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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  Good car so far but a little hesitant - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By TEE TEE - June 15 - 9:56 am

  I brought this 2000 Lincoln with 46,000 miles on it in May 2008. The only problem Ive had so far is the brakes (squeaking) and now as I speak a hose leaking and it want stay crank. I hope I dont have to experience the scary stories Ive read per other reviews. But if I do Im trading it in. No questions asked.

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  Beautiful truck! - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Brad Schwier - June 12 - 5:43 pm

  This car is beautiful on the inside and out. Its classy interior design makes you feel like you are in the best of the best. With 300 hp you dont even feel like youre driving a big vehicle, it feels more like a sports car when it comes to acceleration. The gas mileage isnt to brag about, but either is a Camaros which was my last car.

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  Great car with terrible software - 2011 Lincoln MKX
  By kazolar - June 4 - 11:39 pm

  How can Ford release a car without actually driving it. It seems to me that you drive the car you notice that the in dash system plain doesnt work. Ive seen tons of ads pimping all the great techy aspects of the Sync system -- they must be using a different system in some test bed, because on real cars its an exercise in futility and frustration. Talking to it is like talking to a developmentally challenged child -- so when it gets something right my wife and I hi-five. Indexing music is like having a root-canal. GPS cuts out loose track of you on an empty road with clear skies and no trees. Too many irritating popups. Not recommended!!!

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  Good sports car - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Eddie B - June 2 - 2:50 pm

  I purchased this 2005 LS used with 23000 miles on it. So far its been a fairly nice car to drive. I was however, expecting a bit more from a Lincoln. Im 60 years old and basically have always owned a sports car......3 T-birds in a row...... I wanted to move up to a more comfortable riding vehicle. The Lincoln doesnt ride as well as I would like it to. It is the best handling car Ive ever owned though and Ive had a few Corvettes in my time. All in all, for the price, its been very good so far.

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  Leak on top of Gem module - 2000 Lincoln Navigator
  By Tim L - June 2 - 2:00 am

  I traded in a 2001 an Elantra for a 2000 Navagator to pull a travel trailer. I can only hope I will have this vehicle in time to pull it. It has been in the shop now 4 times to fix a leaky windshild that allows water to drip onto the G.E.M. module and thus shortout the entire front part of the cars electrical system. Now the air suspension isnt working

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  The Lincoln Aviator - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By B Braffet - May 28 - 10:00 am

  Fabulous riding automobile. No truck like rides in this car.

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  1997 Lincoln Town Car - 1997 Lincoln Town Car
  By Joanne Taylor - May 26 - 10:00 am

  This has been a very good car & I am still driving it. It has 85,000 miles on it with some hail damage over 3/4 of the vehicle. It is still a very comfortable car & I only need the value of it for tax purposes. My experience with this car has been good.

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  Happy Customer - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By Alyn Bernell - May 23 - 10:00 am

  Looks and feels like a luxury car. I thought the rating writeup I found a few frames back on this website was a poor writeup. I didnt buy this car to "scratch off" from stoplights or careen thru the twisties. I bought it float over bumps and feature styling that doesnt all look alike with German cars and many Japanese cars.

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  wind noise - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By Milo L. Wietstock - May 23 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 2003 Lincoln Signature last year. I have noted a significant amount of wind noise coming from both front doors. I have had the car back to the dealership, a Ford Tech Rep drove the car, and correspondence with Ford Customer Satisfaction group in Dearborn have resulted in no seeming concern or help to resolve this irritating condition. Ford has said this is normal for this car. I find that hard to believe for a new supposed luxury car. However, they seem to have washed their hands of the matter offering no help. In addition, I seem to have soft brakes which again has been diagnosed as normal. And, the AM radio has poor reception.

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  Not Bad - 1999 Lincoln Town Car
  By dwr1953 - May 14 - 2:00 am

  This is the first TC I have owned and like it pretty well. I travel some and enjoy the ride over the road (has the Touring Pkg). I also like the roominess both in the cabin and in the trunk although the low trunk floor can give problems getting the luggage out. Stereo is ok but could be improved. Integrated phone is not great either, especially the "hands free" functions.