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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  Lincoln-Ford Got it right - 2000 Lincoln Town Car
  By Del - March 4 - 4:33 pm

  Ive allways held true to ford.. When they built this car they got it right. Some say its a Grandpa car I say NO! Rides down the road better then any cadi Ive ever owned. And to my surprize when I manually shifted threw the gears and held the "pettle to the metal I grabbed rubber in 2nt grear. Not bad for a full size 205 hp car!! talk about fun when you hit 2nt gear then the tires "churp" and then get her a little sideways, when getting on the freeway I was thinking of buying a crown vic but I bought this insteed about the same car but a little more style. and the millage is not bad concerting how big the car is about 22 in town and 28-32 on the road. the 4.6 is a great motor

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  love my lincoln - 2005 Lincoln Town Car
  By bee - March 4 - 1:43 am

  have owned a lot of vehicles in my time but the lincoln is the only car that makes you smile on long trips and you know you are going to get there in reliability without having to stop by the bank for fuel money, buy used mine had 25,000 miles on it was just broke in good have 75,000 on it now still just like new

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  Simply a great car!!!! - 2011 Lincoln MKX
  By fordlincoln - March 3 - 12:22 pm

  This is my 3rd consecutive Lincoln - just sold my 06 LS and bought the 11 MKX. This car is fantastic. I did compare this with Cadillac SRX and it was really no comparison at all. The Lincoln simple had more standard features that I wanted. The new looks and the highly advanced technology really sold me on this vehicle. IMO, the new front grill and the new taillight design are BIG improvements over the previous MKX. The MyLincoln Touch sync system is unbelievable. I am far from a techie, but I do like new technologies and the MyLincoln Touch system is great. If you are not very proficient with new technology you may have a longer learning curve, but it is well worth it. I am still finding new things out and I have had the car for almost 3 weeks. I actually like the the touch screen technology more than the voice recognition. It is very similar to using a smartphone.

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  AMERICAN EXCITEMENT - 2003 Lincoln LS
  By FLOYD TURLEY - March 3 - 10:00 am

  I LOVE DRIVING THIS CAR. IT SIMPLY MAKES ME FEEL GOOD WHEN IM BEHIND THE WHEEL. THE STYLE IS NICE, THE EXHAUST NOTE IS SWEET, THE HANDLING IS GREAT.THE DOWN SHIFTS ARE A LITTLE SLOW HOWEVER. ALL AND ALL IT IS A GREAT CAR. IF I WAS TO DO IT OVER AGAIN I WOULD SAVE UP THE EXTRA FUNDS TO BUY THE V8 MODEL. THE V6 IS STILL GREAT FOR MY BUDGET.

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  Nice Truck - 2008 Lincoln Mark LT
  By Fishin Dude - March 1 - 12:16 pm

  The Mark is a pleasant truck that will do all I ask of it in hauling a boat comfortably. I like the features of sunroof, heated seats, a tad of leather and satellite radio. The reverse scanning system is top-notch. I find the Mark is first and foremost a truck. The Escalade, my other consideration was too elaborate for my needs.

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  Aviator - 2004 Lincoln Aviator
  By MarkM - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Purchased in October 2003, now have 3500 miles on it. So far this has been the best vehicle I have owned. Ive owned 3 Cadillacs, Explorer, Saab, and this has out performed all of them. Compared Acura MDX, Infinity, Explorer, and Lexus before deciding on the Aviator. Not one quality issue yet. I would highly recommend this Lincoln to anyone.

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  LOVE this car - 2000 Lincoln Continental
  By FirstLincolnProduct - February 24 - 10:00 am

  Its like driving a cloud!

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  Great Road Car - 2010 Lincoln Town Car
  By sdbconsulting - February 21 - 12:33 am

  Yes, yes, yes . Its an out of date design, its an out of date platform, drive train, etc, etc . But for those of us who travel a lot, its very comfortable, reasonable fuel efficient on the highway for the size (24 mpg), very safe, and I have found it to be as reliable as anything else Ive owned (Benz, Volvo, Cadillac). I wouldnt pay the price for a new one, but I can buy one of these behemoths as a program car with a few miles on it for a reasonable price, still under warranty, put 100k miles on it in two years, then turn it and not lose too much money. Edmunds rates it a "6". Owners of the car rate it a "10". nuff said.

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  My Towncar - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By Bogie - February 17 - 10:00 am

  This model has less driver, and especally passenger-side, legroom than previous years. Two much attention has breen given to rear passenger comfort in this area at the sacrifice to the front seat occupants. The power plant is anemic - underpowered and virtually no performance - needs a minimum 5.0L and ideally a 5.7L or 6.0L engine. Other than these issues, a well designed, comfortable vehicle for the money.

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  Almost Perfect... - 2007 Lincoln MKZ
  By Nick - February 16 - 10:53 pm

  I did a lot of research before leasing an MKZ. In terms of style, features, and AWD, it is a great deal. This is the first American car Ive owned, and so far Im very satisfied. Obviously Lincoln still has a stodgy image to overcome, but its on well on its way with the MKZ.