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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  Happy Critical Customer - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By Marlowe - June 10 - 6:33 am

  Great SUV, I have researched 12 SUV in this class and have not found any that offer your the luxuries as the Lincoln Navi Ultimate offers

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  my town...house - 2001 Lincoln Town Car
  By gogirl - June 10 - 1:53 am

  huge car, fun to drive, great to just go cruising

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  Great car except for transmission shift points - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By fordblueblood1 - June 7 - 6:25 am

  Bought a 2006 LS in Dec of 2011, It had 62K on it and Ive put about 5K on it to date (9/2013). I like the car. I wanted to buy and American RWD sedan and there werent many choices. We already own a V8 Charger and I wanted something different. It was a Pontiac G8 or this. G8 would not accommodate my 15 y.o. in the back seat. More cramped. I did have to replace the heater control valve near the radiator. It was blowing hot air from the A/C. A disappointment on a car with only 67K on it. Ive had no other issues with the car. It runs well and has lots of power and handles very well. It has a nice firm ride. Fun around off ramps. Very nice THX stereo too. If it wasnt for the trans, Id be 5s

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  Defines American Luxury - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By Patricia - June 4 - 10:16 pm

  The Lincoln Towncar is by far the best Luxury car on the market and it has tons of features like heated seats and a navigation system and Beautiful Burl Wood Accents on the dash and in the Steering wheel and the when you are riding in the car it feels like you are riding on a cloud or floating on air and i love the way the leather seates are trimmed and the seats are so comfortable and the interior is extremly roomy and the V8 Engine is very strong and has plenty of horsepower to move this car at high highway speeds and the cars exterior is beautiful i love the shiny black paint and i like the chrome pieces on the doors and i absolutely love my car its wonderful i highly reccommend it

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  Love It.. but... - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By Bob - June 2 - 12:43 pm

  Great riding car, high comfort level, V6 had more then enough power and acceleration for Interstate driving. Low noise level, handling easy on the driver. Dislikes... The Shadow Red on Black instrument panel hard to read on bright sunny day. "Eyes to road glance." Large trunk, high lift and long reach to load and unload. Trunk hinges take up trunk space. Not a touring car.

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  Not so great - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Pamela Daniel - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I bought the LS with 48,000 miles on it in 2006. Beautiful car. Within a year, I had to replace both rear window motors. The next year, I had to replace both front window motors. One of which went out during a move to another state during a snow storm. Then I had to replace one of the rear window motors again. Have had to replace the coil packs. The CEL light came on within 2 weeks of purchase and will not stay off after repeated "fixes". On top of what I originally paid for the car, Ive spent approximately $5,000 on repairs not associated with normal maintenance. Still, I love the way the car drives. Now the seat motors are dying. Guess its time to say goodbye.

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  Our 2nd Navigator - 2011 Lincoln Navigator
  By Tim Scholz - June 2 - 10:00 am

  We love the feel and drive of the car. We had a 2000 Navigator and that is why we purchased the 2011. I really like that the 3rd seat folds down flat for great room to haul stuff. We are having trouble with keeping the driver seat position with the 2 key fobs. Is any one else having this problem>

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  Luxury Workhorse - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By Charles Robertson - June 2 - 10:00 am

  This beast has been a pleasure. It has hauled our family of seven on several trips to Florida, hauled boats and jet skis, and innumerable trips to Home Depot, while making the trips to the grocery store and school functions with ease. The 4WD/AWD makes it feel very safe in bad weather, and although we havent needed much in the way of service it was easy to get worked on, no matter where we were (not so much with our BMW!) The power rear seat and video options made this a kid cruiser without equal. This isnt a practical vehicle for everyone, but it was a wonderful choice for us. 40k miles, no regrets.

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  I just love my MKS - 2011 Lincoln MKS
  By Skip - June 2 - 10:00 am

  I have been a long time client to FOMOCO - starting with my 88 Thunderbird Turbo Coupe. I traded in my 2008 MKZ for a 2011 MKS and cannot be happier. This car is HOT and loads of fun to drive. I am so happy I decided to upgrade!

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  Solid Truck - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By Gravy - June 2 - 6:46 am

  Bought this truck new and other than maintenance it was in dealer one time for rotors at 7K. Overall very happy with it and I am not a gentle driver. Gas could be better getting 9.5 in this heatwave.