lincoln fixed the problems. The car had its own set of early-build quality problems - which also were all couteously repaired by a different dealer. But now, for about a year and a half, the car gets better and better as the tranny and engine wear-in. The car is still silent as a tomb inside, gas mileage improves with age, and the Firestone Firehawk tires hold up and hold on to the road beautifully. Paint still looks showroom- new, and the cars styling standout in Beverly Hills as well as the desert highways.

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  lincoln ls - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By blake - May 14 - 10:00 am

  simply over priced,and extreamly over rated.i experienced nothing but costly problems and the lincoln service is not swell,unless your the type of person that like to be without a car!..lol. overall looks,id have to say the car looks sporty and classy.

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  Where did my old Town Car go? - 2000 Lincoln Town Car
  By Terryfic - May 14 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car new to replace a 1992 Cartier that had been wrecked. The new styling does not live up to my old cars. The seats are hard, front seat passenger leg room is cramped. As a matter of fact, my long legged friends all prefer sitting in the back seat because their knees are in their faces in the front seat! Overall though, this has been an incredibly reliable car - never needed anything but oil changes since I bought it 3 years ago. It rides beautifully. It is easy to get in and out. The handling is much more crisp than my old Town Car - I amaze people by parallell parking in very tight spots.

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  great vehicle , - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By REID PETTY - April 18 - 1:33 am

  I LIKE MY NAVIGATOR. ONE COMPLAINT.IT DOESNT ABSORB THE SHOCK OF MAJOR ROAD IMPERFECTIONS AS WELL AS THE LEXUS470 DOES.

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  Love my car but it is breaking me! - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By csmorgan - April 14 - 10:00 am

  Where oh where do I begin? I bought this car in 2008 with 70k miles on it from the Ford dealership. I have replaced 4 coils, 4 plugs, 1 valve cover gasket seal, one headlight assembly due to a bad seal, clock spring due to airbag light (that worked for about a year now the airbag light is back on), front brake pads, and now the power steering pump is leaking fluid somewhere.