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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  The definition of junk - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By smith.koko - March 4 - 9:00 am

  So Im 20 years old and I had previously owned a 1996 Dodge Ram. I decided to upgrade, well what i thought was an upgrade, I Bought My Lincoln. Ive had nothing but problems. The first week i had it both cadillac converters had to be replaced, car vibrates at 45, poor gas mileage, drivers door broken have to open from outside,car wont start right, you have to turn the engine over 5 or 6 times before it starts. Recently my power steering pump went out and i havent been able to drive it. Im now looking for a new car. Please dont but this car you will regret every penny spent. I bought mine for almost $7000 and the car is only worth $2500. Upside down. Not fun.

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  THE NEW AMERICAN LUXURY CAR - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By ak - March 3 - 3:06 pm

  Ecellent ride/performance. You get your bang for the buck. The only other comparable car is the BMW 540I which sells for 55000.

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  05 LS Sport - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By joe329 - March 3 - 12:55 pm

  I just bought this recently and so far, so far good. Its not great in Winter conditions (Its rear wheel drive, what do you expect), gas mileage is on par around 20-21 mpg, good power, very comfortable, and is overall a good looking car. Ive read up on these cars for a few years trying to learn about its problems, its Pros and Cons, and decided its worth the money if you take care of it just like any other car. My only gripe is you SHOULD feed it premium. I dont care what websites say that you can run 87 in it...In the end, it will just slow ly kill it. Gas is going up again, but I knew this when I bought it and will be willing to make sure it gets what is needed.

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  Solid performer with comfort - 2007 Lincoln Town Car
  By fred154 - March 1 - 10:06 am

  Our 2007 Lincoln gives a roomy and comfortable ride with excellent trunk space and 23 MPG economy on a road trip and 18MPG around town. It isnt the fastest car off the line, but a Lincoln owner is mature enough to know this isnt necessary or desirable. It gives adequate performance when passing or getting up to speed on the interstates. When you analyze what a car should do - transport a number of people in comfort and safety at a reasonable cost - the Lincoln Town Car excels at that. Our 92 Town Car gave excellent service for 15 years, and this one seems to be just as reliable. Seats are comfortable and the features are great. Our 67,000 miles with no service problems says it all!

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  Great for a Lincoln - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By D Waters - March 1 - 9:03 am

  The Navigator is a hit with us, but now Mercedes and GM are making more economic and Luxurious SUVs, so Lincoln needs to stay int the game. The car is really noisy and (OBVIOUSLY) its a real pain in the neck to fill it up at the pump. Its very comfortable and the third row is actually quite spacious. Overall, if youre someone who wants a luxury full size SUV, I might recommend the Audi Q7 or M-Benz GL450 a tad bit more, but if you need to haul a lot(I mean A LOT!), Id recoomend this car a tad bit more than the GL, Q7, or Escalade (just a tad, because the design of both the exterior and interior isnt as elegant as the Mercedes or Audi).

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  My Dream Car - 2000 Lincoln Town Car
  By raven35 - February 28 - 11:31 pm

  This is my first Town Car and believe me, it wont be the last. I wish I had driven one sooner. It rides like you are driving on clouds. It acts as if bumps and pot holes were not even on the road. The interior is all leather and the seats are very comfortable. There is a large amount of cabin space and I was surprised at the leg room in the rear passenger compartment. I am 63" and have plenty of leg room in the back. The V8 engine is very strong with a lot of torque. This car gets moving in a hurry. I am also surprised at how quite the ride it. At 65 mph, there is very little road or wind noise.

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  One Great Lincoln - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By baffled - February 28 - 2:46 pm

  Had the MKS AWD about a month now and I still can not believe I got this much vehicle for $47000. All the luxury competition in size is more money and none of them offer the technology of this auto. The interface between the navigation, phone, travel link, climate control is all voice activated. Heated and cooled front seats with heated back seats standard. Adaptive cruise control, headlights that move when you turn, front and rear parking sensors with a hugh screen back up camera, heck you can even download about 2400 songs to the car. Drives great with a nicely tuned suspension that is a great cross between sporty and highway cruiser, plenty of power. Shift yourself trans. Great car

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  Classy - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By Max - February 27 - 10:46 pm

  this car is amazing, ive had it for about 6 months now, i bought it used. its a 2004 model. it is the most luxurious SUV on the market. ive driven in a range rover, and id take this over that. i think it is the best SUV you can buy. i have had no problems with the car, it has never had to go into the dealer in the time ive owned it. the interior is beautiful. the engine sounds amazing as well, when youre accelerating, it sounds like it has an aftermarket exhaust system. the thing handles like a sports car.

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  Power and style - 2002 Lincoln Navigator
  By justbe - February 25 - 10:00 am

  Navigator is comfortable to ride in for reasons beyond its leather seats and lots of room. A rear load-leveling suspension adjusts the height of the vehicle according to cargo weight to assist in handling performance, while long wheel base help to provide a stable, cushioned ride. Its also easier to drive than it looks, thanks to a short turning radius, and variable assist power steering. Very comfortable; tons of space; lots of extras; handsome design. The class of the American SUVs. The best part is I paid $39,900 brand new.

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  A Great Car To Have - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By David - February 24 - 11:13 am

  This is a great car, I got it at nero in Ohio, and there is nothing that I dont like about it. Buy it and you will love it!!! Everything is automatic, and done for you. This car is fully loaded, and in my case I would rate it #1 car!!!