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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  Its a Car - 1998 Lincoln Town Car
  By Cjv - March 7 - 10:00 am

  I really enjoy this car. I have driving many types of vehicles all over the United States and this is one of the nicest road cars there is. I only have one gripe about this wonderful car. Once you have put a number of miles on any car or truck you must be able to grease the front end and on this ford product you cant.That can be dangerous if you travel a lot. The only thing else is no power trunk like the caddies. Not the power of a northstar motor and a little road noise. But What a ride. The air ride system and 30 miles a gallon on the freeway in a FULL size American classic! You will not be dissapointed .

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  Who dont love my Aviator - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By justoma - February 27 - 12:26 pm

  I love love love my Aviator! Its the 2005, when I bought it in 2005 I knew the gas mileage was crap, but found the truck solid and full of power. I had the Grand Cherokee which was great too but the Aviator smoked it as far as performance. I have 75,000 miles on it. I do my oil changes every 3-4000 miles. I put tires on it in 2009 and I just put them on again..I never had them rotated and I failed on checking the pressure so they didnt get the wear they should of. I just got new ball joints as they were shot. That is all Ive had to put it in it. Its never been to the shop for anything but oil changes and the ball joint issue. Rear door panal cracked too.

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  I Love My Aviator - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By ADaville - February 18 - 10:00 am

  I love my Aviator, I have 3 children, ages 1, 3, and 6. There could be better cupholders, and maybe a console in the third row but other than that, we all love it.

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  Feel like a rich guy - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By Don from Houston - February 2 - 8:40 am

  I purchased my Cartier with 143000 miles on it. It has been a pleasure to drive. It literally floats down the road. The comfortable leather seating and striking dashboard design make you feel special behind the wheel. I now have 165000 miles on the car and have had nothing but routine maintenance so far. I am amazed at the quality and comfort of this car. I paid $4250.00 for this car. My 2006 Scion XB cost $17000.00 and sits in the carport most of the time because I enjoy driving the Lincoln so much. The gas mileage on the Cartier is an honest 20 mpg city and about 25 mpg highway on regular gas. I truly love driving this car and plan to keep it repaired and on the road for many years.

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  Great Car - 2008 Lincoln MKX
  By 1184U - January 25 - 1:30 pm

  We were looking for a vehicle large enough to carry 4 passengers and luggage to and from the airport. Turns out this car was that and also great to drive. Very comfortable ride and all of the amenities. Navigation works well. No service issues over 2 years. We were going to buy a less expensive crossover, but were glad we didnt. "Sync", however, is annoying. The usb port for the ipod is great, no wires, charges the ipod. Voice commands arent worth the trouble. The indexing tells you each time that it experienced problems and you need to go their website - right! The phone would not stay connected with the bluetooth. The dealer and tech support were no help. Overall, great car.

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  good compromise - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By yogidoc - January 17 - 10:00 am

  believe it or not i traded my 03 porsche cayenne s for fully loaded 03 aviator. cayenne suspension was abusive in city and seating position was terrible for my lower back....i was surprised w/ the power and handling of the aviator....not that far off from the porsche. In summary im gettting a kick driving an american suv You get alot of truck for the money. I also dont really worry about the black beast like i did w/ the porsche.However I do miss the stares, questions and tiptronic gearing.You cant have it all and at least im driving in comfort!!!!!!

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  Missing storage - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By medic - January 15 - 10:16 am

  Had this car for just a few weeks 09 leftover dealer driver car. Love the look and style but there is virtually no storage inside for anything. Small door pocket and mini center console that once you put in an iPod in to hook to USB it is full. Cup holders are useless with armrests extended, and with tapered coffee cups you can have only one and the other holder overlaps. I still love it though, shifts a bit hard between gears.

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  Lincoln 97 Signature Series Town Car - 1997 Lincoln Town Car
  By ryanjames - January 11 - 2:00 am

  Town Car mean ultimate reliabitliy and luxury combined in one grand package. Who says that every consumer has to sell out to the twenty-something appeal that every carmaker is going after. In my opinion, my Town Car represents the last of Americas Hallmark of Luxury automobiles.

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  2007 lincoln mark lt - 2007 Lincoln Mark LT
  By j hibbs - January 10 - 1:10 pm

  very few on the road, so you stand out in this truck. i like the exterior styling along with the performance it offers. interior is comfortable. it is basically a fancy ford, and you get everything that entails owning a ford, good and bad(good looks and performance along with spotty build quality and questionable reliability). fuel mileage is poor(11 mpg in the city, up to 19 mpg on the highway at 70 mph), but it is a truck and can be used as a truck(4wd with 8600 lb. towing capacity). even with the negatives of this truck, i really enjoy driving it and would buy it again

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  Looks Good, Quality not job one! - 2007 Lincoln MKX
  By m. fry - January 3 - 5:20 pm

  Basically a Ford Edge all day. Numerous factory paint defects. MPG to date less than 15 MPG. Vista roof noisey and rattles. Fit and finish questionable. Engine has noisey lifter on start-up, which means oil not getting to lifter. Clad chrome wheels look like hub caps. Obviously made a mistake on this one, fortunately it is a lease. Needs a better quality engine, over-all quality and materials needs to be improved. Vehicle is deceptive, looks great but a lot of hidden problems that others may not tell you about.