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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  More Power! - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By Val - August 19 - 2:50 pm

  New Camry and Azera are the same size but have much more power. Six speed automatic gives the smooth ride, but when you need to accelerate it is a burden. The steering is heavy, the door takes a "slam" to close. The reading of "Average M/G" does not correspond with manual calculation, when you divide filled up gallons by driven miles. Lit Displays are barely seen

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  The Big Dog - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By Esrom Shaw - August 14 - 2:06 pm

  I was a former BMW driver and thought that I would never find a replacement that would seperate me from the road. My Nav is awsome, the ride the comfort level is great.

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  05 Town Car Signature - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By Fridge - August 9 - 10:26 pm

  This is a great highway cruiser. When taking long trips, or even short trips, its comfort cannot be matched. Fuel economy is decent for a large V-8 at about 23 MPG on the highway. Riding around town though, this car is big to park and can be hard to maneuver. Some of the fit and finish coulde be better too, for a car in this price range. Center caps on the wheels did not hold up at all, and had to be replaced, but that was largely a cosmetic concern. Chrome molding strips turn brown in the winter, which the dealer tells me is "normal." I dont know about that, but it does wash off.

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  A few questions, but love it.... - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By dot - July 18 - 7:23 am

  I got this after having a Blazer and I love it to death... It is gorgeous. It had a lot of miles when I bought it and has never been back for service. I have had some problems w/ the car saying that door is ajar and then the light stays on. Causing the battery to go dead Also the hub caps are peeling apart. Cant find replacements anywhere.

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  The Last of the LS? Too Bad!! - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By kpie - July 17 - 3:16 pm

  Dollar for dollar this is the best vehicle Ive ever owned. Good looks, style, comfort, very tight handling and quiet as a tomb. Performance and economy are more than adequate. Fit and finish are fine. Now at 55K+ miles it is as good as the day I bought it. I only wish I could buy another one that is brand new. However, these are rare and the prices are much greater than what I had paid for my car. But, Id buy a new one if I could find one with even a reasonable price.

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  Good car. Wish part quality was better - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By LSSport 01 - July 6 - 10:00 am

  I have only owned my LS Sport for four months, but so far, it has proved to be a reliable, fun-to-drive, comfortable car that competes well with foreign makes. I do have a few complaints, however. Mainly, materials are inferior to similarly-priced imports. This car has its share of shortcomings, but could be outstanding if some of them are addressed.

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  cruisin - 2002 Lincoln Town Car
  By cranapple - July 4 - 11:33 am

  the car magazines dont get it when it comes to this car--its meant to do a few things very well--carry people and their belongings quietly and comfortably---its not a porshe-its the great American cruiser

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  Great vehicle, bad fuel economy - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By ericw - July 4 - 9:43 am

  I have owned my Navigator for 4 years, and bought it with 21000 miles on it and now have 125000 and it runs like the day I bought it. Drives and runs great, this vehicle is tops in every category except fuel economy, but the ride and comfort almost outweigh the frequent, costly trips to the gas station. In 100,000 miles I only have done routine maintenance.

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  Sheep in Wolves Clothing - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By joestephens3 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  The Lincoln LS V8 in the sports pacakage is a potent little rocket, disguised as a family sedan. Under closer inspection, the big v8 under the hood shows its true colors. As with most American cars, build quality is of concern, but with the LS, it seems to be higher quality than makes from Chrysler and GM. In fact the interior is very German. The transmission is clunky at slower speeds, on the freeway, its a different story, as this is the place where the LS stands its own. The ability to maintain 80+ mph on mountain grades leaves many heads turned, in fact, 100, 120 would not be a problem for this car.

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  LS has the makings of a Champ. - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By L Smith - June 27 - 2:00 am

  The LS V8 is a very smooth riding car with power to get you out of those bad situations and the style and looks to get you into some good situations. The Alpine in dash 6 disc cd changer is wonderful with a pleasant sound and a climate control system that has dual zones for the front passengers is nice. The leather seats with power controls are comfy. All around it is a great car and I would recommend the purchase of an LS.