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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  LUV this SUV! - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By April - December 12 - 11:50 pm

  I own the 2003 Aviator, and am quite satisfied with it. The one drawback, as anyone may guess, is the fuel economy. This vehicle is fun to drive, is very comfortable, and attracts a lot of attention as the "baby Navigator". Dealer service is great, as the 2003 model came with an excellent warranty package. One of my favorite features of this vehicle is the steering wheel- mounted controls for the audio system, A/C, etc. I also like the second-row captains chairs with the roomy console. The Aviator has a generous cargo capacity with the third-row seats folded flat into the floor. The V8 engine is very powerful, which a former 4-cylinder driver like myself has to ge accustomed to.

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  So Far, So Good! - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By KHoffman - December 9 - 9:36 am

  Ive had my Lincoln LS for one year now and have had no problems whatsoever. The 252 HP V8 delivers very good acceleration and passing other cars is a breeze. Fuel economy is the cars one weak spot. The transmission is smooth shifting (nearly as smooth as my old Buick Regal) and throttle input is good. I bought the LSE trim which has a firmer suspension than the standard LS, so road imperfections are more noticable, but the ride is by no means harsh. The trunk is large enough, but fairly shallow. Even though the design is conservative, it still gets attention from onlookers because there are so few on the road. The LS is everything a luxury car should be.

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  good car - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By george9009 - December 7 - 10:00 am

  very nice car, i like it next time will get a navigator

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  Great Car but........ - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By BANKS FAMILY - December 5 - 2:00 am

  First and foremost, this is a great baby lincoln. It was perfect for my adorable wife to drive to work in and I loved seeing her in it. That being said, the build quality was shabby. It is in the shop alot for buttons falling off or power windows or headlights. Really fun to drive when on the road.

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  Lots of potential - 2010 Lincoln Navigator
  By MVotaw - November 29 - 7:23 am

  I really enjoy my Lincoln. From the front, its a great looking vehicle with lots of power. That said, the back end looks like a cracker box. Interior is very comfortable, but you cant read the dash in sunlight and there is little leg room in the back. The back glass opens by itself and lets rain / debris run into the cargo area. Ive had $5000 worth of warranty done on the truck and the service was fantastic. The interior is very cheap looking and scuffs easily in addition to being a bear to navigate all the buttons. Overall though a very nice vehicle.

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  New owner - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By dlsexec - November 25 - 9:23 am

  We recently took delivery of a loaded MKS. The first thing you notice is the seating position is upright and high like a crossover. This is fine but takes some adjusting. The ride is sometimes a tad bouncy but nothing serious. The FWD is tight, effortless and about neutral on under/over steer. We also own a Lincoln LX and 7 Series BMW. The MKS is between them but much closer to the LX in ride. Gadgets are more than normal and trim level is way above average for a US product. All in all not a bad deal, but a long way away from the 7 on drivability.

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  Brief losses of power - resolved - 2008 Lincoln Town Car
  By mclark - November 23 - 9:16 am

  In response to review Written by: Vance on 09/03/2009, I also experienced this same situation with my Town Car. After four trips to the dealer over a three month span, and several different attempted solutions, the fix was to replace the fuel pump / fuel float device. This change solved the performance problems, smoothed out the ride and improved gas mileage. To their credit, Lincoln never stopped trying to solve the problem and made me a happy customer and proud owner of this fine vehicle.

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  Great car with bad looking sheet metal - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By don schwenk - November 18 - 8:06 pm

  Cannot figure out how Ford can neglect a great car by allowing its luxury cars exterior design get so out of date. Cadillacs Deville has not faired nearly as badly. Some of my friends have owned Lincolns for years and they now have Toyota Avalons or Lexus. From a quality, reliability,and premium vehicle standpoint, this is a fine product. Ford get with it. This is not a livery only vehicle.

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  EXCELLENT value - 2010 Lincoln MKS
  By jaybird777 - November 17 - 1:48 pm

  I recently bought a used, 2010 MKS Ecoboost. most of the reviews I have read have not been very flattering. However, in my opinion, the reviews are very short-sighted. First, it is extremely roomy. It is also extremely powerful, and very fast. Best of all, the fuel mileage so far is incredible! In fact, if there is another large, luxury sedan with this kind of performance, that also delivers fuel mileage near 30 MPG on the highway, Ive not found it. Best of all, the values on used, low mileage MKS cannot be beat. This is an excellent value for someone looking for a very nice, high performance, efficient, luxury sedan.

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  First but not my last Lincoln - 2006 Lincoln LS
  By Steve G - November 9 - 7:23 am

  I purchased my Lincoln LS just a few weeks ago and so far Im very impressed. The interior is not flashy, Ford calls it understated, and I appreciate the visual smoothness. Power and driving experience are exceptional and make the car fun to drive. The interior is comfortable for a 61 driver, with plenty of seat and steering wheel adjustments. Im getting tons of honest compliments on the car and as many requests to take it for a drive. Its too new for me to comment on gas mileage but if I can get 20 MPG average with this smooth and fast V8, Im more than happy. The Audiophile sound system is awesome as are the chrome 17 inch wheels. The leather is stiff but I hope it softens with time.