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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  Love my "car" - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By AC - May 8 - 1:03 pm

  Love the heavy ride, stability and ability to see the road. Towing mirrors eliminate blind spots. Mileage is better than my last "car". I get 20 mph or so on the open highway. True comfort.

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  Best Car Ever! - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By grolle - May 6 - 2:50 am

  I bought this 1998 Lincoln Continental in 2004 with 98,000 miles on it. Today (9-21-07) it has 227,000 miles on it and still drives as strong as ever! No doubt, the best automobile, hands down I have ever owned. I average around 30,000 miles a year and run my business out of this fantastic car! Great, great drive!

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  The Best Ride - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By Ashish - May 3 - 5:46 am

  the navigator has the smoothest ride out of all the suvs on the market... i have done extensive research before purchasing the navigator and it beats all the other suvs

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  Lincoln Zephyr...nice car - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Davey - May 2 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Lincoln after frustration with other makes. Hard to find good front seats. The Lincoln has them and offers power adjustments for driver AND passenger. The car is relatively quiet. I like the handling, trunk space, and ride. Oh, and the analog clock is a neat touch. Youd expect to run this on premium. Guess again. Only a couple minor gripes. The plastic in the gear box is cheap feeling, and Id expect a locking fuel door. Some, I suspect will not like the moving center console deck. Its well padded, but moves fore and aft and cant be locked in place. Overall, a fine car. Glad to be back with Ford.

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  new SUV - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By moms SUV - May 1 - 1:46 pm

  handles well in wet and slushy conditions, plenty of power, comfortable seating and good heat circulation to the rear of the vehicle.

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  Solid and reliable - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By Long time owner - April 30 - 10:00 am

  As I begin thining about moving up to a newer model, I hesitate to give up this solid truck with nice features and great towing capabilites. The ride is a bit on the truck side, but if you need a vehicle that can pull the boat with ease, inspire confidence on snow covered roads, and give you a comanding view of the road, this is a good choice. Fuel economy seems right in the ballpark for a vehicle of this type, averaging just over 15 mpg, but can get higher in freeway driving.

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  I hate my car. Ready to trade in - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By I HATE MY LS - April 29 - 11:13 pm

  I purchased the 02 LS V8 three years ago and have had nothing but problems and costly repairs. It is a nice car to look at but is not worth the hassle.. Every part including tires are pricey. I will never by a Ford/Lincoln again. Gas mileage is bad. If thinking about buying one, do not!

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  Love my 2016 Lincoln MKX Reserve - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By Harold - April 29 - 5:52 pm

  Purchased the MKX Reserve on October 13, 2015. As of this writing, November 3, 2015, I have had no problems or issues. This vehicle is loaded with technology and as of this writing Im still learning. Pairing (sync) my iphone 6 with this vehicle was no problem. Very happy with my MKX Reserve.

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  Recommended - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By Jason - April 26 - 2:53 am

  I traded my 2000 Nav in when I purchased my new 2006 Nav and the improvement have been incredible. Ive put on 45,000 miles on my 06 and its never been in the shop once. Very reliable and comfortable. You get a lot for your money, folding 3rd row seats, automatic tailgate, TMX sounds system vs. other luxury SUVs. I would definitely recommend this vehicle for those of you reading my review. I put 98K miles on my 2000 Nav and had no problems.

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  3.0 Hot Rod Lincoln - 2017 Lincoln MKZ
  By Joe - April 25 - 1:23 pm

  Hi, so the site didnt, give me the chance to enter the right model. I now have about 2,000 miles on a 2017 MKZ 3.0 L AWD sedan. Im pleasantly surprised as I didnt have a chance to drive this combination when I ordered it. I drove the 4 cylinder turbo, and it was Ok, but certainly not exciting. I compared mainly against the Audi A4 and the BMW 330i. The Audi was a bit underwhelming to tell the truth. All of the reviews rave about the interior, but I just wasnt convinced. I really disliked the nav screen sitting up on top of the instrument panel. I loved the idea of ordering a 330i with a manual transmission, but realized the resale would be poor. The BMW interior didnt really impress either, though there is a kind of throwback look to it that I liked. The two BMW dealers I visited were also less than accommodating. They pushed leasing, while I prefer to buy. Anyhow, I wound up ordering the MKZ Reserve with the big engine, and Im very pleased. High tech safety features, very quick acceleration, and I have yet to find a flaw side or out.