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 this car BUT - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Charles Spencer - May 20 - 8:46 am

  Replacing transmission as we speak (67000 miles). Strange vibrations since new that could not be diagnosed. Cant read odometer with sun shining on the instrument panel. Looks great, feels great and drives great. Lots of senior citizens ask about it. Replaced tires at 48000 miles. Very difficult finding tires for driving on ice for up North. Could not buy extended warranty because of miles per year. Nice size car for business but turning circle too big. Very difficult to judge rear end when backing up. Still like driving it and will probably keep 2 more years if it holds up. Little uncomfortable driving a car that had to get a new transmission with such low miles.

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  some good some bad - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By harry johnson - May 20 - 12:13 am

  I find the car to be a lot more noisy than my 1988. the exhaust system is a lot louder and i have been back 3 times to the dealer for check engine light

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  Great Car - No Reliability Issues - Fast - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By pharaohfitz - May 19 - 1:34 am

  I dont understand the other reviews concerning reliability or performance. I bought the 09 Lincoln MKS for my wife then she opted for the 2014 MKZ so I inherited the MKS. Very quick acceleration, I use engine and oil treatments. 84K miles with no issues or any maintenance needed other than scheduled service. I have photos of 30 mpg while driving @70 mph - so mileage is great, usually 26-28 but 30.5 is most I have observed highway but 17-19 stop and go. Handles like it is on rails while driving through the mountains at @70+. While not a sports car (79 RX7, 64 Stingray), it is a fast great handling car. Driven at -35 up to 105, snow no problem

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  Wouldnt Trade For Nothing - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By Road Angel - May 17 - 5:40 am

  This is my dream car. The ride is smooth, the performance beyond expectation, the feeling of grandeur as you weave in and out of traffic. The sound quality, the look of the vehicle itself also tend to relax the mood when driving under stressful conditions. This baby has definitely become mamas new toy.

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  Style - 2001 Lincoln Town Car
  By Mick - May 16 - 5:33 am

  We purchased our 2001 low mileage Ford-Certified Town Car Executive this February—the first of two Lincolns (a V8 LS is our second Lincoln purchase). We added a six pack CD changer. My wife and I don’t have to scream to hear each other (as we did in our Club Wagon)—and since we are both lifetime WW members, we could sit four of us abreast in the front—but choose not. We ensured a safe purchase by using CarFax to research the vehicle history. This car just makes traveling a real pleasure—the only thing missing is aroma therapy candles (on second thought, leave them out). We are experiencing 18.8 mpg city and 24-25 mpg highway. This is THE car for long drives.

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  Modern Classic. - 2002 Lincoln Town Car
  By FSC - May 16 - 4:23 am

  Ill start off by saying I titled my review "modern classic" because thats basically what this car is. A modern spin off of big 1950s full sized cruiser sedans. The bench seat, column shifter, V8, rear wheel drive, body on frame construction, and shear size make it feel like a more refined classic cruiser. This is something I really like about the car. This isnt a car for people who want a Mercedes or BMW, this is a car for people who want a true laid back cruiser. However, if I were to do it again I would have gotten a top end Crown Vic or Marquis as the mechanicals and interior are %99 the Town Car as the town car for less money.

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  Excellent SUV - 2000 Lincoln Navigator
  By freestyle77 - May 15 - 3:26 am

  Great SUV

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  Lincoln LS beats BMW 5 Series - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By Terry Hunt - May 13 - 10:00 am

  My wife owns a 2004 BMW and my LS handles better, gets better gas mileage, built better, has more power and costs $10K less than the BMW 5 series. I traded in a Lexus 330 for this LS and am glad I did. The rear wheel drive in the LS handles much better in emergency situations than the loose feel of the Lexus and the luxury feel is equal if not better.

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  2001 LS Review - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By cahill - May 13 - 4:33 am

  Bought the LS in 2002 as a new car. Am totally satisfied. It feels like a car I can still rely on especially with 130,000 miles on it. I had to replace the window regulator twice, once on the driver side and once on the passenger side. The cause both times were the plastic rollers and not the regulators. Also the drivers seat heater quit working. Other than that I love the car and would buy one again it it ever goes back into production.

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  Pleased - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Lgordon - May 11 - 3:00 pm

  We just purchased the MKZ and we are extremly please with it. The car is fun to drive and is very quiet.