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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  2001 town car bought used - 2001 Lincoln Town Car
  By Wendy - August 5 - 3:13 am

  Great vehicle for family of two teens. Gas mileage city only 18. But highway & city avg. 23. Went to Missouri from Wisc. crusing mostly 85/90 and got 28 mpg. This car loves to go. At 70 ours kicks in again for passing. Have only had regular service done, runs great. Need a CD player. Has great speaker sound. Cup holders in the way of heat/ac controls. Even though car is so smooth a cup could sit on the armrest. Have had car in major snowstorms & handles well. Our 16 yr. old learned in this car. Back seat leg room is for anyone & I prefer the back seat for the comfort. Side windows are bellowed out, great for sky viewing for kids at night.

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  A Quality Car All Around - 2002 Lincoln Continental
  By Randy M. - August 4 - 10:56 pm

  I have enjoyed this car from the very moment I purchased it. The 2002 Lincoln Continental is truely deserving of its name. The responsiveness, econony, and comfort of the car in its class is nothing less of superb. While driving, the car is smooth and fairly quiet on even the noisiest highways. Handling the car on curves and corners, especially at higher speeds, does bring out the cars size, but is handled rather well with its electronic suspension system. It may not be a hot rod, but its not your dads Continental either! If you get one of these cars, make sure you get it with all the options, since this car is no longer available. All in all, this car is a good buy!

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  2003 Aviator A/C stinks, - literally! - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By Carol - August 4 - 3:53 am

  Chose an Aviator as an SUV that wasnt huge but had the power to haul our boat. Like the interior and the ride, but have been very disappointed with the number of problems we have had. Currently experiencing problems with the A/C which blows foul smelling humid air at us. Service rep says this is due to condensation sitting in the compressor creating mildew and is normal. Technicians repeatedly claim they cant detect a foul odor. Have recently met another 03 Aviator owner with the same beef. Wonder what kind of health hazard might be posed by mould or mildew in the air system. Anyone else with this problem? We are taking it to the regional level with the dealer. Will post our results

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  modern classic - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By bill m malachi, jr. - August 4 - 2:00 am

  this is a powerfully solid automobile, even-though my ls-400 is much quieter, it is not as much fun to drive,i cannot see an appreciable difference in build quality and i dont understand why the continentals didnt sale more

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  Great Car - Do NOT get the My Touch Nav System - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By Michelle - August 4 - 1:07 am

  This care is so comfortable and drives fantastic... BUT do not let them sell you on the My Touch navigation system. They are moving all this year to Sync 3 which is great but are still selling early 2016 models with My Touch - It is frustrating, slow and will leave you stranded. I had a loaner with the Sync 3 and it was night and day. I love this car but I bet I will get rid of it within 3 years due to the navigation system....It takes forever to compute and randomly the keyboard just disappears. I have taken it in and they cant do anything about it... I would recommend this car to anyone as long as you dont get suckered into the old nav system. I do have to say that the service folks and Gwinnett Lincoln have been a pleasure to deal with. I do wish the Lincoln dealership/Service was completely separate from Ford due to it is very busy but the staff does go above and beyond.

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  Excellent value for a hybrid vehicle - 2013 Lincoln MKZ
  By lincolnmkz2013 - August 3 - 12:53 pm

  Purchased the hybrid in June 2013. What can I say - this is a very fine car! I looked at all hybrids in its class and Lincoln had the quietest ride among all. Lincoln invested in whats not available in other 40K range cars: improved sound insulation and, consequently, reduced wind noise. Looking at its expensive looking elegant exterior, its hard to guess that its most practical and versatile hybrid in a class, due to its folded seats capacity. I have no problems picking up relatives from the airport or even loading small furniture/bycicles in the car! I love the audio sound quality, the trip report and mpg screen, Lincoln Mobile apps and push-buttons star.

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  Unhappy owner - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By fluffypuppy - August 3 - 11:50 am

  After my Lincoln Continental I have high expectation when I bought my Lincoln MKS. I wish I never did. With the same problem I had to go 3 times back, before the dealership find the problem and then took a week to fix it. It was a seal leaked the the seat circulated the burned oil into the cabinet. I suffered head ache as result for months. Also the car is underpowered, slow; the shift does not shift timely, while the engine roaring. When I go down on a hill when other drives push the break, i had to puss the gas in order to keep up with the traffic; going up on a hill my car was not abble to go up I had to manually switch back the gear. I am disappointed in this car.

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  Lincoln MKS 3.7l - 2010 Lincoln MKS
  By RKS - August 2 - 6:53 pm

  I love the unique exterior styling and luxurious interior design. Nav system and THX-II audio is fantastic. Great value for the money. An honest down to earth car. Normally aspirated engine has a lot of power. Car for the individual and not the follower.

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  Best Car I have ever owned. - 2011 Lincoln MKS
  By bw134 - August 2 - 7:09 am

  I purchased my 2011 MKS in November 2010. It is the finest car I have ever owned. I have owned two Infiniti Q45s, Chrysler 300-C (which was the worst car I have ever owned) and various other cars. The MKS is very fast, has all the bells and whistles, fun to drive, and also looks fantastic. Ford has done a terrific job with this one. I disagree with the testers who complained about the ride I feel it is very good. The all wheel drive is fantastic in the snow. During the snow storms of December 2010 I never got stuck while other cars were abandoned.

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  LS V8 - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By Jake2004 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  This is my 3rd LS. They keep getting better. New V8 is sneaky fast. Best mileage so far.