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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  Third Ford Corporation Hybrid - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By Fred - July 14 - 8:39 am

  This is my third "Ford Corporation" hybrid. First was a 2010 Ford Fusion (great vehicle), Second, a 2012 Lincoln MKZ (another great vehicle) and this one, a 2014 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid. I purchased the 2014 Lincoln solely because it has "killer" looks, very eye-catching and the newest battery technology. Ive had no problems with ANY of the hybrids and the gas mileage is fantastic. I really like Fords hybrids because they look like "real" cars, not like "insects" as in the Toyota Prius. Theres only a couple of things I would change, one is the CVT transmission (I dont care for the "drone" sound it makes under hard acceleration {although it does perform well at all highway speeds}), the second is a larger fuel tank and the third is the many touch screen prompts (I prefer buttons/switches and knobs). Dealer service is great, showrooms are high class and personnel are very friendly. Additionally, Lincoln does not charge extra for the hybrid edition. A nice feature is when sitting in traffic, the battery pack heats and cools the interior of the car without running the engine and only comes on temporarily when the battery pack needs to be recharged and that only takes a few minutes. Cant buy a better vehicle.

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  Last of the Dinosaurs - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By Chris Hawkins - July 11 - 10:32 am

  Last of the dinosaurs because large RWD, body-on-frame luxury American cars are extinct. Plus, mine is Black Cherry, which is almost purple. I had never paid attention to Town Cars before, but when a friend bought a 2001 Cartier in mint condition I looked a lot closer. I was so pleased with what I discovered that I immediately sought to get one of my own. After a lot of research I determined that 2006-2007 is the sweet spot for these cars. Any earlier issues had been resolved since production began in 1998, and by 2006 they were essentially perfected and had all the upgrades. I also discovered the Designer Series, which was only made from 2006-2007. It is the only model in all the years through 2011 that had a unique upgraded interior - more lush than the Signature Limited, Ultimate, or Cartier models. The shirred leather with contrast piping and adjustable rear headrests stand out. All but three options were standard on the Designer Series and the car I found has all three: Moonroof, HID headlights, and Navigation. It has been such a pleasure to own. The entire driving experience of the car brings to mind the description Rolls Royce once used for the operation of its cars: Ball of silk. All the controls and its progress down the road have a quality "ball bearing in oil" smoothness to them. The ride is taut, smooth, and tightly controlled and the sound levels are astonishingly low. Best of all, it feels like a REAL car, not one of these little toy FWD things masquerading as luxury automobiles. It has the genuine luxury of a level of silence, space and smoothness that has been largely lost in todays downsized cruisers. Everyone who rides in it is immediately impressed with these qualities. I also bought the car because I know they are essentially bullet-proof, and easy and inexpensive to repair should something happen. Even the air springs in the rear suspension (my one concern) are engineered to be swapped out with common hand tolls in less than an hour, and parts for it are cheap and plentiful. I hope to keep this car for many years - there is really nothing on the market to replace it with, except another one. I have had zero problems or repairs with the car since I bought it a year ago, other than replacing the alternator . August 2016: After two years ownership I am happy to report my initial impressions of this car remain intact. The car continues to be a joy to own and drive. It has also been 100% reliable, requiring only regularly scheduled maintenance. I did have an issue with the THX/Navigation radio - more specifically the 6-CD player. It jammed with a full load of CDs. I discovered that is a common issue with this radio unit - every one for sale on Ebay has a dead CD player. However, my radio recently had an "immaculate repair". After several months of a whirring sound for 5 sec. whenever the unit was turned on, it apparently un-jammed itself and the CD player is now operating like new. (The regular radio and navigation function was never affected by the jammed CD.) Also, after two years of hand washing the car, I remain amazed by the impeccable factory paint job. I have seen brand new Mercedes and Lexuses (Lexi?) with inexcusable orange peel in their paint jobs - this 10 year old Lincoln puts them to shame. It has a mirror-like paint finish worthy of a high dollar show car. August 2017: Not to be boring, but nothing new to report. The Lincoln Town Car is still performing beautifully and has needed no repairs. I was driving a Rolls Royce Silver Spur this weekend and a 2006 Bentley Arnage Red Label a few weekends back. While driving both, I was noting to myself that they are no Town Car as far as smoothness, silence, and silkiness of operation is concerned. The Lincoln is far more pleasant to drive.

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  Love my 2007 Mark LT - 2007 Lincoln Mark LT
  By dga57 - July 10 - 6:43 am

  After owning five Ford pickups, the Mark LT seemed the logical "step up". As nice as the Lariat and King Ranch Fords are, Lincoln takes it up another notch. On the open road it is nearly as comfortable as my 2004 Town Car and/or the 2000 Navigator I had before that. I like the fact that its based on the F150 because it is a tried and proven vehicle yet offers a more luxurious ride than Ive had from my previous trucks. Its a definite keeper!

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  Terrific Car So Far - 2015 Lincoln MKC
  By zaranjjt - July 7 - 3:25 pm

  First time Lincoln owner, Im impressed. Test drove the GMC Acadia Denali, Cadillac, 4runner , Enclave, Jeep, Q3. All but the Buick had rough tight rides and were pretty loud. I like the design , sleek and modern, Lincoln is trying to reinvent themselves with younger designers resulting in smoother contours and open dash presentation are become Lincoln standards. The double winged grill is also very appealing and unlike the MKX has decreased height and has a more polished finish. I am happy with Sync as well, but it could be better. Back seat is a bit tight, but for rare office colleague lunch drives its okay.

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  Too Early to Tell - 2017 Lincoln MKX
  By Cheryl Feinberg - July 6 - 5:21 am

  My car has a little less than 300 miles on it, so in nearly every category its just too early to tell how it will be. My previous experience with my dealership and my 2008 Lincoln MKS was excellent. My car lacks two items I wish it had. 1) Seat cooling. I would have had to add $4k of extras I didnt want or need to get seat cooling. Its important to note, however, that the AC in the car is excellent. The second extra I miss is front warning beeps when I get near objects. I did not realize that I didnt have that option until too late.

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  Nice Ride - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By Big D - July 4 - 10:00 am

  This is truly a great find with a few miles on it and in awesome condition! Was able to afford the luxory of a nice vehicle without the price! I look forward to driving it every day.

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  Lincoln LS a Joy to Have! - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By spjdcb - July 2 - 12:03 am

  I am thoroughly enjoying LS. The car rides like BMW 5 or Jag S (it is on same platform) but is 10K to 15K cheaper.

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  My raod trip - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By bailey - July 1 - 5:46 pm

  Went for a road trip from Vegas to Scottsdale. Car handled great and was comfortable. No wind noise. Very pleased.

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  Great buy - 2017 Lincoln MKZ
  By Brian Bossier - June 30 - 1:36 pm

  Aesthetically pleasing car that gets 41mpg. Best ride in its class bar none(I tried them all, the Lincoln is head and shoulders above) if you want to drag race get another car, if you love a smooth ride, great gas mileage, pleasing interior and features the Lincoln is THE BEST in class.

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  Moved from Escalade to MRX and love it! - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By MEL - June 29 - 3:55 pm

  Only picked it up today, but totally blown away. Very nice. Usually in the first few hours I can see the flaws, but so far, none seen. Admittedly, we got all the bells and whistles, and there are more than one needs or probably wants. There will be a bit of a learning curve, for sure, on all the technology package. We think the new BMW will find it lonely in the garage while the MKX is on the road. Very comfortable all round. Great buy, very, very happy.