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:

• 

  The best luxury car, ever. - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By Silvester - October 31 - 10:00 am

  This is my best luxury car. I has one DeVille, but the TownCar is much better. The best.

• 

  Consumers have lost a great luxury vehicle - 2000 Lincoln Town Car
  By lvmylincoln - October 29 - 3:10 pm

  I have read Edmunds review of the Lincold Towncar and in my opinion, it was written by someone who is only into sports vehicles and small vehicles. I have owned Lincoln Towncars since 1980, in fact, my wife and I both drive Towncars and both have loved the Towncar since our first, which was a 1980 Mark. These vehicles have always gotten better gas mileage that the standard Ford, Chevrolet or Chrysler product. They have cost us less to operate and repair than any vehicle we owned prior to the Lincoln. They have gone through several major style changes since 1980 and are still the most luxurious ride. This includes all the foreign & domestics.

• 

  perfect - 2004 Lincoln Navigator
  By nikita - October 27 - 10:00 am

  this is a great car for anyone

• 

  Good luck finding one to buy! - 2006 Lincoln Zephyr
  By knb1 - October 25 - 1:23 pm

  Great car! Handles well, accelerates well, great gas mileage - 28 mpg combined! Good looking car. Top reliability. Im 64" and fit in this car comfortably. Trunk is large, put the seats down for extra space. Every possible control. Lucky to find one, I had to look for three months until I found a Zephyr, worth the wait.

• 

  Lincoln MKZ Hybrid - 2016 Lincoln MKZ
  By Art Sosa - October 25 - 12:29 pm

  I have not owned an American car in almost 40 years. Six months ago my wife purchase the Lincoln MKC and I was very impressed with the car, so I started looking at the MKZ. My last four cars were Mercedes, the very last one was a Mercedes E550 W211 - I love every Mercedes I owned. But I can truly say that I am VERY IMPRESSED with the MKZ. It has a great ride, a very attractive design and lots of features. The My Sync feature is very information, I specially link the FREE My Sync - SERVICE option, which you need to register every year for online, but its free. I also like the Lincoln App, it provides lots of information on the vehicle and the Support Section provides videos on "How - To" use all the vehicle features. Ford has done a fantastic job with their website site support also. You can also run alternative fuel - but none of the manufactures want you to know that :-). Awesome car - and Ford has done a fantastic job on the Support App and their website. Thanks Ford, I will be back for a new one in three years. Miami Lakes, Fl. Art Sosa

• 

  1999 Lincoln Navigator - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By rms - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Generally the car has been trouble-free and an absolute joy to drive. Had a one- time electronics problem and a faulty battery but otherwise, nothing. Be prepared for the jealousy factor. There are those persons out there who would want to take their frustrations out on your car, just because of its beauty and perhaps symbolism. You get more for your buck in this years models.

• 

  1999 Lincoln Navigator - 1999 Lincoln Navigator
  By RMS - October 25 - 10:00 am

  Generally the car has been trouble-free and an absolute joy to drive. Had a one- time electronics problem and a faulty battery but otherwise, nothing. Be prepared for the jealousy factor. There are those persons out there who would want to take their frustrations out on your car, just because of its beauty and perhaps symbolism. You get more for your buck in this years models.

• 

  this people mover is rock - 2010 Lincoln MKT
  By Scott - October 23 - 6:13 pm

  the MKT is ridiculously quick, far faster than a luxury 7 -seats crossover should to be. interior is nice touched, the sync is user friendly. like the led taillight in the back. seats are very comfy,

• 

  lincoln ls - 2004 Lincoln LS
  By marvlus - October 21 - 10:00 am

  I like to ride of the vehicle but those bridgestone tires does not work well in rain or snow. They cause the car to hydroplane. On the interior there is very little storage space for things like CD cases and a place to set your purse.

• 

  Great Value for an Outstanding Vehicle - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Kevin F - October 19 - 7:50 am

  The performance, stability and noise control are outstanding for this price range. I compared this to similar vehicles with the same options and the Lincoln was clearly the winner. The bonus is that this is a very nice looking vehicle both in and out and its fun to drive.