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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  Warning! Cheap car alert! - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By Steven Wilson - May 23 - 1:43 am

  My old Aviator died after 94,000 miles. This Aviator is reliable so far but it is very cheap. The fake wood is terrible and the seats have no back support. The whole car is very cheap. You could tell that the Chevy Tahoe is safer and built better and has a smoother ride. This car rides better then a Chrysler but not as well as a Toyota, GMC, or Honda. This car is too powerful. It only gets 15 miles per gallon. This car is a horrible value and cheap.

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  Love-Hate relationship - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By JSS - May 22 - 10:00 am

  I love the way the car handles and looks, but have had more than my share of problems! One rear end rebuild, 2 rear axles and bearings replaced, 4 headlight units relaced, and airbag problems, have me thinking about a replacement car already!

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  Simply the Best! Well, Almost! - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By BlessedOne - May 22 - 10:00 am

  This SUV is a hit! I really love what Lincoln has done with this new version. It is miles ahead of the previous years model and far above the competition in certain areas. With that, I do have some gripes, my radio went out on me while we were on vacation. After taking the vehicle to 2 dealerships, the problem still wasnt fixed. But fortunately, the corrective action was simple, the service people told me it appeared that certain early 2003s produced have a problem with the radio units. I had to remove all of the power to the unit by pulling all of the fuses for the radio and DVD unit. But overall all, I certainly highly recommend this new version.

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  We love our 2010 Navigator - 2010 Lincoln Navigator
  By ander580 - May 20 - 5:56 pm

  We needed an SUV to replace our minivan. We considered the Infiniti QX56, Yukon Denali, and Ford Expedition. We bought the Navigator because it had every feature we wanted, including fold flat seats, front and rear parking sensors, air conditioned seats, and roomy third row seat. The ownership experience to date has been fabulous. This is definitely the best vehicle weve had. It tows our boat well and the cabin is a quiet comfort zone. My wife and I both want to drive it - thats the only problem so far.

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  Love this car BUT - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Charles Spencer - May 20 - 8:46 am

  Replacing transmission as we speak (67000 miles). Strange vibrations since new that could not be diagnosed. Cant read odometer with sun shining on the instrument panel. Looks great, feels great and drives great. Lots of senior citizens ask about it. Replaced tires at 48000 miles. Very difficult finding tires for driving on ice for up North. Could not buy extended warranty because of miles per year. Nice size car for business but turning circle too big. Very difficult to judge rear end when backing up. Still like driving it and will probably keep 2 more years if it holds up. Little uncomfortable driving a car that had to get a new transmission with such low miles.

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  some good some bad - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By harry johnson - May 20 - 12:13 am

  I find the car to be a lot more noisy than my 1988. the exhaust system is a lot louder and i have been back 3 times to the dealer for check engine light

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  Modern Classic. - 2002 Lincoln Town Car
  By FSC - May 16 - 4:23 am

  Ill start off by saying I titled my review "modern classic" because thats basically what this car is. A modern spin off of big 1950s full sized cruiser sedans. The bench seat, column shifter, V8, rear wheel drive, body on frame construction, and shear size make it feel like a more refined classic cruiser. This is something I really like about the car. This isnt a car for people who want a Mercedes or BMW, this is a car for people who want a true laid back cruiser. However, if I were to do it again I would have gotten a top end Crown Vic or Marquis as the mechanicals and interior are %99 the Town Car as the town car for less money.

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  Awsome Vehicle - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By green2027 - May 4 - 10:00 am

  I fell in love with the new Navigator on my first test drive in August of 2002. My wife began saw it at a car show in February 2003 an she had to have it. The truck is loaded to the gills. I believe my 2 year old loves it more than any of us. This is a truck everyone should have.

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  Great Vehicle and a great value - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By rjf - April 25 - 9:40 am

  The car is relatively new and it has been a great ownership experience. The car is very quiet and smooth. The interior is very comfortable and stylish although I wish the dash and door graining was done better. The no money down lease program and price made a great car a great deal

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  Hard for this one to disappoint - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By Ryan - April 16 - 11:10 pm

  Just bought this about a month ago and have driven it about 1000 miles so far. Its a pleasure to drive and really is luxurious. My wife bought a new Lexus Rx330 last year, so I have been comparing both. On the whole, I like the Navigator better because of its size, but there are a few luxury items that the Lexus has that would be nice to have on the Navigator. Overall, I love this new Navigator, and Im glad I chose it over the Escalade. My friend has an Escalade that Ive driven, and I had serious reservations about some of its features. For my money, the Navigator is the best luxury full-size SUV out there, and nearly everyone I know really talks about how great it looks.