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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  My Little Smoothie - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By Gredblg - April 12 - 6:03 pm

  After having cars in my life that could spin tires from a stop light or carry loads of lumber, I decided that I needed a smoother, quieter, more luxurious car. I am in my car everyday as a sales guy, so I wanted something that would make my very active day a pleasant, calming experience. I got everything I wanted and more in my beautiful, Tuxedo Black Lincoln. I enjoy the smooth,velvety,quick 0-60, the library quiet cabin, the 14 speaker THX stereo with voice activated everything, the heated/cooled seats, the huge amount of room and the subtle, tasteful design that people compliment me on almost daily. Great job, Ford. Who needs a stipped down, bland, boring Lexus for the same price?

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  Worst Town Car to Date - 1998 Lincoln Town Car
  By Tash Cheema - April 10 - 5:03 pm

  This car currently has 223K on it. Its my fathers car and used it work as a limo driver. Up until about 170K, the car was basically trouble free (one or two minor repairs.) The only real constant problem was a hole in the firewall that allowed rain water and snow to get into the passenger compartment.(The car now wreaks of dirty water). However over the past two years this car has been problematic. Heres a list of all the problems weve had: Two bad wiper motors. Two power driver power window motors. Sunroof stopped working. Intake manifold blew(factory defect). Gas mileage has decreased slowly(now 12-14 mpg). A/C compressor inoperative. A spark plug blew out of the engine.

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  5 years of ownership - 1997 Lincoln Continental
  By scopen - April 10 - 2:00 am

  Great power for a big car. Great trunk size. I always had trouble with brakes every 20M miles. rear view mirror stopped working and will cost $500 to replace. I havent, still looking for a used one. Other than that, still a great car. I have 95M now. Id buy another one, but they stopped making them.

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  ls - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By chin man - April 10 - 2:00 am

  the buying experiance was excellent. the most friendly people i have run into, and i have bought 4 new cars in 8 years. the veh handles excellent and is tighter than i thought possible with a sedan. driving at 90mph feels like 50. could use low end oomph. overall i like it.

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  Lincoln Navigator - Essence of Luxury! - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Rahul Kapoor - April 9 - 4:13 pm

  I have owned the Ultimate Navi almost three years now and it is unbelievably reliable. I do not want to get rid of it as of now because it sticks out much more boldly than the newer SUVs at this time. SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade, Hummer H2, Range Rover, Infiniti QX56, Mercedes Benz GL Class, etc... This vehicle is at the top of the luxury chain in my opinion rated bias or not. I have test driven other SUVs and nothing compares to this. It gets me and my family around comfortably and it feels like home even on the road considering the ultimate entertainment system. I have had no problems when driving it and the only thing I see when I drive is heads turning. Overall, this SUVs amazing

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  Best ride of my life - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By tncontint - April 9 - 8:50 am

  This is the second Lincoln that I have owned. The first was a 78 town car. This Continental is without a doubt one of the best looking cars on the road. It is a very powerful, and fun filled car to drive. I have put nearly 100,000 miles on it since I purchased it. I would take it around the world if they had bridges to do so. I have that much faith in it. I dont foresee me purchasing another vehicle to drive, since they cant compete with this one that is paid for.

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  Leased It - Love It - It Is A Lincoln - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By Gammajune - April 8 - 9:30 pm

  Picked It Up on August 1. My husband is skilled trades at the Rouge Truck Plant, and the minute he saw it completed, knew we were upgrading from the F150 this lease term. Plus, great price and incentives for employees to GET IT OUT THERE and be seen! We had add-on steps installed - they only add more to the truck - have very visible chrome and make it pop even more. We tow a 7200 lb trailer, and there is no comparison between the F150 and Lincon LT - no shaking, no strain on engine: just a smooth luxury tow ride. Without towing it, just an great, as expected, Lincoln ride, only it is a Truck! Talk about stares, everyone smiles at this truck - no usual blah F150 is this Baby!

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  Lincoln Lemon? Check It Out. - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Lincoln Lemon - April 8 - 10:00 am

  Vehicle has way to many bugs. For example: 1.Car turns off at a stop for no reason. 2.A/C makes a grinding noise and vibrates when turned on. 3.Front drivers seat shifts when exilerating from stop. 4.Rusty seat frames. 5.Heat distribution inside not balanced.

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  lincoln - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By lincoln towncar 2004 - April 8 - 10:00 am

  best car on the road at any pricewi

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  08 Navigator L is King of the Road - 2008 Lincoln Navigator L
  By RonInBuffalo - April 4 - 11:03 pm

  I could not be happier with my 2008 Lincoln Navigator L! This black beauty has top quality, awesome appearance, excellent fit and finish, total comfort and ease of operation and handles and rides great so far. My fuel use experience is 18 city/22 highway. I use the Navigator L for daily commuting and hauling/carrying cargo. Even family and friends love the best in class 3rd row seating comfort and the quietness while driving is unrivaled. Cadillac, Infiniti, Mercedes and Acura Luxury SUVs come nowhere near the Navigator L in any comparable areas. I am very pleased with this vehicle and highly recommend it!