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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  LS - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By Pen - April 4 - 2:00 am

  I purchased the car because JD Power had given it excellent reviews but my experience with the quality was poor. It was in the shop a lot. Now I am look at having to buy a new car because my warranty is up and I do not want to take any chances on having a major repair like in the past.

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  My Best Buy so far - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By ink 74 - March 31 - 6:30 pm

  I had this car for 4 months and i love it the ride is very smooth, the THX sound system is great, i love the cooled seat because where i live we have 90 to 100 degrees, the interior is beautyfull, it has more than enough power, it looks great, it handles great, the cockpit is quiet but when the engine goes around the 3,500 rpm the sounds turns loud and thats something that i love, this is the first lincoln made for young buyers because it has what it takes to compite with the germans and overprice japanese

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  Get a Move On! ( The Lincoln Theme Song) - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By Stan The Man - March 30 - 10:00 am

  Just took my 2003 LS home. I got home about one hour after I purchased it. Not because the dealer is far away, I just couldnt stop driving it! Much more fun and much better built than my 00 LS and I thought that one was great. I dont know why this car receives such lukewarm reviews. Could it be that those who give the reviews are BMW, CTS and Acura owners and dont want to admit you can get so much car at such a great price? Dont know dont care...Varoom!

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  2003 LincolnLS - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By msteinberg - March 25 - 10:00 am

  It is a great car to drive EXCEPT in the snow. The car will fish tail.

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  Very nice, roomy, quiet , well appointed - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By anthony heying - March 24 - 7:06 am

  I have owned SUVs in the past but this one is so very nice with its features and its fairly good on fuel.

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  need repeated repairs - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By fluffypuppy - March 23 - 10:26 pm

  Slow acceleration, poor seat material, need repeated repairs - change seal; dripping oil

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  New Owner - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By K Hanna - March 23 - 10:20 pm

  I am a recent new owner of a Lincoln Aviator. After owning 1 Explorer, 2 Broncos and 1 Windstar, I am, again, completely enjoying ownership of a Ford - Lincoln product. The Aviator is sporty and rich looking, both inside and out. It has all the "bells and whistles", most of which are standard features. The Aviator has a powerful V8 and is very smooth when stepping on the accelerator. It definitely stands out among other vehicles and I have received many comments and compliments on my recent purchase. I am most completely satisfied with this vehicle.

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  Id buy another - wish the V8 had a 5 Sp - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Greg R-LSv6 - March 23 - 8:03 pm

  I am an ex race car owner/driver. I wanted a reasonably priced performance sedan. While I want the BMW M5, it is outrageously expensive. The Ls is very fun to drive, predictable, and honestly powerful enough for street driving. I look forward to every trip in that car. A key buying factor was the Gertrag 5-speed. I had to have a manual

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  2003 Lincoln Navi - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By Alexander - March 23 - 3:50 am

  My 2003 Navigator is awesome- Bought with 28000 miles - Problems started at 65K, head Gasket a well known problem for the Cylinder head on these vehicles. In addition, Beware of the radiator assembly. The Transmission cooling system runs thru the radiator and when it comes apart, all oil from transmission cooling system will contaminate your antifreeze. Side mirrors crazy, and windows do not close at highway speeds. The car is awesome though, turns heads even after 6 years.

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  Somethings Missing - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By RBS - March 20 - 10:10 pm

  Came out of an LS to the Zephyr. I know we are comparing apples and oranges but Lincoln really missed the mark if trying to retain customers who came to the brand for mid performance. LS was tight and confident. Zephyr is not even close. Zephyer is luxury inside while the vehile is in park. Awesome interior, no mechanical issues, great looks and finish. Step on the gas and it ends here. Loud unrefined engine noise, unremarkable ride, major torque steer. This is a Fusion at best with a better interior. Nothing wrong with this except why pay for luxury and get a common auto mobile. After 7 weeks I traded it out.