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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  Hot Rod Lincoln - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By billy b. - June 18 - 10:00 am

  i love it! fun, luxurious, and handles like a dream on the back roads to my suburban home.

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  Good - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By Sal, Chicha - June 18 - 10:00 am

  Nice car Better than Escalade And Cheaper

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  Great SUV - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By Ricardo - June 16 - 5:10 pm

  I have had my 2005 Lincoln Navigator Ultimate 4x4 for about 10 months now. I bought it top of the line, except I didnt get Sirius Satellite Radio. I have had only one problem with it: the right power-deployable running board stopped working and would not retract. I took it to the dealership and they said that it short-circuited. They ordered a new running board for me and replaced it for free. The Touch Screen Navigation system is very easy to use. The THX-Certified surround sound system is like being in a movie theatre! The power liftgate is a great feature (which, by the way, is not available on the Escalade ESV Platinum which is about $5K more). Xenon headlights make the car stand out.

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  Buy one - do it! - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By massimo - June 16 - 1:46 pm

  I never thought that this car had everything I was looking for, but it does and I still look forwrd to driving it. In the last 10 years I have had 6 BMWs (an M3 and the rest 5- series) and 2 Saabs. To be honest, the beemers were overhyped, the Saabs were awesome, but were always in thw shop. This LS is great. The looks are understated and the motor has a strong powerband.

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  2 good continentals - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By Paul - June 13 - 11:13 pm

  I bought 2 used continentals. Bought the 1998 model 7 years ago with 50,000 miles, now has 114,000 miles. Only had to replace a coil pack, spark plugs, & spark plug boots. 25 mpg highway, 17 mpg city, awesome car. I bought the 1999 model 3 years ago with 108,000 miles. The original owner towed a big boat, I expect he used overdrive while towing, transmission had to be rebuilt at 125,000 miles and rear sway bar bushings had to be replaced. Replaced several coil packs, spark plug boots, and the rear view mirror because the compass failed.

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  Excellent car - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By dwaltus - June 12 - 10:00 am

  My Lincoln LS is a great car and gets better mileage than EPA posted for it. From Oklahoma to California we averaged 30.6 mpg the best tank was 33.4 the worse 27.36 cruses the highway in style and great comfort. In town driving is around 19 mpg.

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  My Car - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By Spencer Hirshman - June 10 - 5:58 pm

  Beautiful car with a very attractive interior. Extremely quiet and smooth riding with solid construction. Controls easy to operate. Roomy interior with excellent storage. Nice materials.

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  Luxury Sedan for Grownups - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By randygrenier - June 10 - 3:10 am

  I previously owned a Cadillac CTS, but I like the MKZ Hybrid much more. Im glad someone finally recognizes there is a market for this kind of car. I respect that others want high-performance road racing cars, but I prefer a quiet, posh ride. The technology is unbelievable. The reviewers mention the computerized continually adjusting dampening system, but they dont mention that it "learns" along with brakes, acceleration, you driving habits, and road conditions to improve over time. The cabin tech is out of this world--not enough space here to even begin.

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  Improvement over previous years - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By Trader - June 9 - 2:00 am

  Car rides stiffer, have more feel for the road. Car stays on track better, and pretty much level/flat response to road bumps. Interior nicer looking, front end also classier.

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  Outstanding - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By LAone - June 3 - 2:00 am

  Test drove the GX470 and the Aviator...surprisingly to me, American wins. Comfort is comparable, handling is comparable, power goes to the Aviator. Interior design goes to the Aviator (just try riding in the third seat of the GX470), also DVD system is great. Exterior design goes to the Avaitor. And finally, the Aviator has complimentary maintenance for 3/36K...which can be upgraded to 4/50K for a reasonable fee.