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 at First Site - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By Buffalo Springer - September 29 - 10:00 am

  Only had it a week, but the car struck me the first time I laid eyes on it. Smooth understated power, there when you need it. Very quiet cabin.

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  Excellent SUV - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By Charlton03 - September 29 - 10:00 am

  The new Navigator is the best SUV on the market it not only has the best exterior and interior but also has the best ride too

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  Luxury SUV that drives like a Luxury Car - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By shadow_tep - September 29 - 10:00 am

  With its remodeled interior and exterior, the new Navigator will be heavily competitive in the Luxury SUV market.

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  One Fine Car !!!! - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By David Craft - September 28 - 2:19 pm

  I do not get some of the reviews I am reading about the Lincoln MKZ. I have owned a lot of cars in my life and this car has me very excited for the first time in a long time. It is absolutely a work of art. I was a BMW FAN until now. My wife and I went to the BMW dealer to buy a 328i or a 528i and we test drove both and touched a felt everything about the car. We just were not that impressed. The 328i was just to small and cramped inside. The 528i was much better but just did not seem to be the quality interior we expected. So we went to our local Lincoln dealer and test drove the MKZ. Wow the interior was all upholstered and soft, the sleek design was very impressive and the ride was just what we were looking for. We got the technology package with ours and I highly recommend it. The ride in this car in comfort mode was absolutely luxurious. The car also has two other modes that are also impressive if you want a car that connects to the road and gives you the feel of a BMW. I like these options. There are so many features in this car I cannot even begin to tell you all of them. All I know is whether you own this car for one week or three years you will never get tired of it and you will be very proud to own it. I wish I had more time to write more about this car, however take it from this very happy owner you owe it to yourself to test drive this baby it is a head turner.

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  Great car at a great price! - 2009 Lincoln MKZ
  By Scott - September 27 - 2:13 am

  Comfortable, nice handling, good performance, nice styling, overall great car especially for the price!

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  The best of 52 cars Ive owned. - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By scott - September 26 - 3:13 pm

  I got MKS in June 08 by accident. I have owned six Cadillacs, the last one being a $65,000 2005 sts. I was tired of waiting for Cadillac to come up with something new in that size. The 09 MKS cost $21,000 less than the 05 sts. Although not as agile and fast as the Cadillac, I find that I dont really need all that performance at the margins. Simply put, this car has the best stereo and navigation system and is the quietest, most comfortable, most commented-on-by-strangers, most fuel-efficient (for its size) car Ive had. I drove 4,000 miles in ten days with nary a crick in the neck nor stress in the lumbar.

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  Huge Surprise! MKX is Excellent! - 2008 Lincoln MKX
  By CHRIS CANNON - September 26 - 11:56 am

  First time buying American in years, and what a huge upside surprise this vehicle has been. Quality of build (interior and fairly tight exterior), has been very strong. Engine is very quiet and a lot stronger than expected. Ride is outstanding, almost sporty for a crossover. Power a/c seats, power liftgate, combination touch pad unlocking on driver door. We love this truck!

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  The best Luxury SUV Ever - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By sir cal - September 24 - 8:16 pm

  This truck is performing at high standards and looks good.I still have the factory chrome wheels.If you keep the maintenance up it will last you for years to come.Some people think that they can just ride for years and not do the maintenance.Then when parts start going bad all at once, they say bad things about the navagator.

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  Quality at an affordable price - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By luckyjackg - September 24 - 7:10 am

  Having had similiar type automobiles, I was pleasantly surprised by the handling and pick up this Lincoln had. It handles like a car half its size. People have commented that I must be doing extremely well in life, as the car looks very expensive. It has been confused with a Jaguar (same platform).

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  Seats are Hard - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Jferrell - September 24 - 2:00 am

  The vehicle seems ok with the same style as a Ford Explorer. But once you get in, the comfort level is minimal. The layout of the dash is fine, but the flip down cover for the stereo is kind of cheesy. The seats are the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in. The sides are hard and hit right in the thigh. No matter how I turned, I was not able to find a comfirtable position. For a luxury SUV, they did not put a good effort into the seating. There is also a hesitation when stepping on the gas to get on a freeway which could be improved (1 to 1 1/2 seconds)