Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental was a last-gasp attempt at a full-size luxury sedan from a company that would soon go exclusively with SUVs. It was the successor to the Lincoln MKS, and it marked the return of the Continental name for the first time since 2002. It offered front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, and while it went up against sportier rear-wheel-drive rivals, it had a premium feel. Buyers had a choice of three V6 engines, two of which were turbocharged, and the ride was firm for a luxury sedan. Inside, the Continental was cosseting, with such available features as 30-way power-adjustable front seats, premium Revel® audio, and heated and ventilated reclining rear seats.
Explore the evolution of the Lincoln Continental
Get our expert take on used Lincoln Continental models, or view year-by-year changes.
Tenth generation Lincoln Continental
The 10th-generation Lincoln Continental had humble roots, as it shared its front-wheel-drive platform with the Ford Fusion. However, Lincoln also gave the Continental all-wheel drive, increased power, and outstanding interior luxury.
Buyers had a choice of three engines, all mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The base engine was a 3.7-liter V6. A turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 upped the power, but the most powerful option was a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6.
The cabin was quite luxurious, with a healthy mix of technology as well. It came standard with an eight-inch touchscreen that ran the SYNC® 3 infotainment interface. Occupants were surrounded by rich, well-chosen materials, and Lincoln even offered interior design themes with names like Chalet and Thoroughbred. Front-seat massagers were available, and the rear seats were available with heating, ventilation, and even a reclining function.
Lincoln offered a wide range of driver-assist features, but most weren’t standard until the 2019 model year.
Model highlights
Full-size luxury sedan based on Ford Fusion platform
Base 3.7-liter V6
Two turbocharged V6s with as much as 400 horsepower available
Six-speed automatic transmission
Eight-inch infotainment touchscreen
Most driver-assist technology became standard for 2019
Changes by year
Latest generation from 2017 - 2020
2020 Lincoln Continental
2019 Lincoln Continental
2018 Lincoln Continental
2017 Lincoln Continental
Highlights
Reborn as a successor to the MKS with a more premium feel
Three V6 engines, two with twin turbochargers
Six-speed automatic transmission
Most driver-assist technology cost extra
Luxurious cabin with such available features as 30-way adjustable front seats, front-seat massage, Revel® audio, and reclining rear seats
Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive
Learn more
Reliability
RepairPal gave the Lincoln Continental an overall reliability rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Lincoln Continental 3rd out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars.
RepairPal reports that the average total annual cost for repairs and maintenance on a Lincoln Continental is $617, compared to an average of $725 for Luxury Fullsize Cars and $591 for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
According to RepairPal, Lincoln Continental owners bring their vehicles into a repair shop for unscheduled repairs an average of 0.4 times per year, compared to an average of 1.7 times for Luxury Fullsize Cars and 1.3 times for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
RepairPal reported that the probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 10% for the Lincoln Continental, compared to an average of 17% for Luxury Fullsize Cars and 14% for all the vehicles RepairPal considered in its dataset.
Kirk Bell has been an automotive journalist since 2001, doing stints at Motor Authority, MSN Autos, and Consumer Guide. He's currently a freelance journalist with an interest in luxury and performance cars.
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