2018 Lincoln Continental review
Lincoln Continental highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Roomy rear seat
- Powerful V6 option
- Quiet and comfortable
Cons
- Inferior build quality
- Occasional rough transmission shifts
- Lower-end trims don’t feel luxurious enough
Mileage (EPA estimate)
16 city, 24 highway, 19 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
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The 2018 Lincoln Continental is a plush full-size luxury sedan at the top of the Lincoln lineup
The Lincoln Continental was all-new for the 2017 model year, so the flagship luxury sedan comes into the 2018 model year unchanged. This legendary sedan has been part of the Lincoln lineup off and on since the 1930s, and when it returned in 2017, the Continental had been on hiatus since 2002. The stylish four-door boasts expansive rear-seat legroom with a quiet, comfortable interior and comes equipped with a full suite of high-tech convenience and driver-assist features.
The Continental is offered in four trim levels ranging from the Premiere to the top-level Black Label—all trims come standard with rear-wheel drive and can be upgraded to all-wheel drive. Base-level Continentals have an unimpressive standard engine and a smaller feature set, decreasing the overall value. The top-level variants with the more satisfying turbocharged V6 engine still have trouble competing against similarly priced luxury sedans like the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class that offer more refinement and content than the Lincoln.
All Lincoln Continental years
What is new for the 2018 Lincoln Continental?
- Continental trims have been upgraded with Panoramic Sunroof, Rear Seat Heaters, and Sunroof(s) as standard equipment this year.
- Seat Massagers and Head Up Display features are now available as options on select trims.
2018 Lincoln Continental trims
Premiere:
- 305-hp, 280-lb-ft of torque 3.7L
- Rear Defroster
- Cruise Control
- Power Seats
- Memory Seats
- Front Seat Heaters
- Power Mirrors
- Traction Control
- Leatherette Seats
- View our Lincoln Continental Premiere inventory
Select:
- Includes all features available on the Premiere
- 335-hp, 380-lb-ft of torque 2.7L
- Leather Seats
- A/C Seats
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- View our Lincoln Continental Select inventory
Reserve:
- Includes all features available on the Select
- 3.0L
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Rear Sunshade
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Navigation System
- View our Lincoln Continental Reserve inventory
Black Label:
- Includes all features available on the Reserve
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Rear Seat Heaters
- Sunroofs
- Heated Steering Wheel
- 20 Inch Plus Wheels
- CD Audio
Lincoln Continental photos
5 reasons to buy the 2018 Lincoln Continental
What We Like
Interior: As a big luxury sedan, the Continental focuses on the rear passengers, where there is more than ample legroom with comfortable seats that can be trimmed in soft leather. Access to the cabin is easy thanks to the large door openings, although the bigger doors can be a problem when trying to get in or out in tight quarters. Up front, the audio and climate controls are nicely laid out, and the driver will enjoy the multiple adjustments available for the steering wheel and front seats. Visibility is also good thanks in part to the sloping rear deck.
Driving: The base engine can be disappointing but opting for the 400-horsepower turbocharged V6 with all-wheel drive is a much more competent combination. The bigger motor delivers strong acceleration, and the brakes provide quick and confident stopping power. The Continental has reasonably good handling, although the steering doesn't offer much feedback. That said, the variable-ratio steering is quick and light for easy maneuverability.
Technology: The Continental features an eight-inch display screen that runs Ford's SYNC® 3 infotainment system. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone integration are included, and multiple USB ports are found throughout the cabin. A 10-speaker sound system comes standard with the 13-speaker Revel premium audio system available on higher trim levels. A full set of advanced driver-assist features comes standard on the Continental and includes adaptive cruise control, which works well in stop-and-go traffic.
What Needs Improvement
Utility: The Continental has several storage spaces in the cabin, but they can be small, especially the glove box. The exception is the generous center console box. Unfortunately, larger phones won't quite fit into the designated cellphone cubby. The trunk space is somewhat smaller than average, and the dimensions make it difficult to fit some bulky items.
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Ratings & 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.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Lincoln ContinentalLincoln Continental features and specs
Black Label 2WD 4D Sedan
Standard Features
- 20 Inch Plus Wheels
- A/C Seat(s)
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Blind Spot Monitor
- Bluetooth Technology
- CD Audio
- Cruise Control
- Front Seat Heaters
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Leather Seats
- Memory Seat(s)
- Navigation System
- Overhead Airbags
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Parking Sensors
- Power Hatch/Deck Lid
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Seat(s)
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear Seat Heaters
- Rear Sunshade
- Rear View Camera
- Remote Start
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Sync System
- Traction Control
- Turbo Charged Engine
- Automated Cruise Control
- Heated Steering Wheel
- Lane Departure Warning
- Parking Sensors
- Rear A/C Seat(s)
- Rear Sunshade
- Rear View Camera
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
2.7L
Horsepower
335
Torque (ft-lbs)
380
Engine type
Turbo Gas
Fuel capacity
19
Wheelbase
117.9"
Overall length
201.4"
Width
75.3"
Height
58.5"
Leg room
F 44.4"/R 41.3"
Head room
F 39.3"/R 37.7"
Front tires
P245/40WR20
Rear tires
P245/40WR20
Seating capacity
5
Transmission
Automatic
2018 Lincoln Continental FAQ
The 2018 Lincoln Continental is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- Black Label: 18 MPG City and 27 MPG Highway
- Premiere: 17 MPG City and 26 MPG Highway
- Reserve: 18 MPG City and 27 MPG Highway
- Select: 18 MPG City and 27 MPG Highway
The Lincoln Continental received a rating of 4 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks the Lincoln Continental as 2 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Car
The 2018 Lincoln Continental has received an average 4.6 out of 5 stars from our customers. If you're in the market for a 2018 Lincoln Continental, check out reviews from customers just like you. 2018 Lincoln Continental Reviews.
Here is what's new for the 2018 Lincoln Continental:
- Rear Seat Heaters
- Panoramic Sunroof
- Head Up Display
- Seat Massagers
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