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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  Love Mine - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By alphanstein - March 1 - 4:46 am

  Have had one year of trouble free service so far and even done a couple of Autocross events in this baby. Turned some heads at the autocross saying, thats a Lincoln...

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  Awesome Car 99 Town Car - 1999 Lincoln Town Car
  By Jiggs Casey - February 27 - 6:20 pm

  This car is great. I bought it with 75000 miles and it has been perfect since the day I bought it. Great mileage for a big car. Rides so good I cant wait to get in it every day and go to work. I will surely by another one when I am done with this one.

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  Not Your Typical Lincoln - 2010 Lincoln MKS
  By Jim B. - February 26 - 2:13 pm

  I have had my MKS for almost a year now and love it. The ride is the best. Love the 20" rims and the Navigation system rocks...very easy to use and its all voice activated..you do not have to stop to put in the address can just use the voice activation button..also the voice controls the cabin temp..radio...love the juke box (cd player can record up to 10gigs of music. Love the auto highbeams (just need to get use to them). 2 thumbs up.

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  mkx rocks - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By silver markx - February 23 - 1:23 pm

  Love this car! I have had it since April and took it on a 1000 mile roadtrip. Excellent in every way.

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  Great Car - 1999 Lincoln Town Car
  By Ross - February 23 - 10:36 am

  This is a fantastic car. The hiway mileage is 25 or miles per gallon. UNBELIEVABLE, but true. City mileage is less. The ride is superior to Caddy.

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  care and maintenace of this car - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By belvin evans - February 23 - 4:47 am

  this automobile was purchased in june 2006 with 15000 miles on it. it has never missed routine service and has had all other major service work done by parkway ford Lincoln on peterscreek rd. it was in 1 accident about 6 years ago the hood .bumper and left front fender were replaced. there was no structure damage or electrical damage .it has no oil or fluid leaks and drives as it did when new.

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  my mkz - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By stan - February 17 - 1:58 am

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  best suv ever - 2007 Lincoln Navigator
  By dude - February 17 - 1:50 am

  This suv draws a lot of attention I get all kinds of compliments of how good it looks.I love the smooth ride with little wind noise at high speed. this is one beautiful truck.

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  Lincoln MKS with Ecoboost - 2010 Lincoln MKS
  By RS - February 15 - 2:13 pm

  The interior is very comfortable. The ecoboost engine has very nice acceleration as well as good fuel efficiency. I have averaged about 21 mpg so far which is pretty good considering its V-8 power. The GPS and travel link are very nice. This is a very good car overall

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  I love this car! - 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
  By Dave Fleck - February 14 - 5:41 pm

  This has been a great car! Great ride, quiet, good acceleration. Very reliable. I got it at a good price as a Lincoln certified used car with 17,000 miles. Drove it a lot for for the first 2 years. Certified used is the way to go ... saved money and 100,000 miles warranty. Only two issues ... I had to replace the chrome platted wheels as they shiny chrome plate peeled off the wheel when you brush up along a curb. Also, although the SYNC Bluetooth connection works well I find its hard to set up and get to know.