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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  It brought me back to american cars - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By Fl Driver - October 19 - 10:00 am

  I have owned three foreign cars before this great car. When looking for a sedan i looked at the BMW 540 and Infiniti G35, and the LS blew them all away. From handling, look, and dealer the LS is great. Now i enjoy driving to work everyday. The ride it solid and the power from the V8 is great. Just a nice all around car to own.

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  Great Car - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By Vernon - October 19 - 7:36 am

  Fantastic car for the money. Bought ours used, 17,000 miles, for half the original price. Car does not hold value, but this is great for buying 1-year-old low mileage vehicle. Very comfortable on long trips, get up to 33 mpg on turnpike driving at moderate speeds, 21 mpg around town, both fantastic for a car this size. Great rearbackup warning system, love the 6- pack CD system. Problems: broken gas cap, broken center consule lid, lack of full-size spare (fixed by buying mag wheel with original tire and mounting in trunk!). Spare needed because took 3 days to get regular tire from dealer to replace ruined tire--imagine that out on a road trip! Car not perfect but fantastic buy bought used.

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  nice car - 1999 Lincoln Continental
  By jw - October 18 - 8:46 pm

  Purchased this car from my grandmother a month ago and sold my new ES350. Love driving this car. While it is not very sporty and inside storage is non-existent, it has a very smooth ride, it is quiet, and very comfortable. I enjoy driving it and get plenty of compliments.

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  Enjoy the room in the cabin - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By Lincoln Zenith - October 12 - 11:03 am

  I enjoy the cabin .The trunk is large and very convenient. The only problem is to lift heavy objects from the trunk - seems to require more adjustment.

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  Late md Continentals speedometer error - 2002 Lincoln Continental
  By Tom Coomes - October 4 - 8:26 am

  My speedometer does not register the true speed of my 2001 Continental. 6 mph off. Used GPS to clock. My dealer told me that ALL Continentals speedometer are in error. Ford engineers told me a 10% error either direction was exceptable. Asked to put it in writing, they refused saying that it isnt written and they could not put it in writing. Chkd the Town Car and LS and they were within tenths of a mph off. So they can make a speedometer accurate. Better chk yours or you may get a ticket when you do not deserve one.

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  B2B WARRANTY is an ABSOLUTE MUST - 2001 Lincoln LS
  By NoVaAgent - September 29 - 7:13 am

  I thought I had it rough until reading some of these reviews. Turns out my experience was average: bought at 45000, currently 72000. During that time: rear valve cover gasket, two window motors, cruise control, steering wheel stereo controls, memory seat, sunroof, AC, 100% COVERED BY AFTERMARKET WARRANTY. Service trips- fixed the 1st time maybe 50% of the time. **The key here is, the bang for the buck on this car when buying used is awesome. But as an owner, you soon realize the catch, lots of problems, some small, some large, lots of service trips, tons of time wasted. what I find most unnerving about these poor reviews- there seems to be little pattern in the problems- whats next?

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  Annoying - 2017 Lincoln MKX
  By Jerry Zee - September 14 - 12:57 pm

  Great car. Called a SUV but it really is not. The 2015 was taller and more like a true SUV. The 2017 is lower and slightly wider. We opted for the 2.7L turbocharged model. The turbocharger is loud on acceleration and very annoying. Dealer said all is well and nothing wrong. Took an identical car for a test drive and its turbo also was very loud on acceleration. Test drove several other Ford vehicles that were turbocharged and could not hear any noise upon acceleration. Apparently this problem is unique to 2017 Lincoln MKX with the 2.7L that is turbocharged. This problem is not recognized by Lincoln so my advice is to refrain from purchasing this model until the problem is resolved.

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  Honest Review - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By Mark - September 5 - 2:23 pm

  This car is mainly for larger families, although it does have a fair engine; we have to keep in mind its not a performer like a Cadillac. The ride is smooth, very nice interior, large trunk for your baggage and passengers. BUT here are the problem with Lincolns; are very delicate. My dads Town Car had major problem with the power windows, needed new stereo which was like around $1,000 -- leather quality is bad, I mean what kind of leather rips & tears off? When this car starts to give you problems be very well prepared because it will be costly, and dig deep into your pockets. Also the suspension on this car is belive it or not at $600.00. Its a good car, but I would suggest a Cadillac.

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  SUSPENSION PROBLEMS!!! - 2003 Lincoln Navigator
  By ILMI SUBRAHIMOVIC - September 3 - 2:00 am

  THEY SHOULD HAVE CHANGED THE CAR ON THE OUTSIDE MORE, ALOT OF AVERAE PEOPLE CANT TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 2002 AND A 2003, BUT THE NEW EXTERIOR IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT, ESPECIALLY THE BLACK LEATHER INTERIOR WHICH IVE BEEN WAITING YEARS FOR...FIRST TRUCK TO OFFER BLACK LEATHER, AND ALSO THE FIRST AMERICAN TRUCK TO OFFER A NAVIGATION SYSTEM WHICH IS A BIG PLUS WIHT ME.

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  Not bad for the money - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By Kevin - August 31 - 5:20 am

  As a livery company, Lincoln beats all other vehicles...there is no comparison. When we owned Cadillacs, we spent most of our time taking them to the dealer for electrical repairs. Admittedly, Lincoln HQ needs to do something about the service dealers. In order to get your car in and out, service writers require "money under the table" otherwise your car can sit for days or weeks. It is a corrupt system and demands attention.