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:

• 

  hello again mr mechanic! - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By lincoln nav - January 3 - 1:40 pm

  i got the one with chrome wheels, heated/air seats, wood, 6 disc- ammenities r great! but this car has been to the repair shop and to the gas station 1 too many times. This is a good looking car, very comfortable, but when i went to the repairmen to get it inspected he said i needed new ball joints. ok, but then he said that lincoln made it so that the would intentionally break!

• 

  I cant believe this! - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By doster79 - January 2 - 7:26 am

  Ive had this car for less than two years, and take great care of it. Started hearing noises in the transmission and it also started to slip. Still under warranty so I took it back to a different dealer because I moved. Dealor wouldnt give me a loaner because I didnt buy it there! Needs new transmission after two years? Ive heard an acronym for Ford and we all know what it is. As soon as it came out of the dealership I drove straight to Cadillac and traded it in for a CTS, before the warranty expires and it falls apart on me!

• 

  Love it - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By Kevin Lewis - January 1 - 10:00 am

  After owning a 1995 Explorer, weve found the Aviator to be a big step up in ride and comfort. Other than the meager gas mileage, I would definitely buy the Aviator again.

• 

  New Lincoln LS Tampa FL - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By Tampa John - December 26 - 7:36 pm

  I feel this car competes with BMW and the Japanese sport sedans in performance and styling. My second car is a late model Corvette,this car has great acceleration and handling characteristics,is almost as much fun to drive as my Vette. The Lincoln LS has been discontinued and my decision to buy was the great value, 11,000 in discounts made this the best value for a great handling and preforming sports sedan.

• 

  Now its the transmission! - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By Diana - December 20 - 2:33 am

  Factory ordered. Passenger door air noise and rattle fixed and defective molding on interior fixed. Air conditioner hose soaked driver floor. 16,000 miles later, rear tailgate stopped opening automatically one day. Transmission slipping now at 17,000 miles. From day one, on an incline and going slow while turning steering box noise but Lincoln found "nothing unusual". MPG hwy. 21.7, city 19

• 

  Nice CUV - 2008 Lincoln MKX
  By Kenny - December 18 - 1:43 am

  Leased my 08 MKX now for a month and it is a pretty good vehicle. I have enjoyed driving it. I get lots of compliments on the looks of the MKX. The car is comfortable to drive and generally easy to manuever. Read below about the brakes. Powerful THX soundsystem is awesome. Roomy for passengers. Overall, I can recommend this vehicle. It just needs to fix a couple things to be considered an elite gotta have vehicle.

• 

  Past the Honeymoon - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By slchan - December 14 - 2:00 am

  The Navigator was our choice given our criteria of a few specifics such as a "real" third row seat, luxury appointments, and car-like ride. Lincoln did well with the overall exterior/interior design. Quality, on the other hand, is a whole different story. In this area, Lincoln can learn a few things from Toyota. At the end of the day, I like the Navigator. But my next purchase will most likely be a foreign car (read: Toyota).

• 

  New to "Ford" - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By JIHedstrom - December 12 - 10:00 am

  I have had three Cadillacs in the past. This is a good reliable car. Not a Cadillac, but still a good car.

• 

  New to Hybrid Cars - 2012 Lincoln MKZ
  By dieselfest - December 3 - 9:28 am

  Just passed 600 miles on new Ultimate Pkg MKZ Hybrid. On short trips about 2 miles I get about 26 mpg. Commute to work 22 miles one way 30City/70Hyw, I get 42 mpg consistently. Strange results considering city should be 41 mpg and thats what the short trips are. If I drive normally meaning faster off the line at stop lights and break later and harder, I can only get about 33 mpg average. This isnt too bad and I can live with those numbers. The car really teaches me how to drive more efficiently. I do go past 65 mph but under 75 on the highway regularly and still get 42 mpg. I find that hard acceleration and hard breaking is my biggest problem.

• 

  My Sync - 2011 Lincoln MKX
  By fman47 - December 2 - 12:09 am

  I would have rated this car a lot better but I am totally disgusted with the "My Sync". In plain terms, it is a piece of crap! I been back to the dealer 3 times and since I have been I still having reliability problems such as bluetooth drops out by itself - 4 times Navigation system - SD Failure 3 times Response of system slow - almost always voice activated calls; 20 -30 seconds before it dials the phone -15 times voice activation in consistent in understanding the request.