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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  Zephyrlove - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By fredco - April 22 - 6:40 am

  I absolutely love this car. Great gas mileage, comfortable, quiet, good handling and great to look at both inside and out. Drove Devilles before but find this car more pleasurable to drive. Bought car the day after Christmas and it has been perfect so far. I couldnt be more satisfied.

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  I love my Lincoln - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By Betty - April 22 - 3:40 am

  My Lincoln is a wonderful vehicle. It is fun to drive and fun to ride in. I feel very safe when I am in the car. It is truly a pleasurable car. You will not be disappointed with the looks, performance, and RIDE.

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  All you need - 2010 Lincoln MKZ
  By Believer - April 21 - 3:03 pm

  I replaced my 2005 Chrysler hemi with this beautiful platinum white MKZ and could not be happier. It is the base model without all the additional bells and whistles and has more than enough convenience and comfort. 27 MPG on the highway is great and the power is comparable to the hemi - after all the chrysler weighed about 600 lbs more. The ride is smooth and the interior quiet is better than my neighbors Lexus 350.

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  Disappointing LS - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Brendan - April 19 - 7:56 pm

  I purchased my 05 LS V6 used with 19000 miles on it with high hopes. I planned on keeping it for many years and was happy with the deal I got on it ($18795). About 6 months after purchasing this vehicle I had to have the transmission serviced for a shifting problem. The following winter I had the car in service 3 times for various problems(burning oil smell which turned out to be silinoid rails, a cracked throttle body and a leaking transmission hose). I owned the car for almost two years and am now forced to part with it because the warranty is almost gone and I was not smart enough to purchase an extended one up front(current cost $4100). Be ready for a car with high maintenence..

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  Overpriced Bucket of Bolts - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By Jennifer - April 17 - 10:43 pm

  So Ive had my Navigator for about 2 yrs now and have had it in the shop at least 5 times. The most common issue was the plastic side plate where the seat controls are located. The drivers side has had to be replaced three times and the passenger once. Another annoying issue was the passenger side door. he panel keeps popping off. 3 times for this. After the 1st time it was fixed the seals began leaking. Ive now had to have the seals replaced twice. Most currently were the fan control, navigation, and transmission issues. One doesnt expect to have tranmission issues after only two yrs and paying $60K. Other minor issues include the 3rd row vent popping, and 2nd row trim pcs missing.

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  2013 LINCOLN MKT LEAKING ANTIFREEZE AT 59000 MILES - 2013 Lincoln MKT
  By james303 - April 13 - 11:42 am

  I purchase a 2013 Lincoln MKT, and its a big mistake i made. the biggest problem I had with this car is the (water pump). at 59000 miles the water pump is leaking antifreeze and after takeing it to the FORD dealer they told me its the water pump. that need to be replace. and its cover under the warranty but it will take them a week to get the job don. and will code me one hundred dollars. plus I am having problem with the wipers. when I turn it off it still work I have to play with the switch before the wiper blade stop working. few months ago the seal for the transmission was leaking oil. the seal was replace free of charge under the warranty but cost me time.

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  Love it! - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By the best! - April 12 - 7:23 am

  Great car, just had it for about a month. Love the interior and the sync system, even though at first it was a little hard to understand. I love the gas mileage of this car. Traded in my Navigator for this car. That car which averaged about 14 mpg, while Im getting about 23.4 in my 2008 mkz awd.

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  navigator - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By peaches playa - April 12 - 2:00 am

  its really a good car, an the entertainment package rocks!!

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  I love it but needs more room - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By tailogan - April 6 - 10:00 am

  Well i have had this car since last year november and i have only had minor problems with it so far but over all it is a champion it does the job with a whole lot of power plus i have hooked up a little so that ir rides really good...but over all i think it is a great car

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  Lincoln Experience - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By Mike Rawlins - April 5 - 9:00 pm

  I traded in my 2000 Navigator for a new 06. This is my 25th year to drive Lincolns and this is my last Lincoln. The truck is nice to drive and visually appealing but the fit and finish are terrible. (2) trips to the dealer for interior repair, (3) trips for the Sirius radio repair and finally took vehicle to Visteon retailer for repair (bad unit) (1) trip to fix. The final deal breaker was the left power fold mirror not retracting. The truck was 34 months old and had 36,400 miles and Ford would not provide warranty repair. I was told by the Service Manager that if the mirror glass were broken, and I had glass coverage, they could bill my insurance company. Unbelievable!