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 Hot Rod Lincoln - 2010 Lincoln MKS
  By mksman - August 4 - 9:36 am

  Traded in a 2000 Corvette that got better gas mileage, but was getting some years. Love my MKS "quick" engine and can pass in these WV Hills--almost as good as the Vette. Glad to have an almost all American made performer.

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  Amazingly better! - 2007 Lincoln Navigator
  By Tops Escalade - August 2 - 5:26 pm

  Purchased it last month. Since have put on almost 1,000 miles. Rides very nice and handles the road better than any escalade i have owned. The comfort and features are out of this world. Styling is different, but very static. Besides that its a Ford and they really took a big step up making this suv!

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  Dream suv - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By rayc - August 2 - 12:30 pm

  Outstanding except for gas mileage but well worth it no other complaint!

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  LOVE IT!!! - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By BLAZE - July 28 - 2:00 am

  I LOVE IT!! ITS PRETTY FAST.. IT FITS 6 PEOPLE PRETTY GOOD.IT DOES NOT HAVE MUCH ROOM BEHIND THE 3ED SEAT FOR BAGS.THE PAINTED PLASTIC ON THE IN SIDE LOOKS GREAT BUT SCRATCHES EASY OTHER THEN THAT I LOVE IT...

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  the ultimate car - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By Jose - July 25 - 8:13 am

  unbelievable car will always drive a towncar from here on out..Looks good drives great I get nothing but compliments and looks as I drive

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  A real sleeper...GREAT CAR! - 1994 Lincoln Town Car
  By Erik - July 21 - 8:33 pm

  89k miles when we got it, now 250k. Still runs fantastic, just burns a quart every 2-3k mi. Online Lincoln forum helps greatly to pinpoint repair issues and save repair costs. Same chassis as Crown Vic police interceptors so rodding mods available. Comfortable, huge interior and trunk, gets 24+ highway on regular gas, 21 mixed. "Greener" than most Subarus! Replaced expensive rear air springs with coils, $150 vs $2000, added Sensatracs and you cant tell the diff in the ride. Oil smoke problem at 150k miles is fixable, its the right bank valve seals. 99% of perceived engine and tranny issues are cured with fresh Motorcraft copper plugs and Motorcraft plug wires every 50 k miles.

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  I love the car - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By Chet Jarosz - July 20 - 11:33 pm

  This my second Town car, I had a 2003 previously. Prior to this, I had two Lincoln Continentals. The Town car is a very comfortable, quiet car for long trips. I also feel safe in the car. Its also very useful for transporting my golf buddies and the four golf bags. They also like the car. I never looked at another car. It was the Lincoln Town Car all the way.

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  Pleasantly surprised - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Stella - July 17 - 10:00 am

  I was looking for another Explorer to purchase or maybe going to a Navigator. There had been no signifigant changes in the Explorer so the loan officer at the dealership suggested I take a look at the Aviator. There was one on the lot and we took it home for a test drive. I told my husband I had never driven a vehicle like it before. I liked it immediately. Two main features of a car I look for are a good stereo system and the color inside and out. My husband checks out the rest.

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  Head Turning Ride - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By Big Dan - July 16 - 12:33 pm

  From kids to adults they all stop and stare! Great style and presence makes the Mark LT turn heads. With the chrome running boards and bed liner this is one sweet truck! Those that say it is just a tricked out Ford F150, its no different from the Chevrolet Avalanche to the Cadillac Escalade EXT but $10,000 less. With the superior interior comfort and room,along with sirrus tunes you can go cross country pulling your belongings and get out feeling like a king!

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  Have you driven a Lincoln lately? - 2010 Lincoln MKS
  By brucelinc - July 15 - 6:33 pm

  The ecoboost MKS is a smooth, quiet very quick mid-luxury sedan that does many things well. The combination of performance, comfort and techology is impressive. The Ecoboost engine is a jewel - smooth and quiet yet almost brutally powerful when you want it to be. The high torque at low RPM makes for drama-free performance with low noise levels and little need for downshifts. The Sync and Nav systems work flawlessly and are extremely user- friendly. The adaptive headlights and ambient lighting are nice features, too. While getting generally good press (except from Edmunds) many people will overlook the MKS because it does not have a "luxury" nameplate. They are overlooking a fine car.