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:

• 

  Cant score everything just yet... - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By brookse1 - June 6 - 4:26 am

  Wonderful car. Like driving your living room, with more toys. Lots of room, decent power, good looks. Brakes grab. Corners are wobbly but, *what did you expect*? Better tires would help. Uploading CDs and pics is finicky - hello Microsoft! Overall, as long as the reliability holds up, I love it.

• 

  Theres good and bad - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By Diane - May 26 - 9:03 pm

  We were on a major highway during a surprise white-out snowstorm. Cars in front and behind us spun sideways. Only way to go was down into ravine between east and west lanes to avoid accident. My husband steered the Aviator down into ravine and after 100 feet we rode out and back up onto the highway, NEVER sliding or spinning out of control. This car has saved our family. The handling in all types of weather has been wonderful. Cons: Very restricted seating-leg room, etc; poor gas mileage; cheap interior materials: leather poor quality, fake wood. Have owned many expensive vehicles, cant understand why Lincoln skimped on these. Front seat backs need to be powered. Heating vent burns legs

• 

  Excellent Ride - 2008 Lincoln Navigator
  By 08navi - May 21 - 6:03 am

  This is our second Navigator(2004) and the best one overall that we have had. The monotone option is a must if you find the extensive chrome too much. The leather is much nicer than our 04 was and the 08 is a lot quieter. Interior quality is significantly better than the Escalade.

• 

  Luxurious Behemoth - 2000 Lincoln Navigator
  By Peter Duncan - May 20 - 10:00 am

  My previous vehicle was a plain pick- up truck. No a/c or any other amenities, except for am/fm stereo. The change has been quite the shock. Leather is not vinyl, amenities galore, chrome luggage racks. Driving it has been a true pleasure for me. It is a joy to load the family in for a drive.

• 

  lincoln aviator - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By preston whitlock - May 20 - 10:00 am

  we have not had it long but fuel efficiency really there dosnt seem to be any and the cover that comes over the radio with lincoln written on it should have a light-up feature as welli think that it adds to the appreance inside....

• 

  great road car - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By jimboh55 - May 12 - 2:20 am

  Purchased new. Wifes Car now has 102000 miles and is 9years old. Car has been a joy to drive and reliable. Have only four fixes not under warrany two window hardware fixes - head gaskets leaked oil and a differential rebuild which was my fault as I missed a fluid replacement maintenance required at 50000 -the differential started whining at about 98000 miles and found it to be full of metal filings. Have had an electrical fix and leaky exhaust gaskets (both under warranty). The only driveability problem I have noticed is that if I am going very slow in second gear and really punch it, it will go into first and stay there up to 5000 rpm. Not a major problem for us.

• 

  Lincoln MKZ FWD - 2011 Lincoln MKZ
  By jbradsh1 - May 12 - 2:00 am

  Ive had the Lincoln for about a month now and made one 2K mile trip into snow country. FWD handles light to medium snow without issue ... no slipping. All day seats, very comfortable. Very nice riding, ultra smooth transmission, upscale interior which I wouldnt call luxury, just upscale, very nice stereo system, very pleasant to drive, I find myself looking forward to driving this car and I would recommend it. I got it on the Lincoln sign & drive. $0 down, $399/month plus sales tax made the payment $428. You also get 4 years of free maintenance. Great deal and a very quiet riding car, its as quiet as my mothers lexus ES 330.

• 

  Lincoln LS - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By moneal - May 9 - 2:00 am

  Great fun to drive car, handles well for size.

• 

  A Lincoln for the Younger Crowd - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By Greg Arserio - May 5 - 11:20 pm

  A Lincoln... at 32 years old! I thought Id be 30 years older before buying a Lincoln, but when shopping for a Ford Edge, the decision was simple. If you are in the market for a fully equipped Edge, just go with the MKX instead. This is a beautiful ride with everything you could want. Very quiet, smooth and competent in all kinds of weather conditions. Great leg room in all seating positions... and this is coming from a 61" guy. Also, from a maintenance standpoint, Ford finally got the oil filter location right. Its in plain view, centered, plenty of room to unscrew it and place a drip pan underneath and nothing in the way as it drips dry. But wait, do Lincoln owners actually change oil?

• 

  LINCOLN TOWNCAR - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By JIM HALL - May 4 - 10:00 am

  If you are looking for a flashy, sporty car - this isnt it ! However, if youre after a well built, very comfortable, good riding car this is hard to beat - at any price.