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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  LOVE IT!!! - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By Kathys Car - December 9 - 10:00 am

  After a very disappointing ownership of a Mercedes C320 - this vehicle is a joy to drive. Its been reliable - only maintenance items required. No problems - what a change from my Mercedes.

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  Good Stuff - 2005 Lincoln LS
  By Marjan - December 8 - 7:30 am

  Purchased with 13K on it, coming off lease. Great price as these cars dont hold their value. Great value if you plan on driving it for 10 years like I do. Bang for the buck, much better than comparable BMW, Acura, Lexus and Mercedes products. Im very happy with this product so far.

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  X Marks the Spot - 2016 Lincoln MKX
  By carled63 - December 1 - 9:57 pm

  I love my 2016 Lincoln MKX Reserve. I looked a lot for a compact SUV that would have pedestrian alert and a 5-star IIHS safety rating. I also preferred one that had a lot of American content. I just could not find one that met my needs, and the ones that came closest--TBH--felt kind of cramped. I almost went with the MKC--a little concerned on size and very disappointed it did not have pedestrian alert. Then the salesman pointed out that the MKX had the 5-star rating with top-of-the-line pedestrian alert. In 5 minutes I decided to go for it, and I have not been disappointed! The car looks great--inside and out. I think the materials and look of the inside, in particular, are very high end. I also love driving the car; it is super quiet and smooth with very competent handling. I went with Reserve but skipped the Revel stereo, the 2.7 L turbo and the 22-position seats. Those all sound nice, but they add a lot to the price, and I am not that picky. I dont regret those choices. The premium (i.e., standard) stereo is fine. I did find that setting the option to adjust the volume with your speed helps a lot. I also think the 3.7 L base engine has plenty of power and is very smooth. Also, the standard seats are super comfortable with plenty of adjustments--recline, height, lumbar, thigh support, etc. I also like the extra space of the mid-size SUV vs. a compact. There are so many times I would cram stuff in the back of my last compact SUV, and I am finding it a surprising relief to have the extra space that a mid-size provides. Lincoln has also delighted me once or twice. For example, the cooled front seats are great on hot days. The power steering wheel adjustment made me smile too. And I enjoyed how simple the technology has been to set up. My car has Sync 3, and it is both easy to set up and is very intuitive to operate. My only slight disappointment is the gas mileage. It is more or less as advertised--and that is lower than with most compacts. That is the price you pay for space.

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  Sweet Ride - 2010 Lincoln Navigator
  By rplock - November 25 - 10:16 am

  Beautiful vehicle. Very roomy, quiet and polished. Headlights are great. Power is wonderful. Rain sensing wipers are a nice touch. Power fold mirrors are great. Worth the $$s.

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  10 - 2007 Lincoln Town Car
  By Ben - November 24 - 11:46 pm

  I love this car. Smoothest riding car you can buy, and damn near silent. It just doesnt get any better. The Town Car is the last real American car. Body on frame, V8, six passengers.

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  Great car for a little money - 1995 Lincoln Town Car
  By dropkick - November 24 - 2:00 am

  Interior and trunk room is fantastic! Very good performance considering the engine size (4.6L V-8)and weight. These cars can be found in good condition for well under $10,000 since most of the owners were older and took care of their vehicles. Only Mobil One synthetic oil is used every 5000 miles. Easy to drive. Only hangups-- transmission thunks slightly shifting into overdrive (fluid change may help?) and the driver side window does not work Not bad for an 8-yr old American car.

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  Aviator Rocks - 2003 Lincoln Aviator
  By abrams - November 24 - 2:00 am

  The Lincoln Aviator is a masterpiece from the ground up. Its fulltime all- wheel drive makes it as though the snow does not even exist on the ground. Its 302 horsepower engine and throaty exhaust is very pleasing when you "step on it". The interior is marvelous and innovatively elegant. It is truly a dream car.

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  Big, Beautiful, Safe, and Equipped - 2009 Lincoln MKS
  By Moms car - November 22 - 3:40 am

  Big a best buy. If you are looking for a safe luxury large sedan, big trunk, and technology, this is the car for you. This is not the best handling but its good enough. If you want size and handling, you have to pay at least $75,000 for a European car. The trunk will hold a couple of strollers, groceries, and a big diaper bag its huge. The trunk hides all the mess that you carry and itÂ’s safer to have things in trunk in comparison an SUV or crossover and it looks better too. The navigation is easy to use, the integrated mp3 is great the only thing I donÂ’t like is the rear visibility, but it has a rear view camera.

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  Better than an Expedition - 2001 Lincoln Navigator
  By JRBTN - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I traded my 99 expedition Eddie Bauer for this vehicle. The cost of this vehicle is about 15k more than the expedtion. Which begs the question - is it worth it? Well if the money is not an object it probably is. The ride quality, horsepower, and build quality is simply better. I definitely like this vehicle more and unlike the expedition am not thinking about getting rid of the vehicle after 2 years.

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  A Satisfied Owner - 1999 Lincoln Town Car
  By plb03 - November 19 - 10:00 am

  I purchased the car new and drive about 8000 miles per year. The car now has 34000 miles and has given no problems at all. Mileage on the road is excellent and power is more than adequate. Just made an 1900 mile trip with 4 people in total comfort with a average gas mileage of 25 mpg. That is 100 passenger mpg. (at 75 mph)