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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  06 Town Car Sig LTD. - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By Alnatl - January 29 - 2:40 am

  I have owned my 06 Town Car for approximately 14 months now and can safely say that it is one of the better Lincolns I have owned (and I have owned many since the 1982 model year). The new styling, introduced in 2003, is one of the best Ive seen on the road, and the ride is like no other vehicle in its class. Two thumbs up to the 2006 Lincoln Town Car!

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  Solid performer, no gimmicks - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By LS_lover - January 28 - 10:00 am

  Flawless handling, excellent thrust, solid braking, decent ride. Rigid, composed chasis. Drove it back to back against a 5 series, E-class, expecting not to be impressed. But found a more assured chassis than M-B, handling as aggressive as the BMW, and less road noise than either. This is a stealth premium car. Everything a BMW 5 series or an E-class has in terms of engineering and competence with none of their BS fake prestige, psuedo- snobbery, and overpriced pretense.

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  AWESOME RIDE - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By TBD - January 28 - 10:00 am

  Vechicle seems to have excessive wind noise above 55 mph for vechile of this price. It appears to possibly be the side mirrors which are oblong and vertical,which I like , but they should have been set to an angle similar to the windshield to reduce the air turbulence.

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  Dream come true - 2013 Lincoln MKZ
  By teechee - January 27 - 1:09 pm

  After looking at the Hyundai Genesis and the Equus, Audi A6 and A7, and the BMW 528XI, I ran into the 2013 Lincoln MKZ. It is fabulous. The lines are awesome and the drive is smooth as butter. I wanted an all wheel drive 4 cylinder and this one fit the bill and the price was wonderful when you look at the other vehicles I was considering. The car is awesome. Will update when I put it on the road.

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  Nice Car - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By mrmhouston - January 26 - 4:06 pm

  This has been the best car weve owned. Relatively few problems. It is fun to drive, looks great and is reliable. My only wish is that Lincoln would get on board and come up with better gas mileage. That would be the only thing that could keep me from buying another one. Ill be crossing my fingers.

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  Best car i have ever owned - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By PWHITTEVANS - January 26 - 3:10 am

  It is pure pleasure to drive this car, it floats along and gets me where i am going in a hurry. I had always wanted a lincoln town car, i would not even test drive one until i knew i could own it because i knew i would love it.

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  Midlife Vehicle - 2008 Lincoln MKX
  By Lincoln MKX - January 25 - 11:53 am

  I drive a state vehicle for work and my wife has a one mile commute to work so our personnal vehicles have very low mileage. We do take a trip from Boston to NJ to visit the grandkids on our free weekends so we were looking for a real nice vehicle to make the trip a little easier. We searched around and decided on a MKX. It has already made four trips to NJ without any disappointments, it makes the journey so much more pleasureable. The MKX has not disappointed us one iota. But I have a question on the wheels, has anyone else noticed the chrome is seperate from the aluminum wheel? The Navigator wheel looks the same but it is one piece. And I have heard of the chrome on the MKX wearing off.

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  81 OLD MALE - 2016 Lincoln MKT
  By J GEORGE DRISCOLL - January 22 - 2:49 pm

  NO ASH TRY OR LIGHTER ,,, GOVE COMPACTMENT SMALL..NO COVER FOR CARGO AREA BEHIND 3 SEAT

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  Build more like this, Ford! ... - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By baltobernie - January 20 - 4:46 pm

  ... and you wouldnt be in such terrible financial shape! This vehicle replaces a 1992 STS, and has every option. At $47k, Id rather have a Lexus, but at $35k, there was nothing on the market comparable. Average fuel consumption is 22 mpg in suburban driving. An outstanding package in an understated, yet elegant product.

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  My "New" used Car - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By Barbara M Davidson - January 19 - 6:40 am

  I have had this car a little over 2 months now & I love it. I have always wanted a "luxury Car" and now I have one. I like all of the features that Is has included in it. It is comfortable to drive, quite roomy inside and handles well on the road. I have gotten up to 24 mpg on the open road and 19 - 20 mpg around town, so far.