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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  Aviator - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By MarkM - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Purchased in October 2003, now have 3500 miles on it. So far this has been the best vehicle I have owned. Ive owned 3 Cadillacs, Explorer, Saab, and this has out performed all of them. Compared Acura MDX, Infinity, Explorer, and Lexus before deciding on the Aviator. Not one quality issue yet. I would highly recommend this Lincoln to anyone.

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  LOVE this car - 2000 Lincoln Continental
  By FirstLincolnProduct - February 24 - 10:00 am

  Its like driving a cloud!

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  Great Road Car - 2010 Lincoln Town Car
  By sdbconsulting - February 21 - 12:33 am

  Yes, yes, yes . Its an out of date design, its an out of date platform, drive train, etc, etc . But for those of us who travel a lot, its very comfortable, reasonable fuel efficient on the highway for the size (24 mpg), very safe, and I have found it to be as reliable as anything else Ive owned (Benz, Volvo, Cadillac). I wouldnt pay the price for a new one, but I can buy one of these behemoths as a program car with a few miles on it for a reasonable price, still under warranty, put 100k miles on it in two years, then turn it and not lose too much money. Edmunds rates it a "6". Owners of the car rate it a "10". nuff said.

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  Almost Perfect... - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Nick - February 16 - 10:53 pm

  I did a lot of research before leasing an MKZ. In terms of style, features, and AWD, it is a great deal. This is the first American car Ive owned, and so far Im very satisfied. Obviously Lincoln still has a stodgy image to overcome, but its on well on its way with the MKZ.

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  The Best Yet - 2004 Lincoln Town Car
  By tbrecheen - February 16 - 6:13 am

  This is my 7th Towncar since 1992. It is superior to my 92,95,97,96,99 and 01.All it take is just a little maintenance and they will last seemingly forever. All my others were great and we still have 3 in the family. I have also had 5 Mark VIIIs which were also fine cars. The greatest single description I believe is the dependability. Cant be beat.

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  A Misanalyzed Great Car - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By Dave - February 13 - 12:56 pm

  We just purchased an MKS AWD model for my wife - she absolutely loves it! She loves the comfort, spaciousness, handling, performance, and level of luxury. Although not a techni, she finds the Sync system a user-friendly and awesome capability. Her car came with almost every option - it had suggested price of 45K, we paid 41K. I think the Edmunds reviewer needs to be taken with a grain of salt. He wrote a review based on what HE expects and wants from the car. My wife doesnt WANT his handling or performance; SHE likes "lower-level" handling (not crisp) and "less" performance (he calls it "lackluster"). Depending on what YOU want in a car, this is a great luxury car worthy of a look!

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  Lincoln LS V-8 Sport: Plenty OK! - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By Bigfoot - February 13 - 10:00 am

  This ties with my Taurus SHOs as the best all-around car I have ever owned. And, I have owned Model T, MG TC, Triumph TR-2, Mazda RX-2, Ferrari Dino 246GT, 3 Taurus SHOs and many other fun cars.

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  Love it! - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By karmdy - February 13 - 10:00 am

  I absolutely love this vehicle. and it is so much fun to drive.

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  continental - 2000 Lincoln Continental
  By golfiowa - February 13 - 10:00 am

  worst thing Lincoln could do is drop this line!

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  The best car ever! - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By TimK - February 13 - 12:10 am

  Ive driven a lot of different cars in my lifetime and this by far is the most comfortable, exciting and fun to drive car Ive ever owned. Took a road trip this summer to Vegas and didnt feel like Id just drive 500 miles. Extremely comfortable. Very nimble too, handles like a premium German automobile (Mercedes M-Class, BMW 5- series). Too bad this car is going the way of the dinosaurs in a couple of years (after the 06 model year I believe). I think the boys at Lincoln need to rethink their stand on that and continue to produce this premium luxury sports car. Id love to buy another Lincoln luxury sports car. Hope I dont have to settle for a Caddy CTS on my next car purchase.