2017 Lincoln Continental Review
2017 Lincoln Continental Review





+87
Used Continental for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review

byCameron Rogers
Manager, News
Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at Edmunds include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).
Pros
- Very attractive starting price for a large luxury sedan
- Lengthy list of standard and available features
- Several powerful engine choices, including a 400-horsepower V6
Cons
- Can't match the competition when it comes to overall performance
- Some interior elements don't look the part of a high-end luxury sedan
What’s new
The 2017 Lincoln Continental is an all-new large luxury sedan.
Vehicle overview
The last time a new Lincoln Continental graced dealership lots, the large sedan was equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission and a CD player was an optional upgrade over a cassette deck. To misquote Dylan, the times, they have a-changed. The 2017 Lincoln Continental is a completely different beast, with no fewer than three engines available (each matched to a six-speed automatic) and the latest smartphone tech such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2017 Lincoln Continental Premiere 4dr Sedan (3.7L 6cyl 6A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.12 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$185/mo for Continental Premiere
Continental Premiere
vs
$206/mo
Avg. Large Car
But the new Continental isn't just about showing up its 15-year-old predecessor; it's about bringing something unique to the luxury full-size sedan segment: value. Rivals including the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series have long ruled this class, although they cost more than double the Continental's starting price. Even budget-conscious newcomers such as the Kia K900 and Genesis G90 are more expensive than the Lincoln. So this new Lincoln provides a tremendous value, even if you get a fully loaded version with all the bells and whistles. If you're in the market for a roomy sedan with a handsome interior that looks like $100,000 (and doesn't cost it), the 2017 Lincoln Continental is certainly worth a look.
What's it like to live with?
The Edmunds editorial team purchased and lived with a 2017 Lincoln Continental for a year, logging just over 14,000 miles. We were unanimous in our praise for the powerful 3.0-liter turbocharged engine but had mixed opinions about the 30-way adjustable front seats. Unfortunately, the build quality and sometimes poor levels of fit and finish were difficult to ignore. To learn more about our time with the Lincoln Continental, check out our long-term Continental test for all the details, good and bad.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
The 2017 Lincoln Continental is a large luxury sedan with a comfortable ride, an abundance of rear legroom and a wide range of prices. With the Continental's long list of available features, you'll be surprised to know it undercuts rivals by many thousands of dollars.
Trim tested
Edmunds has not yet tested any version of this vehicle. The following is our first take on what's significant about it and what you can expect.
Driving
Expect a ride quality that's well controlled yet supple and forgiving. Lincoln's rep for floaty land yachts is a thing of the past. Yet unlike Cadillac, Lincoln is not trying to outdo the Germans when it comes to performance, so the Continental won't have ultra-quick steering and sticky tires.
Acceleration
Given its substantial size, the Continental will likely have modest acceleration with either of the standard engines. The optional 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 is rated at 400 horsepower, however, so it should be capable of delivering impressive performance off the line.
Comfort
The big Continental should excel here. It has a spacious cabin, optional 30-way-adjustable front seats and plenty of room in back. Add in a suspension designed for minimal cabin intrusion and engines designed to work in the background, and you have all the ingredients for a very comfortable sedan.
Interior
A clean design and top-quality materials give the Continental's cabin a refined look and feel. It's not on the same level as the interiors of some European luxury sedans, but at its price point it's well appointed and comfortable.
Utility
Storage space up front is plentiful and easy to access. The trunk isn't likely to have as much room as Continentals of the past, but it should be on the large side for a sedan in its class.
Technology
The Continental uses the same Sync 3 technology interface as other Ford products. It's a much-improved system that is now easy to use and compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A high-end audio system is also available, along with adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.
Which Continental does Edmunds recommend?
The trim we recommend depends on which engine you want. We think the Select is appropriate for Lincoln buyers who don't prioritize performance. It doesn't cost much more than the Premier and includes real leather seating, a hands-free trunk opener (handy if you're carrying groceries) and extra USB ports for passengers in the back. If you like your big luxury sedan with some pep in its step, the Reserve is a worthy upgrade. The Climate package adds little to the bottom line, and rear occupants will appreciate the toasty seats.
2017 Lincoln Continental models
The 2017 Lincoln Continental is a large sedan that offers a lot of the same technology and luxury features you'd get from a high-end car such as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class or BMW 7 Series, but at a much lower price. It all starts with the well-equipped Premier model, followed closely by the Select, which adds a ton of features for a modest price bump. It also opens the gates to several feature packages not available on the Premier. The Reserve includes more goodies, followed by the exclusive Black Label, which costs considerably more but grants access to Lincoln's Black Label concierge program.
The base Premier trim is powered by a 3.7-liter V6 (305 horsepower, 280 pound-feet) matched to a six-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Its standard features include 18-inch alloy wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, LED running lights and taillights, remote engine start, power-folding and heated mirrors with integrated blind-spot sections and puddle lamps, adjustable dampers, a rearview camera, front and rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, an auto-dimming driver mirror, chrome exterior trim, active grille shutters, interior ambient lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power-adjustable and heated front seats, a power-adjustable leather-wrapped steering wheel, driver-seat memory settings and rear air vents. Entertainment features include an 8-inch touchscreen with the Sync 3 infotainment system, Bluetooth, and a 10-speaker audio system with two USB ports and satellite radio.
Stepping up to the Select trim adds 19-inch wheels, soft-close doors, power-folding exterior mirrors, hands-free trunk opening, illuminated sill plates, leather upholstery, wood accents on the steering wheel, two rear charge-only USB ports and a 110-volt household-style outlet. Choosing the Select also opens the door to the optional twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine (335 hp, 380 lb-ft).
The 2.7-liter engine is standard on the Reserve, as are 24-way power-adjustable and ventilated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, navigation, a rear power sunshade, and an embedded modem that allows users to control various aspects of their Continental via the Lincoln Way smartphone app.
The range-topping Black Label takes the Continental over the top with 20-inch wheels, LED headlights, simulated-suede headliner, upgraded leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, power-adjustable rear seats, and a 19-speaker Revel Ultima sound system with a CD player and HD radio. It's available in three distinct palettes (Rhapsody, Chalet and Thoroughbred), each of which modify the Continental's exterior and interior color schemes and trim. It also allows access to Lincoln's Black Label member privileges.
For those who want as much power as the Continental has to offer, the Reserve and Black Label offer an optional twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 (400 hp, 400 lb-ft). Summer performance tires are available with this engine.
There are several options packages that add extra features to the Continental. The Climate package (Select, Reserve and Black Label) adds automatic high beams, automatic wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. The Technology package (Select with 2.7-liter engine, Reserve and Black Label) includes a 360-degree parking camera, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic wipers, adaptive cruise control, an automated parking system, lane keeping assist with mitigation, and a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking. The Rear Seat package (Reserve and Black Label) includes a 40/20/40-split rear seat with reclining, heated and ventilated outboard seats with four-way power lumbar adjustment, inflatable rear outboard seat belts, a panoramic sunroof and rear-side sunshades. The Reserve's Luxury package includes the LED headlights and Revel sound system.
Some features are available as individual options depending on trim, including 20-inch wheels, the sunroof, the Revel sound system and 30-way-adjustable seats with a massaging function.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Lincoln Continental.
5 star(75%)
4 star(8%)
3 star(9%)
2 star(5%)
1 star(3%)
59 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
The continental is so nice, I bought one.
DC, 11/08/2016
2017 Lincoln Continental Reserve 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 6A)
UPDATE: May 8, 2018. I still love the car and it continues to be trouble free. By far the most comfortable car for long drives. Powerful, excellent fuel economy (24.8 mixed driving. I could get better mileage, but the engine is fun to rev.). The car is fast, quiet, extremely comfortable and fun to drive. I highly recommend driving one before you buy any other luxury car. I bet you … will be impressed. Over my lifetime I have owned many more expensive German cars but this is the nicest car I have owned to date.
UPDATE: November 8, 2017. The car continues to be flawless. I enjoy driving it and it continues to be a luxurious, comfortable, capable and quiet ride. The gas mileage continues to get better, despite my tendency to enjoy the feel the torque of the turbocharged engine on acceleration. I would change nothing on the car. If I did not own this one, I would go out and buy one today. The nicest car I have ever owned. I have not been back to the dealership for any issues. I soon will go to the dealer and receive my free oil change service.
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I continue to marvel at the comfort, quietness and performance of this car. It is so comfortable, smooth and quiet that now my other four cars seem noisy and rough. I just love the perfect position seats. I had been looking for a luxury sedan for about a year. I test drove almost every model of every luxury brand and finally decided on the Lincoln Continental. I bought the Reserve model with the 2.7 liter twin turbo engine (380 lbs. of torque) and the perfect position seats (Extra cost, but worth every penny). The Continental is a really high quality, fast, quiet and comfortable car. It is perfect for long trips, where you can enjoy the extremely quiet cabin and amazingly comfortable seats. I tried every seat on the market and the heated and cooled Lincoln Continental Perfect Position seats are the best available anywhere.
I have owned seven Mercedes S- class, several Cadillacs and Lincolns. This Continental is by far the nicest of them all. The quality of the leather and wood is outstanding as is the fit and finish of the entire car. The safety and convenience features of the car are wonderful. Lincoln has invested a lot of time and money to design the new Continental and it shows. Lincoln also has put a lot of money into their dealerships and I was pleased with how helpful the dealership and sales staff were. I spent a lot of time driving every model to find the one I liked best and they were most accommodating.
I like the fact the Continental has six year power train warranty and a four year, 50,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. When the car needs an oil change or service, the dealer will pick up the car at my home, perform the service, wash the car and return it to my home. There is no fee for this service. The car also comes with lifetime roadside assistance. If needed, Lincoln will provide a loaner car.
This gives me assurance Lincoln has confidence in this vehicle and backs it with a very good warranty.
There is one more thing I like about my Continental. It is built in the USA by American workers. If you are looking for a really nice, comfortable and well made luxury car, you should try the Lincoln Continental.
5 out of 5 stars
Amazing beautiful car!
BJR, 02/12/2017
2017 Lincoln Continental Reserve 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 6A)
Currently have less than 1,000 miles on the car and couldn't be happier with it. Initially got lousy gas mileage the first week but the dealer assured me it would get better and was stunned to get 32.6 mpg driving down I95. Usually runs about 20 to 24 mpg around town which I am pleased with. The car is extremely comfortable riding and people fight over who will sit in the front seat to … get massaged. Still trying to figure out all the gadgets and functions. Love that people stop and walk around the car and always comment on it. I have the white gold color and it is stunning. Did 6 months of research on about 10 different cars, luxury, sporty, muscle cars, etc. and am very pleased with our choice.
Update: I have now had the Lincoln Continental for 8 months and have almost 6,000 miles on it. I love, love, love this car! It is so comfortable, responsive and luxurious. There are no adverse comments that I can think of and I continue to have people fight over who will sit in the front seat to be spoiled by the massaging seats! Still getting great gas mileage, 32-36 mpg on the highway and 24-28 around town. It is very difficult to sit in a regular car after being in this one.
I recently used a valet service for 5 days and every day who ever was parking the car commented on what a beautiful car and how they hadn't seen anything like it. My 4 grandchildren ages 6-10 always want to show their friends the car and they all have said they want to get a car like this when they are older.
4 out of 5 stars
Surpising Improvement
JRBoca, 12/22/2016
2017 Lincoln Continental Reserve 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 6A)
My fourth Lincoln in the past 10 years and first impressions are very positive albeit limited miles on the car so far. Of the two MKX's and the MKZ hybrid I owned prior to this car, the new Continental is a winner. The fit and finish inside and out are of the level of a higher priced vehicle. I also own a 2015 SL 550 which I used as a benchmark. I've got the 2.7L which I find to be … quick and smooth for it's size and a little noisy on takeoff. The updated Sync 3 system is solid compared to the previous ones I've owned. All still much better than what I've got in my MB. I've got the perfect position seats and they're pretty perfect. These seats make this car and a must if you're considering buying one. I got the standard radio which is disappointing for the overall price of the car. I'll switch out the speakers with better aftermarket as a workaround. I would have bought the Revel radio if they had one. After I log a few thousand more miles, I'll update this review.
Here's my update on the car. Still love this car and its overall performance. My only issue today is the entry/exit mode where the steering wheel move up and away works sometimes and other times not and the dealer can't fix it. Just had an airbag recall that was easily fixed. The pick-up and delivery services works well and a nice feature. Gas mileage is excellent for a big powerful car. It still has the showroom look, feel and smell. I've done a couple of 4 hour plus trips and the comfort is the best I've experienced. One of my Mercedes friends and I had a trip and he was impressed.
Updat - had the car a year and still impressed. My only issue is the in/out feature as is works sometimes and not others and the dealer can’t seem to fix it. This is more of a aggravation than anything else.
5 out of 5 stars
Had BMW 7 and Lexus LS
Mark, 03/15/2017
2017 Lincoln Continental Reserve 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 6A)
After owning a BMW & and several Lexus LS's I found those care to be very good, however I thought for the dollars spent the Lincoln was a great value for the money. I am very bid on how a car rides. And have found the Lincoln to ride very well, and the interior very quiet. Bluetooth, and technology works great, and the electric doors are very nice. Definitely best seating in any car I … have owned, I have the upgraded seating. Not like a foreign car, this car is very American. I am not a bid fan of the sporty rides, and since I do not need a car that does 150 MPH, this is a pure luxury car and a better value for the money.
2017 Lincoln Continental videos
[MUSIC PLAYING] SPEAKER 1: Here's a very important car for Lincoln, the return of its flagship brand, the Continental. This is a 2017 model, just introduced at the Detroit Auto Show. And first off, we can be pretty impressed that Lincoln kept the production car as close as possible to the concept, especially when it comes down to these headlights right here and some of the character lines going across the back. It gives this large, luxury sedan, which is the premium car for Lincoln, the top line. These sort of rear drive proportions, and shape, and body style even though it is a front drive or all wheel drive car, depending on how you option it.
A couple of Interesting details on the exterior, like these door handles, for example. We're going to show you later when we hop inside, but they keep the shape of the door clean. They don't muddy it up with a door handle but you can still access them up here.
Engines. The first one introduced so far is a three liter, twin turbo V6. Ford says, or Lincoln says, sorry. Lincoln says it will do 400 horsepower, 400 pound feet of torque. That's estimated so far with 93 octane. We'll see, probably, some other engines join that line up, as well. Probably a smaller displacement twin turbo V6 and probably naturally aspirated V6, as well. Although we are sure we won't see any EcoBoost branding on any of them because this is Lincoln now and different and special.
The way the car looks is very nice, but the interior has also got to be pretty special, as well. So we'll take a look at that next.
Here we are inside the brand new Lincoln Continental, the 2017 model. The interior has to make the right appearances for a luxury car, and this one is doing a pretty good job with it, especially with the seat. these seats are pretty cool, especially in a luxury car. You're talking about 30 way adjustable standard seats that do a great job of feeling comfortable. You can look at the padding on the sea back right there and how it can adjust heating, cooling, and massage in these seats, and they feel terrific judged by how I feel in the driver's seat right now.
Nice grains on the dash, nice leather, beautiful layout. Although, some of the chrome and the reflective bits might be a little distracting.
Of course there's no key in the car right now so we can't show you the digital display or the infotainment system, but we can say that the interior feels very comfortable, is nice to look at, and nice to touch, as well.
Storage areas and compartments are down below here. Let's see if we can get that open. You're looking at two USB ports and a 12 volt power adapter, and decent space right there. Two cup holders and a tray for your keys, or your garage remotes, or your phones, and whatnot. In here, inside the armrest, you have more storage space, other power outlet right here, which is very handy. And of course you have a massive, massive sunroof, which is really nice, a nice thing to have in a luxury car.
Let's hop in and take a look at the back seat.
And you can see the layout looks pretty good and materials look pretty good, too. Although, that reflective chrome trim around everything might be distracting to some. Storage in the back is also very good with rear vents and another tray down here. Let's see if we can get the camera down. With two more USB outlets and a three prong plug receptacle right there, which is very nice. You have in the center armrest here, this is an armrest, more controls for stereo, for air conditioning, and so on and so forth. We'll flip that up and can reveal that this is a five seat car with the middle seat right there. Let's flip this back down.
Seat space is very plus. This is much longer than the platform that it came from Ford. And that benefits the interior by getting lots of Leg room. I can stretch my legs up quite a bit and my head is definitely far away from the roof. The interior back here is just as nice as the front, and the seats are pretty comfortable, too. Although, I do kind of miss sitting in the driver's seat right now.
To find out more about the 2017 Lincoln Continental, be sure to visit edmunds.com.
2017 Lincoln Continental Walkaround Review | Detroit Auto Show
Edmunds Road Test Editor Carlos Lago takes you on a walk around the all-new 2017 Lincoln Continental flagship sedan at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. He goes over specs, design, the interior and more.
2017 Continental Highlights
Premiere
Base MSRP | $44,720 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 20 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $185/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Continental models:
- Front and Rear Park Assist
- Sounds an alert if an object is detected in close proximity to the front or rear bumper.
- Active Park Assist
- Sensors can detect an open parallel or perpendicular parking space and automatically guide the Continental into it.
- Pre-Collision Assist
- Automatically applies the brakes if a forward collision with a vehicle or pedestrian is deemed imminent.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover10.6%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
People who viewed this also viewed
4.4 average Rating out of 9 reviews. |
Starting at $36,750 |
5.0 average Rating out of 2 reviews. |
Starting at $58,995 |
3.6 average Rating out of 17 reviews. |
Starting at $24,475 |
Related Used 2017 Lincoln Continental info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Lexus Es 300H 2021 Review
- Lexus GS F 2020 Review
- Lexus GS 350 2020 Review
- Lexus Es 350 2020 Review
- Lexus Es 350 2021 Review
Shop similar models
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Lincoln Continental 2017
- Used Lincoln Continental 2018
- Used Lincoln Continental 2020
- Used Lincoln Continental 2019
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2023 S60
- 2023 S5
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage
- Nissan Kicks 2023
- Land Rover Discovery 2024
- 2023 Porsche Panamera
- 2022 Porsche Cayenne
- 2023 Audi A5
- 2022 MINI Hardtop 2 Door
Research recent models from same make
- 2023 Aviator
- Lincoln Aviator
- 2022 Aviator
- Lincoln Navigator
- 2022Lincoln Corsair
- Used Lincoln Nautilus
- 2023 Navigator
- 2022 Navigator
- 2023 Corsair
- 2022 Aviator
Research similar vehicles
- Kia K5 GT
- Kia Stinger
- Tesla S SUV
- Toyota Camry
- BMW 3M
- Porsche 911 2024
- Chrysler300
- Hyundai Elantra
- Porsche Tay Can
- Infiniti Q50 Cars For Sale
Other models
- Used Cadillac Seville in Dublin, GA
- Used Ford F-250 in Taylor, MI
- New Audi S5 for Sale in Baltimore, MD
- Used Mclaren 650S-Coupe in Marion, IL
- New Audi S5 for Sale in Westport, CT
- Used BMW 7-Series in Albany, GA
- Used BMW 2-Series-Gran-Coupe in East Northport, NY
- Used Lexus NX-300 in La Puente, CA
- Used Rolls-Royce Phantom-Coupe in Playa Vista, CA
- Used Dodge Magnum in La Jolla, CA