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2018 Lincoln Continental

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Make
Lincoln
Model
Continental
Year
2018
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Lincoln Continental OEM Exterior Primary Photo
OEM Interior Primary
OEM Exterior
OEM Exterior
OEM Interior
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Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

Select a Trim
Select a Trim
2018 Premiere 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sedan
most popular
Price:   -  From $45,160
2018 Premiere 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $47,160
2018 Select 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $48,115
2018 Select 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $50,115
2018 Reserve 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $54,785
2018 Reserve 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $56,785
2018 Black Label 4dr Front-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $65,415
2018 Black Label 4dr All-Wheel Drive Sedan Price:   -  From $67,415

Overview

When Lincoln released the new Continental last year, it was hoping it would help revitalize the brand's image with a bold new design language and a different take on the luxury car. Instead of making its cars performance-focused mid-sized rivals from BMW, Mercedes, Audi, or even Cadillac, Lincoln focused on a more refined driving experience and a new approach to luxury car ownership.

Thankfully, the Continental proved to be successful, and Lincoln has brought it back for 2018.

What's New for 2018

The 2018 Lincoln Continental has no significant changes from the previous model year.

Lincoln Continental

Choosing Your Lincoln Continental

The 2018 Lincoln Continental comes with a dizzying array of powertrain options across the line. The base models are equipped with a 3.7-liter V6 that puts out a 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. Lincoln also offers a 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 that provides better fuel efficiency and an extra 50 hp as an optional upgrade for the Select trim level, and as the base engine for the Reserve and Black Label trims. Reserve and Black Label trims receive their own optional engine choice, a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with 400 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. All trims and engine options come mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters, and can be had with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive – the latter is a $2,000 option.

The Lincoln Continental is an interesting choice for luxury sedan shoppers. Lights automatically greet you as you approach the car, the doors open effortlessly from unique beltline-positioned handles, and the interior looks luxurious at even the most basic trim levels. The Continental includes a wide variety of standard features across all trims including dual-zone automatic climate control, a 10-speaker audio system, Ford's Sync 3 infotainment suite on an eight-inch touchscreen, active exterior noise suppression, heated front seats, and driver assistance features like front and rear parking assistance and emergency braking assist. The Continental is also able to switch driving characteristics between comfort, normal, and sport modes, although comfort best matches the character of the car.

Lincoln Continental

Premiere

The Premiere trim is the most basic of the Continental lineup at $46,085 (including $925 in destination charges), but it is still well equipped and retains the Continental's elegance. The Premiere features two choices of interior styles, Ebony (black) or Cappuccino (tan). The Premiere only is available with the 3.7-liter V6, but AWD remains a $2,000 option. Beyond a few simple protection items, like floormats, there are no other optional extras.

Lincoln Continental

Select

The Select trim starts at $50,295 including destination, and offers more standard features including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, navigation, larger 19-inch wheels, and extra-soft leather seats from Scotland's Bridge of Weir Leather Company.

The Select trim also has an extensive list of options, available as one-off features or as a part of a package. The only available option package at this trim include the $850 Continental Climate Package, which includes heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, auto-high beams, and rain sensing wipers.

Other options include 30-way adjustable front seats for $1,500, an upgraded 19-speaker Revel audio system for $1,130, and a panoramic sunroof for $1,750. This trim also offers the option of upgrading to the 2.7-liter turbocharged V6 for $2,250.

Lincoln Continental

Reserve

The Continental's Reserve trim is priced at $55,710 including destination, and comes standard with 24-way heated and ventilated front leather seats with Bridge of Weir leather, the 2.7-liter turbocharged V6, tri-zone climate control, and the upgraded Revel audio system that's available on the Select as an option.

The options list only continues to grow at the reserve level. The Reserve can be had with a number of option packages like the $4,215 Continental Technology Package that adds a 360-degree camera, heads-up display, and an extensive list of driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

There's also the $3,995 Luxury Package that includes LED headlamps and an upgraded Revel Ultima audio system with a CD player, and the $4,300 Rear Seat Amenities Package with heating, ventilating, and massaging rear seats with lumbar support and extra leg room. The previously mentioned Continental Climate Package is also available for $850. The Reserve is also available with the 400 hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 for those in need of extra power. The $1,500 30-way adjustable front seats and panoramic moonroof remain optional extras as well.

Lincoln Continental

Black Label

The Continental's defining form is the $69,630 Black Label trim, which features most of the previously mentioned options as standard features. The Continental Black Label comes in one of three interior themes, including the excellent Rhapsody in Blue which makes the Continental feel a bit like a presidential limo. The only options that remain are the $4,300 Rear Seat Amenities Package and the $1,500 30-way adjustable front seats.

The real draw of the Black Label package is the membership that comes with the car, starting with the purchasing process. Instead of going to the dealership, the buyer has access to a mobile showroom, or they can go to a special private showroom at participating dealerships. The package also includes four years of maintenance that include car pick-up and loaners, complimentary car washes, and an annual detailing. Beyond that, the package will allow you to receive a complimentary vehicle when arriving at certain airports around the country for 7 days, as well as a culinary concierge that's available to help plan date nights.

CarsDirect Tip

It may be expensive, but the Black Label trim is a compelling and novel approach to luxury car ownership. The benefits essentially allow you to own or lease the car without experiencing any of the inconveniences normally associated with car ownership. Beyond that, the available features and design are certainly luxurious, and while it may not have the badge heritage of more established luxury brands, the whole experience is worth the $70,000 price tag.

Get your price on a Lincoln Continental »

author image
Automotive Editor
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Expert Review

Expert Rating
Unavailable

Our expert ratings are based on seven comprehensive criteria: quality, safety, comfort, performance, fuel economy, reliability history and value.

You can interpret our ratings in the following way:

: Outstanding vehicle. Only the most exceptional vehicles achieve this rating.

: Very Good vehicle. Very good and close to being the best vehicle in its class.

: Good vehicle. Decent, but not quite the best. Often affordable, but lacking key features found in vehicles of the same class.

: Below average vehicle. Not recommended, and lacking attributes a car buyer would come to expect for the price.

: Poor vehicle. Simply does not deserve to be on the road.

author image
Automotive Editor

There's a small but vocal group of enthusiasts who still haven't gotten over the passing of the Town Car. Well, with all their caterwauling about the death of the last old-fashioned domestic luxury chariot, it's clear they haven't spent time in the recently-reborn Lincoln Continental. It's in every way a traditional American luxury car, taking inspiration not from German barnstormers but rather from the annals of Lincoln's own history books. Performance is suggested with a whisper; it's elegant rather than ostentatious. The 2018 Lincoln Continental is wholly modern and wholly unique, and is a worthy successor to the venerable Town Car.

Best Value

With 69 different features and a base price that sneaks in at just under $50,000, the Select trim offers the best value for buyers looking for luxury without doling out a hefty sum of money for it. The Select ups the ante over the base Premium with genuine leather seats, 19-inch wheels, a hands-free trunk lid, and auto-folding mirrors. More importantly, the Select unlocks access to worthwhile options such as the incredible 30-way power seats, the 2.7-liter twin-turbo motor, and the Technology Package that bundles numerous active safety features. With this equipment, the Continental will feel like an S-Class that happens to have a Lincoln star on the hood rather than a Mercedes one – and at a significant discount compared to the stalwart German. Here's what our Continental would look like:

  • Model: 2018 Lincoln Continental Select
  • Engine: Twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6
  • Output: 335 hp / 380 lb-ft
  • Transmission: Six-speed automatic
  • Drivetrain: All-wheel drive
  • MPG: 17 City / 25 Hwy
  • Options: Twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 ($2,250), AWD ($2,000), Technology Package ($4,215, park assist, 360-degree camera, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, pre-collision warning, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, windshield-wiper de-icer), 30-way power front seats ($1,500)
  • Base Price:
  • Best Value Price:$60,260

Performance

Lincoln Continental

Out on the road, the old land yachts once peddled by Lincoln and Cadillac had rides so soft and floaty that they inspired the term "land yacht" in the first place. The 2018 Continental, however, deftly sidesteps this bit of ancestry, managing to balance ride and comfort with response and even a bit of feedback. Roads heavily pockmarked with imperfections will strain the underpinnings somewhat, but even in that scenario, passengers will be only vaguely aware of the drama going on under the car.

Under the hood, buyers can pick from the base 3.7-liter V6, a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6, and a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6. Horsepower ranges from 280 for the base engine to an impressive 400 ponies in the 3.0-liter. That latter motor allows 60 miles an hour to comes in six seconds from a standstill, and the 400 lb-ft of torque effortlessly propels the big Continental forward. The 335-hp 2.7-liter powerplant lies between those two bookends, and is a nice compromise between fuel economy, power, and performance.

Traditionalists might turn their noses up at the fact that all Continentals come standard with front-wheel drive, but AWD is a $2,000 option for all models, and is mandatory upgrade when checking the box for the 400-hp engine.

Style

While the mechanical hardware is what motivates the Continental, it's ultimately the interior that motivates customers to take one of these sedans home. The appointments are rich and include tastefully-placed brightwork and genuine wood – a welcome upgrade from the plastiwood stuff that Town Car owners would be familiar with. Ford's Sync3 infotainment software hides within the 8.0-inch touchscreen that comes with all models. It offers a built-in WiFi hotspot that allows up to 10 devices to connect, and the system will also automatically update itself as Ford releases new, improved versions of the Sync software; no need to be inconvenienced with a dealer visit.

The available 30-way seats steal the show with their limitless combinations of positions, but even the base 10-way seats are supportive and comfortable. Stretch-out room both front and back is ample, and there's plenty of storage for stashing whatever needs to be stashed.

It's under the Black Label banner where the interiors becomes truly spectacular. Three highfalutin themes are available, and recall the old Designer trims found on Marks and Town Cars. The classic Bill Blass nautical flavor, for instance, returns with a modern twist under the Rhapsody moniker. Chalet and Thoroughbred also come with bespoke color and trim combinations, making it easier for buyers to match their new Lincoln with the color schemes of their dockside Chris Craft or stable of Arabians.

Outside, the styling is reserved. Some will call it boring, while others will call it traditional. Either way, it's not going to drop jaws as the seminal 1961 Continental did. The door handles positioned just below the windows are a great detail, but otherwise there's nothing about the shape that is especially distinctive. Still, it works with the "quiet luxury" philosophy that Lincoln has adopted.

The Best and Worst Things

The interiors are a home run, especially the Black Label trims. Don't call it retro – that word is too kitschy for what the Continental has pulled off. Instead, the copious amounts of leather, wood, and chrome is a great homage to the sort of style that's so iconic and so unabashedly American.

It's disappointing that the Continental rides on a lengthened version of a FWD chassis that underpins Ford's Fusion and Lincoln's own MKZ. This translates to a design that's forced to work around the aesthetically awkward proportion of FWD, and also saddles the car with the "glorified Ford" stigma that still keeps luxury buyers from fully embracing the Blue Oval's luxury arm. A distinct Lincoln platform would go a long way in showing Ford's commitment to the brand and their desire to have it taken seriously in the marketplace.

Right For? Wrong For?

Lincoln Continental

Buyers who appreciate the traditional luxury car values of a quiet, comfortable, and cossetting ride would be right at home in the confines of the 2018 Continental. Those who want performance of any sort should look elsewhere, as Lincoln has specifically refrained from making this a sporty sedan.

The Bottom Line

The 2018 Lincoln Continental is the first great sedan from the automaker in years. It offers the market something it hasn't seen for a long time: a competitive full-size American luxury car that prioritizes a serene driving experience over one that ballyhoos cornering and quarter-mile times. It may not have the bench seat, RWD, and body-on-frame construction that the Town Car did, but this Continental is an excellent interpretation of what a luxury car should be.

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Specs & Features

Highlights
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
3.7L V-6 / 305 HP / 280 ft.lbs.
Transmission
6-spd SelectShift w/OD
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Highway/Combined
17 / 26 / 21 Mpg
Passenger Capacity
5
Bumper to Bumper Warranty
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Mechanical Specs
Engine - Cylinders/Horsepower/Torque
3.7L V-6 / 305 HP / 280 ft.lbs.
Drive Type
Front-wheel
Fuel Economy - City/Hwy/Combined
17 / 26 / 21 Mpg
Brakes
4-wheel Disc
Front Suspension
Strut
Rear Suspension
Independent Multi-link
Spare Tire And Wheel
Compact Steel
Fuel Tank
19.0 Gal.
Recommended Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded
Average Cost To Fill Tank
$73
Dimensions & Capabilities
Maximum Cargo Volume
16.7 Cu.ft.
Passenger Volume
106 Cu.ft.
Exterior Length
201.4 "
Exterior Width
75.3 "
Exterior Height
58.5 "
Front Headroom
39.3 "
Rear Headroom
37.7 "
Front Legroom
44.4 "
Rear Legroom
41.3 "
Front Shoulder Room
58.3 "
Rear Shoulder Room
55.9 "
Front Hip Room
Rear Hip Room
Curb Weight
4,224 Lbs.
Wheel Base
118 "
Turning Radius
20.9 '
Exterior Features
Door Count
4 Doors
Wheels
18.0 " Machined W/painted Accents Aluminum
Paint
Clearcoat Monotone / Metallic Monotone / Tri-coat Monotone
Exterior Mirrors
Dual Power Remote Heated Convex Spotter
Bumpers
Body-colored With Chrome Insert
Grille Moldings
Chrome
Rear Spoiler
Exhaust
Stainless Steel With Chrome Tailpipe Finish
Interior Features
Seating
Passenger Capacity
5
Seat Trim
Lincoln Soft Touch Leatherette
Front Seat Type
Bucket
Heated Front Seats
Driver And Front Passenger Heated-cushion, Heated-seatback
Front Driver Seat Direction Controls
(8-way Power)
Front Passenger Seat Direction Controls
(8-way Power)
Front Armrests
(8-way Power)
Rear Armrests
Center With Pass-thru
Rear Seats
60-40 Bench
Radio & Infotainment
Radio
Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Clock, Seek-scan / Siriusxm Am/fm/satellite, Seek-scan
Speakers
10
Radio Steering Wheel Controls
Apple Car Play
Android Auto
Bluetooth w/ Hands-Free Connectivity
Convenience Features
Steering Wheel Type
Power Telescopic Tilt
Climate Control
Automatic Air Conditioning
Cruise Control
With Steering Wheel Controls
Sun Roof
Rearview Mirror
Day-night / Auto-dimming Day-night
One Touch Open Window
Front And Rear
Tinted Windows
Light
Vanity Mirrors
Dual Illuminated
Remote Keyless Entry
Keyfob (all Doors)
Power Outlets
3
Safety Features
Overall Crash Safety Rating
Overall Front Crash Safety Rating
Overall Side Crash Safety Rating
Rollover Crash Safety Rating
Front Impact Airbags
Driver And Passenger
Driver Side Impact Airbags
Seat Mounted
Knee Airbag
Driver And Passenger
Passenger Side Impact Airbag
Seat Mounted
Rear Side Airbag
Seatbelt Pretensioners
Front
Anti-Lock Brakes
4-wheel Anti-lock Brakes (abs)
Forward Collision Warning
Blind Spot Sensor
Blis Blind Spot
Lane Departure Warning
Lane Keeping Aid Lane Departure
Autonomous Cruise Control
Pedestrian Detection
Driver Attention Alert
Daytime Running Lights
Auto High Beams
Auto High-beam
Adaptive Headlights
Directionally Adaptive
Parking Sensors
Front And Rear
Security Systems
Security System
Panic Alarm
Ignition Disable
Securilock
Warranty
Bumper To Bumper Months Miles
48 Months / 50,000 Miles
Major Components Months
72 Months / 70,000 Miles
Included Maintenance Months
Roadside Assistance Months
Unlimited Months / Unlimited Miles
Corrosion Perforation
60 Months / Unlimited Miles
Accessories Months

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