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:

• 

  Great Car - 1994 Lincoln Town Car
  By J Rowland - October 13 - 2:00 am

  This car has been one of the most pleasant, comfortable, and actually economical cars Ive owned in the past 25 years. Currently I have 168K on the car and I still average 17mpg in the city and 26mpg on highway trips. The 4.6 engine has been a jewell, and has plenty of power for a car this size. The most expensive work performed on the car has been normal oil changes. My biggest complaint would be the cost of gasoline today.

• 

  Magic Carpet Ride - 2006 Lincoln Town Car
  By RamRod - October 12 - 9:50 am

  Put your money towards the truly meaningful aspects of an automobile such as "ride" - "reliability" - "comfort" - "safety". Nothing on the market today surpasses my Lincoln Town Car in these categories. Performance, power, and gas mileage are suprisingly excellent also. Your grandfather and great-grandfather would buy this car. Flashy colors, designs & styling looses its appeal. The qualities I mentioned above last forever. They are the true componants of "buyers satisfaction". If your vehicle has these qualities, you wont have to worry about "buyers remorse". EA:Southern Gentleman - Birmingham, Alabama

• 

  Love My MKZ Hybrid - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By chicagoeg - October 11 - 11:19 am

  Previous 3 new cars have been Acura TLs. Loved them but wanted better mileage and to get away from premium gas. Ive owned the MKZ for 6 months and put 7,500 Chicago miles on it. Seems winter mileage (mixed city and hiway) 38 to 40. Now, April, running about 42 MPG, Very satisfied with that , but may get even better during summer. Love the lines and ride. Tech controls a bit too sensitive and complex. So far, VERY satisfied.

• 

  Fun for the money! - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By ioregan - October 9 - 3:13 am

  Ive owned my MKZ for about 3 months, took one 1,000 mile road trip with it. Verdict so far: Excellent. The car is beautiful inside and out, ride is very comfortable, engine can get up and go. THX sound system is the best thing Ive ever heard in a vehicle, and voice-activated music is just hilariously fun. Looked at a Buick and the Cadillac CTS, but the MKZ gave me the most bang for my buck, and Im one satisfied customer.

• 

  4 months with the car and it exceeds expectations - 2013 Lincoln MKZ
  By dano_pa - October 8 - 5:57 am

  I purchased the car with the panoramic sunroof in late July. On the road I get about 38-40 mpg depending on how fast I am going. Around town, I have gotten 47 mpg on certain trips, it all depends on my speed and the amount of hills. I love almost everything about the car, it does get a lot of comments and lookers. It is my first new American car ever and I am 55. I have owned a BMW, Saab, 2 Volvos, a Cadillac, two Nissans a Toyota, a 2 VWs and a Renault.

• 

  Near Perfection - 2007 Lincoln Town Car
  By Rick - October 7 - 11:10 pm

  I bought the Designer with every option but the moonroof. What a wonderful car to travel in. On the road I get over 25MPG and all-round, Im getting 21.5MPG at about 60% highway and 40% city. That is terrific for a car this large. Comfort is unparalleled and I can spread out - no center console that Id hate. Huge trunk, great features like memory seats and pedals and voice command for the navigation and radio, Sirius, surprisingly good visibility.

• 

  Love it! - 2008 Lincoln MKZ
  By angiejo - October 7 - 5:46 pm

  I did a lot of research prior to buying MKZ. I liked what I read about MKZ so I bought one. I love my MKZ. The ride is very nice. Consumer report graded it high also. Gas mileage not too bad (mid 20s). For now there isnt a luxury riding car with outstanding gas mileage. I opted for luxury. Dont have to travel that far.

• 

  Happy purchaser - 2014 Lincoln MKZ
  By obee - October 5 - 2:11 pm

  We traded our A6 Audi for the MKZ hybrid and couldnt be happier. We took delivery in Arizona and after about 300 miles drove it to Minnesota. We find the seating more comfortable than the Audi but we did get the messaging seats because of my wifes back trouble. We averaged 40.2 on the trip and now at 3000 miles it is at 41. We have had two shorter trip gas fills with one at 48 and one at 44, but I have to say that we live in a rural area with a lot of 55 mph roads and we have paid close attention to acceleration and braking. I appreciate the lack of a shifter since they only connect to wires anyway. The interior is very attractive and close to the Audis quality.

• 

  I love my LS! - 2002 Lincoln LS
  By I LOVE MY LS! - October 5 - 2:56 am

  Bought my LS about 5 years ago and have had absolutely NO problems at all and I love it..Handles well, excellent gas mileage (24-27 MPG) and is very comfortable and fun to drive. Would recommend it! Have had several FORD/LINCOLN products and they have all been excellent cars/trucks! No Problems!

• 

  One Sweet Ride - 2003 Lincoln Town Car
  By Bill T. - October 3 - 7:46 pm

  After the first test drive, I knew this was my car. Now that Ive owned it for about 8 months, I can only say that I am extremely pleased with the car. On long trips, theres nothing like cruising down the interstate, feeling like Im driving my leather couch down the road, only without my big-screen tv in front of me. Ive had absolutely no problems with the car. I average 18 mpg around town and a very respectable 25 mpg on the highway. Another big plus with the TC is the safety aspect of having that amount of metal and airbags around you. The car simply looks impressive and is a treat to drive. It may not have stellar performance, but the two ton luxury road yacht makes me happy anyway.