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 06 t/c - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By jessem12801 - January 29 - 2:00 am

  I bought a 99 a couple of years ago and didnt like it at all. Not as comfortable as the Lincoln t/cs of the 90s vintage. Then I bought an 05. A little better comfort wise but still worse then the 90s versions. Now I have my 06 sig. Ltd. Comfort is slightly better then the 05 or maybe Im just used to the seats by now. I like the adjustable pedals and cd changer and the Lincoln town car ride! Nothing else like it. I know the reliability of these cars is second to none since I drove limos for 20+ years in NYC in these and they never broke! 300,000 miles easy and no issues! I still prefer the old body style though. Just a more elegant looking car all around. Ford has one of the most reliable cars ever

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  Flying the Aviator - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By brandon - January 25 - 5:03 am

  i love driving this suv. i actually enjoy driving to work now because the aviator is such a joy to drive. the stereo is fantastic, and the ride is so smooth that is feels like you are flying. the steering is easy and smooth as well. the HID lights are a big plus at night as well. the aviator is loaded with all kinds of gadgits and i love gadgits. over all, i love the vehicle. it has a few problems, but since most of the aviators are discounted right now, you can get a brand new one for 20,000 less than a bmw or mb.

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  Is it a Car or is it a Truck? - 2002 Lincoln Blackwood
  By JR - January 21 - 9:56 pm

  It definitely is not a typical truck or car. Its sort of a new catagory. What it is is a truck with a trunk, a very large trunk but, not too deep. Ita blast to drive. It handle quite well for a 5,900 pound vehicle. Everything works just the way it should. I think youll enjoy this ride.

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  My Town Car - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By Dakotaben - January 21 - 10:00 am

  I love this car. i have always wanted one and i found a Cartier, which is the hardest one to get. i wanted a 97 but I settled for the 96. All in all it is a very good car, gets decent gas mileage when driven easily, when driven rough then you pay for it at the pump. Very good car. I have the cloth roof with chrome wheels and ivory paint. Beautiful car.

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  The true meaning of luxury... - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By John Neilson - January 21 - 10:00 am

  I love this SUV much better than the unsafe Escalade. With so many more advantages over the big rival, the Navigator should be favored as much as it was before the 2002 Escalade.

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  Its aite - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By samiyasmom - January 18 - 5:43 pm

  I have had my Aviator for a year and a half now and back in january I started having problems with it. Sometimes it would start when you got in it and every time i would take it to the lincoln dealership they would keep saying they could do nothing because when i would get it to the dealership it would start up so i got tired of it maybe starting and sometimes not starting that i ended up getting it towed back to the dealership because one day i got in it and it wouldnt start so i ended up buying a new starter and that ended up not even being the problem it was something else so i was frustrated with that.

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  Great car! - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By Eric - January 17 - 9:16 pm

  I bought my LS new in 2001. As of July 2008 I have 144,000 miles on it. Overall this has been a great car. Its a V6 with 5 speed manual trans. The only problems I have had are 2 window regulators (I see this is a common problem but you can replace them yourself its not that hard) and 2 ignition coils that failed. I am still on the original clutch and have only replaced tires and brakes once - at 75,000 miles. Ride and handling are great, power is adequate, and fuel economy is good. I get about 20-22 mpg in normal city driving, and have seen high 20s on freeway trips.

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  2004 LS Ultimate - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By Bigpinejen - January 9 - 10:00 am

  The LS is fun to drive. I have found the seats to be uncomfortable on a trip. The transmission could be smoother shifting. Overall I really like the styling and performance, especially the handling.

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  I love my Navigator! - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By Jennifer - January 8 - 11:06 am

  I bought my Lincoln a month ago and I love it. Usually I have buyers remorse with a large purchase, but not this time. Its so comfortable and drives like a dream. We almost bought the Luxury, but then upgraded to the Ultimate and Im glad we did. Its like a tank in snow and ice. We drove over icy passes in two states two days after we bought it and its the best winter driving vehicle weve ever owned.

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  First 180 days - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By wfalden - January 8 - 5:30 am

  To date the car has performed as one whould expect. The six cyln engine is to small for the size of the car but does have surprising performance. The auto has great electronic features while the inside looks nice but at a closer glance a lot of cheap parts.