Are Lincolns Good Cars?
They might be luxurious, comfortable, and fun, but Lincolns rank poorly in terms of reliability.
Written by Brenna Swanston
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
2022 Lincoln models average a 7/10 from Car and Driver and a 7.9/10 from Edmunds, indicating that the make produces solid, likable cars. Lincoln, a luxury-focused division of Ford, has limited its production to SUVs in recent years.
Lincoln aims to meet the American demand for SUVs without straying from its luxury niche. As a result, its 2022 lineup features four luxury SUVs and crossovers, two of which are available as plug-in hybrids. The brand has even restored two of its traditional models—the Corsair and the Aviator—as crossovers.
If you're considering classing up the garage with a new Lincoln, you might be wondering: Are Lincolns good cars?
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Are Lincolns good cars?
The short answer: generally speaking, Lincolns are good cars, but there's room for improvement. The brand was at one point a leader in luxury cars, making coupes and sedans that turned heads. Now—falling in step with its
parent company, Ford
—Lincoln has transitioned to producing only crossovers and SUVs.True to its luxury roots, Lincolns start at a relatively high price point. Starting prices for the brand's 2022 models range from $36,370 to $77,000. As such, Lincolns aren't as popular as more affordable makes, selling fewer than 90,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2021—the brand's lowest annual sales since 2013.
Lincoln produced four models for 2022. Here they are:
Model | Starting price | Years | Vehicle type | Edmunds.com rating | Car and Driver rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aviator | $51,780 | 2003 to present | SUV | 7.7/10 | 7.5/10 |
Corsair | $36,370 | 2020 to present | Compact SUV | 7.6/10 | 7/10 |
Nautilus | $43,560 | 2007 to present | SUV | N/A | 5.5/10 |
Navigator | $77,000 | 1998 to present | SUV | 8.4/10 | 8/10 |
Did you know? The Lincoln Navigator is actually based on the Ford F-150 pickup, being that Lincoln is a division of Ford Motor Company.
Are Lincolns reliable?
According to Consumer Reports, Lincolns are not reliable. In fact, in Consumer Reports' 2021 auto reliability survey, Lincoln ranked dead last—for the second year in a row.
Reliability measures how often a car breaks down, also accounting for affordability and ease of repairs. Infrequent recalls and good warranties also play a role in vehicle reliability.
Out of 28 major automakers, Lincoln ranked 28th for reliability in Consumer Reports' annual survey. Other brands near the bottom of the list include
Jeep
and Tesla
. Lincoln fared a bit better with RepairPal's reliability rating, but not by much—with a 3 out of 5 rating, Lincoln ranked 24th out of 32 car brands. Are Lincolns safe?
Though not particularly reliable, Lincolns are very safe cars. All four of Lincoln's 2022 models earned five-star safety ratings (the highest possible rating) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
On top of that, the
Aviator
, Nautilus
, and Corsair
were all chosen as top safety picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). IIHS has not evaluated safety for the Lincoln Navigator
since 2017. Most Lincoln models come with safety features including:
- Lane-departure warning
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rearview cameras
- Automatic emergency braking
Still curious about your Lincoln's safety? Here's all you need to know:
Model | NHTSA rating | Recalls | IIHS rating |
|---|---|---|---|
Aviator | 5 stars | 2 | Good |
Corsair | 5 stars | 1 | Good |
Nautilus | 5 stars | 0 | Good |
Navigator | 5 stars | 1 | N/A |
MORE: How to find vehicle safety ratings
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Are Lincolns expensive to maintain?
RepairPal reports that Lincolns cost $879 per year to maintain. This places Lincolns toward the middle of the pack in terms of repair costs—RepairPal says the brand has "average ownership costs." In contrast, the average repair cost for all models is $652.
Check your Lincoln's owner's manual to learn about the standard maintenance schedule. Following this schedule is the best way to keep repair costs low and major repairs infrequent.
Of the four current Lincoln models, the Aviator sees the most complaints on CarComplaints.com. The
most common complaints
about this car are regarding a cracked rear panel. MORE: Lincoln Navigator towing capacity
Are Lincolns good on gas?
Thanks to their plug-in hybrid options, Lincoln SUVs are relatively fuel-efficient. In fact, MotorTrend ranked the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring the seventh-most fuel-efficient SUV for 2022. This SUV's electric-only range reaches 28 miles.
As for the brand's non-hybrid options, Lincoln vehicles are about average when it comes to fuel efficiency. Here are the EPA's fuel economy ratings for all four 2022 Lincoln models:
Model | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
Aviator | 18 mpg | 26 mpg | 21 mpg |
Corsair | 22 mpg | 29 mpg | 25 mpg |
Nautilus | 20 mpg | 25 mpg | 22 mpg |
Navigator | 16 mpg | 22 mpg | 19 mpg |
The above EPA ratings do not account for available plug-in hybrid (Grand Touring) options. If you spring for the plug-in hybrid Aviator Grand Touring, for example, you can expect fuel efficiency to increase to 54 mpg city and 58 mpg highway. The Corsair Grand Touring comes with much better fuel economy as well.
MORE: How to choose an eco-friendly car
Are Lincolns fun to drive?
Lincolns bring luxury to the driving experience, too. These SUVs are known to be cushy and comfortable to drive, both for straight-shot road trips and along winding highways.
Both the Aviator and the Navigator offer a fun time behind the wheel, complete with a V6 engine and 10-speed transmission. The Navigator is both powerful and plucky, bringing speed and performance—as long as you're not hitting many twists and turns. The Aviator embodies many similar qualities, coming up short in terms of acceleration for the Grand Touring model.
And let's not forget the tech. Lincolns come standard with top-notch infotainment systems that are simple to learn and use.
What’s the best Lincoln?
The best Lincoln for you will depend on your budget, personal preferences, and day-to-day driving habits. Still, a couple of Lincoln models tend to garner the most praise from reviewers.
The 2022 Lincoln Navigator earned 8.4/10 and 8/10 ratings from Edmunds and Car and Driver, respectively. If you're seeking a smooth, stylish ride with ample cargo space and a powerful engine, the Navigator may suit you. But the SUV is very large and starts at $77,000, making it out of reach for some drivers.
If you'd prefer something a little more compact and affordable, consider the 2022 Lincoln Aviator. This midsize SUV brings speedy acceleration, classy design, and a plug-in hybrid option for those seeking better fuel economy.
How to find affordable Lincoln insurance
As a general rule of thumb, expensive cars typically make your
car insurance
more expensive. Lincolns, being both luxurious and notoriously unreliable, may drive up your insurance premium. But you still deserve the best price possible for your car insurance, and that's where Jerry
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“Because I have a luxury car, I was more interested in finding better coverage than the exact price.Jerryhelped me upgrade my policy, and when my record is cleared next year, I will be using Jerry again to choose an even cheaper plan!” —Paige W.
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Are Lincoln cars reliable?
According to Consumer Reports' annual auto reliability survey, no. Of all the auto brands ranked, Lincoln placed dead last on this report for both 2021 and 2022. RepairPal, however, gave Lincoln a slightly better reliability rating.
Are Lincolns expensive to maintain?
On average, Lincolns cost $879 per year to maintain, according to RepairPal. The average ownership cost for all brands is $652 per year. This makes Lincolns a bit more expensive than average to maintain, but not by much.
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