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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  Pimp Daddy ride - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By clipper821 - August 15 - 2:20 am

  One of the cons of this vehicle is what prompted me to buy it. In 1998 this car had a MSRP price of about 44K. I bought it 3 years old in June of 2001 with 3K miles for only $17,000.00. Retail then was about 21K. That is a steal for what you get in this package. Overall I love it. Tons of features, tons of power, and a classy ride.

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  Lincoln Land Yacht - 2007 Lincoln Town Car
  By Botcho - August 8 - 10:29 am

  Big, roomy, smooth as silk. Dont expect sporty handling. Handling is fine for a luxury land yacht. Its like riding on a spacious cloud. Parking in a crowded city can be sporty. For a big car, the mileage isnt bad.

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  OHH YEAH WHAT A LOOK - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By CHARLES - August 6 - 10:00 am

  IT IS A GREAT EYECATCHING HEADSPINNING VEHICLE. AMAZING STRONG BUILD, IT IS BASICALLY LIKE A BOAT. CAR IS BUILT LIKE A CHAMPION. BEAUTIFUL EXTERIOR WITH AN INTERIOR THAT NO OTHER CAR CAN MATCH.

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  Great design & value - 2006 Lincoln Navigator
  By Richard Hill - August 4 - 2:00 am

  Okay were do you start? The nature of the beast is she is a big SUV with 5.4. Don,t expect good MPH or blood rushing performance & because of the price you get what you pay for in terms of finish. However, she is reliable,well designed,has a massive carrying bay & one of the best looking 4 x 4 (excluding new Range Rover)on the road. She is very comfortable on long boring trips with all the nice bits in the cabin. Braking is very good & cornering is forgiving on that unexpected bend. I just would like Lincoln to spend a little more money on the general finish internally like our Japanese cousins do.I would not hesitate to replace her with the same model or recommend this vehicle to a friend

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  My new wheels - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By sugar - July 30 - 10:00 am

  The aviator is nice. It has a good ride,but i am a little surprised that there is no assist handle on the drivers side. also it doesnt have enough room in the console etc, for things you need to put in a car. and for the price you would think that they would include the navigation system,or the vidio thing. and a big thing that they have to change is the controls on the steering wheel. when your hand brushes against it the station changes on the radio,or it changes from radio to cd.

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  Muscle and Style - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By ChowChowLimo - July 30 - 10:00 am

  Beyond all of my expectations What a joy, finally and SUV with muscle and style, it leaves all of the rest of the so called luxury SUVs in the dust

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  DAMN GREAT SUV NO BETTER THAN THIS - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By theman9479 - July 24 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS GREAT NEVER HAVE OWNED SUCH A GREAT SUV, I WILL ALWAYS OWN AT LEAST 1 NAVIGATOR IN MY LIFE !!!

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  A "10" in the curves - 2000 Lincoln LS
  By Tino - July 19 - 10:00 am

  Car owned: 2000 LS V8 w/Sport Suspension package. This is one of the BEST HANDLING sport sedans on the market; end of story. I am a driving enthusiast and will say that I push this car hard in the corners every chance I get. The LS responds by carving like a pair of giant slalom skis on packed snow. Torque is a bit low as this affects off- the-line acceleration. The car has muscular, yet sexy body lines. It is a dream to drive an own. Unfortunately, the wife steals it out of the garage before I can get my hands on the keys... Such is life.

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  Most Luxurious LEMON - My Love Hate SUV - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By Ray R Harris - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Thank God for Extended Warranties. Ive replaced: 2 Engines, a Transmission and a Rear End. Plus, lots of interior features have failed and been replaced. I love the SUVs perfomance and looks. I once had to navigate through 3 feet of flood waters and even though the water came over the hood and onto the windshield, this baby never stopped. My lease is up soon...and I just dont know what to do...I love it but Im sure glad I dont have to pay to fix it!

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  much better than the first edition(1998) - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By jpearo - July 18 - 2:00 am

  Everything about the 04 is greatly improved over the 98 with the exception of the engine.While the 98 had a 16 valve engine, it took regular gas. There is no improvement in the gas milage with the 32 valve engine and it takes only premium gas,and plenty of it.Plus, the engine is a little tired. It could also do very nicely with at least a five speed transmission