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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  What an Amazing Car! - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Very Impressed - July 21 - 10:40 pm

  I am so happy that I got the MKZ. I never thought that I would have ended up buying a Ford car, but I must say the MKZ has really changed my mind about Fords cars. It looks way better than the Lexus inside and out, has plenty of power and a nice sounding growl from the V6 and to top it off, it even runs on regular gas! AWD is a must if you live in a snowy region. The transmission is always in the right gear and it is extremely smooth. This is a fun to drive car for me, and at the same time has plenty of luxury and comfort features such as standard heated seats. The quality of the MKZ is up to or better than the Japanese offerings. For the price of this car, it simply cannot be beat.

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  navigator - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By chad bowers - July 21 - 1:13 am

  good

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  Great Addition to the Lincoln Line - 2017 Lincoln MKC
  By Charles W - July 21 - 12:38 am

  As another reviewers title says, "This is not your grandpas Lincoln." I thought that when I first test drove one, and I would have used the title here if it hadnt already been used. I have been a Ford product owner since my first new car, and this is my eighth new car. I traded in my 2002 Eddie Bauer Explorer with almost 250,000 miles on it for the MKC. I wanted something a bit smaller with better gas mileage while offering quality. I will say that I always said Id never spend more than $35,000 on a car, but the MKC Reserve certainly stickered for substantially more. However, I believe that for the price and from a comparison standpoint, the MSRP is not out of line. The fit and finish on the vehicle is outstanding, and Ive had a number of compliments on the car from passersby. People really like to comment on my kicking under the rear to open the rear hatch. People also love the welcome lighting in the car. Ive had the car for almost 10 months, and I can honestly say it has exceeded my expectations. Ive read reviews from individuals and ratings companies (e.g., magazine editors) that the mileage estimates are way off. I have to say that is not my experience. Other ratings Ive seen in some reviewers were actually lower than I expected. At speeds from 65 to 73 on the highway, Ive actually hit 34+ mpg. Thats better than the highway mpg on the window sticker. So, this is definitely good mileage. And with over 11,000 miles on the car now, the average mileage since Ive owned it has averaged 24.4 miles. I love BLIS, adaptive cruise control, the heated and cooled seats (cooled are going to be very important in the southern heat), the My Lincoln app, extremely comfortable seats, active park assist and other options. I joke that I actually had to read the manual to learn how to use the car. Oh, and I cant forget the push button start and remote functions, including starting from my phone. And speaking of the phone, my iPhone works great with SYNC 3. Bluetooth works well, voice recognition is great, and the nav system is handy - I had no desire to get the nav system, but it came with the package, and I actually use it to see what traffic is like when going to and from work. And the THX optional sound system is outstanding - its a new way to listen to my music! After 10 months and 11,300 miles, I still find no negative issues with the car. Burgundy velvet with the ebony interior is a great combination, too.

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  Solid - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By schuhman - July 20 - 5:33 pm

  I drove the Infiniti M and the Acura, comparing them to the MKS. After the drives it was a slam dunk, I bought the Lincoln. I is a quick of the line, it looks better and the options closed the deal. I would recommend the care to anyone that wants great style, smooth ride and solid performance with every option. The sync system is great and I have downloaded every cd I like into the jukebox. The hands free nav, radio and systems are the cherry on top. My kids enjoy the dual moonroof and the adaptive headlights are a bonus I did not expect to enjoy as much I do. I put dark tint and it finished the car perfectly.

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  great - 2002 Lincoln Continental
  By jlj; - July 20 - 2:40 am

  best

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  A "10" in the curves - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Tino - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Car owned: 2000 LS V8 w/Sport Suspension package. This is one of the BEST HANDLING sport sedans on the market; end of story. I am a driving enthusiast and will say that I push this car hard in the corners every chance I get. The LS responds by carving like a pair of giant slalom skis on packed snow. Torque is a bit low as this affects off- the-line acceleration. The car has muscular, yet sexy body lines. It is a dream to drive an own. Unfortunately, the wife steals it out of the garage before I can get my hands on the keys... Such is life.

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  Most Luxurious LEMON - My Love Hate SUV - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By Ray R Harris - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Thank God for Extended Warranties. Ive replaced: 2 Engines, a Transmission and a Rear End. Plus, lots of interior features have failed and been replaced. I love the SUVs perfomance and looks. I once had to navigate through 3 feet of flood waters and even though the water came over the hood and onto the windshield, this baby never stopped. My lease is up soon...and I just dont know what to do...I love it but Im sure glad I dont have to pay to fix it!

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  AVIATOR..AMAZING - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By tommy gvili - July 18 - 2:00 am

  I PURCHASED THE AVIATOR IN JUNE OF 2003 .I WAS LOOKING AT THE NAVIGATOR AT THE TIME BUT WHEN DRIVING I FELT IT WAS TO BIG THE AVIATOR HONESTLY "PERFECT"IT COMBINES LUXURY AND RELIABILITY ALONG WITH PRFORMANCE ,,ONE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE V8 ENGINE GAS IS EXPENSIVE ,,OTHER WISE I REALLY LOVE IT .

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  aviator 04 - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By bob hodges - July 18 - 2:00 am

  looked at volvo,buick,bmw x5 [1999 tec. in 04 world] aviator has it all, baby navigator.

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  Its Amazing! - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Merk - July 18 - 2:00 am

  I just purchased a 2004 Navigator and I am HIGHLY impressed. It rides great, its gorgeous inside, it has an amazing stereo and more features than I could have imagined. I highly recommend this vehicle. Better have a big wallet!