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 First Lincon - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By dobb - November 4 - 2:00 am

  Very impressed with fuel economy - 25+ hwy and 19+ city. Acceleration is stonger than expected. Seems smaller than it really is in city traffic. Wife even enjoys driving and shes normally driving an s70 volvo. No buyers remorse, best car buy decission Ive made. Dealer very good to deal with, great pricing. Compared to my dads DeVille, no comparison for luxury for the dollar. A lot of value for you money....

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  194000 miles and still running strong - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By mikevee1 - October 31 - 3:35 pm

  I love love love this truck I have owned it since 175000 miles and it wont give up , According to the last driver who was an elderly person the only problem ever was a suspension fuse for the air system. It is huge, on the highway I get over 20 mpgs (the trick is using a k&n hiflow filter) I highly recommend this vehicle. In the snow it is awesome, dont even need the 44 since it is awd all time. The ladies love it, and so does visiting family. I believe I will own this until 300,000 miles. I just drove to Vegas from Minnesota and not a hesitation. Kudos Lincoln on making a sweet ride.

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  2002 Lincoln LSE...American Advantage - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By ronniepoh - October 29 - 2:00 am

  EXCELLENT vehicle. Powerful, smooth V8 power. EXCELLENT Chassis. (aluminum suspension really makes the car nimble and well balanced). Overall, it performs on par, if not better, than a BMW 5 series. Reliability has been excellent. A highly under rated vehicle. I highly suggest driving one before purchasing any other sedan.

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  JUST SAY NO!!! - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By bexley - October 29 - 2:00 am

  FROM SQUEAKY BRAKES TO A LEAKY TAIL GATE THIS VEHICLE HAS NOW DEVELOPED TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS. FORD DOES NOT STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS AND SHOULD BE ASHAMED TO MARKET SUCH A VEHICLE. NEXT TIME I WILL BUY A CADILLAC

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  Fun, but,... - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By SactoRed - October 29 - 2:00 am

  Bought this 5 speed used w/3k (company car). Only problems have been with rear window regulators (repalced 2x). Not much low end torque but a blast to drive once I switched tires and the engine seemed to loosen up. Fit and finish better than the town car it replaced, paint also holding up better. Drove a V8 loaner and loved the extra power - missed the shifter.

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  Head room - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By John J. - October 29 - 2:00 am

  I like everything about the car but one thing. There realy isnt enough head room for a big guy like me.

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  First Blush - 2007 Lincoln Mark LT
  By dallasdon - October 27 - 6:56 pm

  First week for 07 LT following a Lexus LX470. Simply awesome. Usually buy "barely used" for the big discount, but such LTs available were priced out of line. This gorgeous, max-optioned new 07 was $45,590 MSRP, and the dealer dumped to $35,500 with no sweat. Best $35k vehicle in the world. Smooth, quiet, sexy attention grabber. Good for work, play, luxury night out, pick-up clients, road trips, you name it. Yes, they missed a few minor things, but dont dwell. So far, most enjoyable vehicle ever purchased. Wouldnt be quite as thrilled at $45k, but at $35k, its a no-brainer route to vehicular contentment.

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  Best car I have owned - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Steve Timm - October 27 - 5:00 pm

  Everything about this car shouts performance and quality. It is everything a BMW or Mercedes is, but better because it is AMERICAN! If there is anything I would change , I would give the back seats a little more leg space. At 63" I have to move the driver seat forward to provide enough leg room for anyone older than 10. My knees almost touch the dash which is not comfortable for any lenght of time. Otherwise a great car.

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  2nd Nav., 05 Best Ever - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By Oberwerk - October 27 - 8:10 am

  After 53K trouble-free miles on my 02 Nav, I thought an 05 Expedition Limited might be just as nice for 10K less. Test drove the Ford and was disappointed- not as nice as my 02 Nav. Then checked out the 05 Nav and was surprised to see how much theyve improved. Bought it and have been very pleased. Major improvement over my 02, and I was quite happy with that.

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  2006 Lincoln LS - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By C. Rose - October 25 - 6:36 pm

  I love this car! The ride is great! I cant believe that this car is being discontinued. This is the kind of car that Ford Motor Co should build around. American luxury that is amazing to drive no matter how you drive! This car is a keeper!