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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  An elegant ride! - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By Ann - October 31 - 6:36 am

  I had two Jaguars prior to the MKZ and they could not hold a candle to the elegance, features and handling of the MKZ. I love the wood trim, reminds me of the Bentley interior. Will definitely buy another and would recommend to anyone.

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  Why did I buy a Linclon? Why? - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By Jack Melvin - October 29 - 10:00 am

  Right now I have this Linclon stinkyator, a Honda CRV, and a Subaru Outback. the Honda CRV is 5 years old with 120,000 miles on it and had no problems. The Subaru Outback is 8 years old with 155,000 miles with no problems and tgis 7 month old Linclon with 5,000 ,miles has been in the shop twice. This car doesnt handle well and has the worst gas millalige ever.

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  a must see - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By Todd - October 28 - 10:52 am

  Weve had an MDX for years and started our new search heavily biased towards getting a new MDX until I saw the new MKX at a stoplight. An online search showed this car to be nice value and the showroom did not disappoint. Our reserve model with upgraded ecoboost, tech and drivers packages is on par with the SQ5 for several thousand dollars less. This car is loaded up for the money. The cheaper of the Revel stereo options sounds awesome. Build and ride quality are on par or better than any of the new BMWs Ive driven recently (as a current BMW owner). Burned by Detroit before, I was hesitant to give Lincoln a chance but this car is a must drive if you are in the market for a small $50k SUV. Now, if my friends would just stop reminding me of the stupid Matthew McConaughey commercials...

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  Relaxing - 1998 Lincoln Navigator
  By mike g. - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Smooth ride,people look at you differently,put toghether well,very little exterior noise,great vehicle

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  Great Ride - 1998 Lincoln Town Car
  By Big AlS - October 25 - 2:00 am

  A big man needs a big car! its a floter, but, ah...so comfortable!

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  New owner from Bloomington - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By New owner - October 25 - 2:00 am

  First time owner, mini vans still have more overall room but of course not the comfort. Road noise due to the mirrors, I think, is my only complaint. Liked it much better than the Escalade.

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  My 02 LS Experience - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By aSHOboy - October 21 - 2:00 am

  This car is a real winner when it comes to the "fun to drive" category. It has excellent acceleration and corners like its on rails, by far the best "road" car Ive ever owned! However, I dont think Ive had a car with so many squeaks and rattles before. The first ones started making noise at less than 1,000 miles, and its only gotten worse...much worse! The fuel economy leaves a lot to be desired as well. I have friends with 4.6L Mustang GTs that get better, or at least similar, mileage than I do with this little 3.9L V8.

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  2002 LINCOLN LS - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By ROY - October 21 - 2:00 am

  LOVE THE RIDE AND HANDLEING. THE TRUCK ACCESSABILITY WAS A KEY FEATURE AS WE NEED TO CARRY A WHEELCHAIR FOR MOM AND THE EASE TO LOAD AND UNLOAD FROM THE TRUNK WAS SUPER. ALSO HAD A GREAT NEED FOR THE DUAL ZONE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING.

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  2002 LINCOLN LS - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By roy - October 21 - 2:00 am

  LOVE THE RIDE AND HANDLEING. THE TRUCK ACCESSABILITY WAS A KEY FEATURE AS WE NEED TO CARRY A WHEELCHAIR FOR MOM AND THE EASE TO LOAD AND UNLOAD FROM THE TRUNK WAS SUPER. ALSO HAD A GREAT NEED FOR THE DUAL ZONE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING.

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  So/So - 2005 Lincoln Navigator
  By Lisa - October 20 - 9:06 am

  After major rebates and 0% financing, car is still upside down after two years of payments. Rattles and clanks noticed from the beginning, service cannot fix. Aftermarket upgrades sold by the dealership installed too low and rattle. When rattle fixed, screw tore interior sunroof fabric. Aftermarket dealership DVD unreliable and not upgraded to play DVD Rs or RW. A nice vehicle but market value dropped after purchase.