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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  FUN FUN Car!! - 2011 Lincoln MKX
  By sisper - March 18 - 10:55 pm

  Had the car for 10 days. Drove 350+ miles. Fantastic! impresses everyone from interior to exterior looks and features. powerful torque! Powerful yet sturdy and quiet. Fun to drive in Manual mode. Back camera outrageously fun to use. voice commands makes you feel like playing around with it! Ambient lights make you want to try them all! roof for driver and passengers? awesome! sensors for blind spot cars? amazing. Opening the trunk without taking the keys off packets while caring grocery bags, should be made into LAW! MUST have! steering wheel too good to describe. Test drive to understand. do you want 5 days weather forecast? no problem. sports scores? no problem! The LEATHER SEATS, ohh! etc

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  great car - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By stacey t - March 10 - 10:00 am

  I had always driven a BMW 528i - what a change! I love how this car handles and how much room we have. Gas milage is ok, but what can you do.

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  Remarkable Truck - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By Don H - March 9 - 7:36 pm

  This is by far the best truck I have ever seen (and I live in San Antonio, TX). Gets comments everywhere I go. Power and fuel mileage are extremely good for a truck this large. Plenty of room inside and out for how I would use a truck. Stereo even impresses the kids -- the subwoofer will make the cars around you shake. The real wood trim is so smooth, you have to look twice to realize what they are. The chrome running boards look great with the rest of the truck, and are very functional with the rubber inserts.

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  Lincoln lt performance - 2006 Lincoln Mark LT
  By RON HALVIN - March 9 - 10:23 am

  Our 3000 mile trip from florida to michigan and back was in style, comfort, easy handling, gas milage and dependibiltiy, this truck is a sure winner. Pulling a large tandem trailer, it still performed beyond my expectations. Truck pulling fully loaded tandem trailer, averaged 16.5 Mpg.

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  Classic cruiser - 2011 Lincoln Town Car
  By Tim - March 7 - 6:02 am

  Purchaesd a 2011 in December of 2015 for 1/4 the retail price to replace a 2003 Crown Victoria. The dependability of the Ford made the purchase decision an easy one as I appreciated the simple roomy reliable qualities of the panther platform. The car is a georgeous silver metallic with a black leather interior and extremely classy. The car drives like a dream and feels like I am sitting on my couch at home, so much room. When you pull it up into the garage, its that comfortable that you really dont want to get out, at least thats what the wife says. :) I have owned it for a year and have had to replace a light bulb, $10.00, a power lift gate latch $300.00, and a relay switch $160.00. So far I am very pleased with the car for its ride, comfort and space. The relay switch although inexpensive to replace caused havoc for a week giving the dealership fits trying to trouble shoot a mystery battery drain that appeared to come from a light control module but was actually from the air conditioner. The dealers customer service far exceeded any I have ever had in the years of repairing vehicles. Kudos to Lincoln. I know that as vehicles become more and more technologically advanced as the years progress, my car, built on 1990s technology, will seem like a dud in comparison, and thats just fine with me. I will have a classic sedan.... dependable, comfortable, simple, with all of the creature comforts you really need. If any upgrades were to be made, an upgraded aftermarket Bluetooth, navigation setup would be all thats required. Anticipate keeping this one for the next 6-7 years and if its still going strong, will push it to 10. When its time to replace it, will there really be a car that can match the comfort and roominess because whats on the market now pails in comparrison....we shall see.

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  Great car if your rich - 1998 Lincoln Continental
  By Dr Rocket - March 6 - 10:06 am

  Excellent car but repairs are very expensive. Plenty of power but interior gadgets are confusing. Gas mileage is good for a v8. Much better then new lincolns.

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  My Review - 2008 Lincoln Navigator
  By mercedesamg17 - March 5 - 9:03 pm

  The navigator is a very sharp looking car. Thank God it doesnt look like the Expedition because that is very ugly! Overall great car that is fun to drive and is truly luxury.

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  Awesome SUV! I love this car! - 2005 Lincoln Aviator
  By jd1017 - March 5 - 12:53 am

  Ive read a lot of the comments concerning the 2003 AWD Aviator and feel very fortunate. I havent experienced anything but pleasure from this SUV, the power and comfort is second to none. Im in sales and stop start this car ten plus times a day, no troubles. The rear hatch surrounding the glass did split, fiberglass fracture is what the dealship referred to it as. They replaced it, out of warranty, free of charge. So far with over 50,000 miles on the vehicle I really cant complain about anything! I still think this is the best bang for the buck!

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  High Class - 1996 Lincoln Town Car
  By Mea - March 4 - 9:50 pm

  I went from driving a very Large Chevrolet conversion van to driving my Lincoln Town Car. I love how smooth it drives and how you dont hear any clinking in the engine. Its a pleasure to drive.

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  I LOVE the Aviator!!! - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By azurlee - March 4 - 7:20 pm

  I bought the 2004 Aviator brand new, almost 9 years ago. It has been the most reliable of any car Ive ever had (and Ive had many). It feels luxurious on the inside, even after all of this time. Lincoln got the fit/finish on this one right. It has been such a gem to own. I will drive it until it dies. I really wish Lincoln still made them. I would buy another after this one is done. Thats how much I love it. Ive owned many other SUVs and never had one this dreamy and reliable. Cant say enough good stuff about it.