2019 Lincoln Continental Review

Name: 2019 Lincoln Continental Review
Brand: Lincoln

Price Range: $25,998 - $29,590

Lincoln Continental Black Label Sedan Exterior

Lincoln Continental Reserve Sedan Exterior. Options Shown.

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byJason Kavanagh^{Senior Vehicle Test Engineer
Jason joined Edmunds' testing team in 2006 as a vehicle testing engineer. Jason believes true appreciation of modern cars stems from owning really, really bad old ones.}

Pros

Exceptional rear-seat legroom
Strong optional V6 engine with capable AWD system
Cabin stays quiet at highway speeds

Cons

Interior and build quality are a bit inferior to other luxury rivals
Value factor is lacking
Occasional rough and disruptive shifts from the automatic transmission

What's new

Minor adjustments to features availability
Part of the 10th Continental generation introduced in 2017

If ever there was an evocative American luxury automaker nameplate, the Lincoln Continental is it. It's been around since the late 1930s, with some breaks in production along the way. Early on, it was a prestigious luxury car that reflected European styling sensibilities and it was among the last American cars available with a V12 engine.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Lincoln Continental 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 $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$174/mo

$187/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

The Continental name lost some of its luster in the meantime, with a succession of models that didn't resonate the way Continentals up through the 1960s did. In creating the current-generation Continental that debuted in 2017, Lincoln aimed to capitalize on the memory of its halcyon days.

Today's 2019 Continental shares its fundamental platform with the Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion, albeit with a longer wheelbase. It's handsome and roomy, especially in the back seat. Lincoln packs it with features, including optional 30-way-adjustable front seats and an available turbocharged V6 thumping out 400 horsepower.

However, the Continental suffers from its positioning in the marketplace. Lower trims have an uninspiring engine and can't match the feature content of loaded-up sedans from non-luxury manufacturers, such as the Honda Accord. Meanwhile, costly higher trims of the Continental don't fare well against the formidable competition from true luxury brands.

While the 2019 Continental is quiet and plush, its indifferent steering and handling are in marked contrast to buttoned-down European sedans. Likewise, its cabin design is a mindless rehash of past glories that look and function awkwardly. Overall, there are better choices for a midsize luxury sedan.

What's it like to live with?

The Edmunds editorial team purchased and lived with a 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 and build quality. Note that while we tested a 2017 model, our observations still fully apply to the 2019 Continental as well. To learn more, check out our long-term Continental test for all the details, good and bad.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

7.0 / 10

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Lincoln Continental Reserve (turbo 3.0L 6-cyl. | 6-speed automatic | AWD).

Scorecard

Overall	7.0 / 10
Driving	7.5
Comfort	7.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.5
Technology	7.5

Driving

7.5

The Continental can be a competent performer, but it varies depending on the trim level and configuration. The Reserve — fitted with the optional turbo V6, AWD and adaptive suspension — offers strong acceleration and stable if numb handling. Other Continentals will be less impressive.

Acceleration

7.5

In typical driving, the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 feels confident and authoritative and sounds strong. It's aggressive off the line and through the midrange but runs out of grunt and shifts early at 6,000 rpm. Our measured 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds is quick, though average for the class.

Braking

8.0

These are strong brakes, hauling the 4,600-plus-pound sedan from 60 mph to a stop in just 111 feet in our testing. The pedal is firm, and the braking force is easy to modulate, instilling a lot of driver confidence. When ABS does engage, though, it sounds unpleasantly coarse and loud in the cabin.

Steering

6.5

The steering is well-weighted but doesn't offer feedback, so it's hard to tell when the front tires have approached their grip limits. The variable ratio, while neat in theory, lacks consistency. The Continental is a competent handler, but the steering makes it harder to trust.

Handling

7.0

The Continental is respectably stable and composed during spirited driving. The advance AWD system enhances the car's handling in the way it distributes power and puts it to the ground. The car is prone to significant understeer but recovers from it quickly and without fuss.

Drivability

6.5

This car is generally easy to drive. The variable-ratio steering adjusts to be quick and light in parking lots. The transmission is mostly smooth, if a little slushy, but it occasionally shifts with a palpable, disruptive clunk at low speeds. Paddle shifting isn't as quick or direct as in rivals.

Comfort

7.5

You get highly adjustable seats, an adaptive suspension and heated-and-cooled everything, but somehow the Continental comes up lacking. Seat adjustment is unnecessarily complex, and the suspension tuning isn't as refined as we'd like. There's certainly comfort to be had, but at the price competitors offer more.

Seat comfort

7.5

The optional multi-contour front seats are interesting, if not over complex and gimmicky. With some fiddling, it's possible to find a comfortable position, and the seats offer heating, cooling and massage. The rear seats are nicely contoured and have enough thigh support for tall passengers.

Ride comfort

7.0

The adaptive suspension offers several modes. While Comfort mode is a bit bouncy and floaty, it does ease larger road imperfections. Sport or Comfort, though, you can feel the high-frequency chatter of the suspension working on uneven pavement. It's not as refined as similarly priced competitors.

Noise & vibration

8.0

The Continental is mostly quiet, although there's some wind noise on the freeway. Road noise and vibration from uneven pavement, especially at higher speeds, is noticeable in the cabin. The V6 is almost silent during normal driving.

Climate control

8.5

Our test car had the heated and ventilated front seats, plus a heated steering wheel; they're effective. The dual-zone climate control's auto mode still has an independently adjustable airflow output, which is a nice touch. The rear seating also has auto climate controls plus strong-blowing air vents.

Interior

8.0

The interior layout is easy to use, although the steering wheel controls are a little complex and the infotainment relies on on-screen buttons. There's a lot of room, especially in the rear and the leather upholstery feels upscale, but materials quality is otherwise a bit lacking.

Ease of use

6.5

We like the button layout for the audio and climate controls, and the power trunklid and soft-close doors are nice. But the interior door release buttons are out of place, and the steering-wheel controls are fiddly and distracting. The exterior door lock touch-swipe pad doesn't work very well.

Getting in/getting out

7.0

The door openings are sufficiently generous, but stepover is a bit higher and wider than some sedans. The long doors can hinder entry and exit in smaller parking spaces. Backseat passengers, in particular, will have difficulty without plenty of room to swing their door wide.

Driving position

8.0

The Continental bucks the low seating position favored by many luxury brands in favor of a more upright position that, while comfortable, makes the front feel less roomy. The variety of adjustments for both seat and steering wheel mean that most drivers will be able to find a comfortable position.

Roominess

8.0

There's plenty of room, although the cabin design makes the front feel a little tighter than it is. The excess of rear legroom and toe room is a big selling point, rivaling space in much larger luxury sedans. Rear headroom is average and lacking for tall adults, particularly in the center seat.

Visibility

8.5

Visibility is good all around, with a clear view of the road ahead and no major obstructions. The sloping rear deck means rear visibility is quite good. While the side mirrors are somewhat small, the well-integrated and easy-to-see blind-spot monitoring warning lights help make up for them.

Quality

6.0

On the expensive trim levels, the abundance of plastics is a bit of a disappointment, although many are soft-touch, textured or chrome-finished, and the Continental's leather is nice. The bigger build quality issue is the uneven fit of body panels noticeable around the car.

Utility

7.5

The trunk is somewhat low and smaller than average. And while there are a lot of clever little cubbies around the cabin, they're almost all a bit on the small side. As much as you can carry five people, you might not be able to fit all their luggage.

Small-item storage

7.5

There are plenty of storage options available in the cabin. But aside from the generously sized center console box, they can be somewhat small. The cellphone cubby won't hold a big phone, and the glovebox is quite small. Still, this is an area a lot of luxury cars lag in, and the Lincoln shows well.

Cargo space

6.5

The Continental's trunk has a respectable 16.7-cubic-foot capacity. It's deep and wide but not very tall. Some bulky objects simply won't fit. Liftover height is pleasantly low.

Child safety seat accommodation

9.0

LATCH points are clearly marked and easy to access under a nicely integrated leather pad that's held down with magnetic clasps. The extensive rear legroom translates into plenty of space for car seats.

Technology

7.5

The Continental uses some of the best of what parent company, Ford, has to offer. While the infotainment and driver aids are very competitive in Ford's market, they're less so in a car priced against luxury offerings that are currently pushing the technology envelope.

Audio & navigation

7.5

The optional stereo produces accurate sound, though it can get harsh when turned up. The navigation system is easy to use but feels more primitive than competitors at our tester's price.

Smartphone integration

8.5

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are included as standard. There are plenty of USB ports for both the front and rear. The front USB location ends up being a mess of cords if you're plugging in multiple devices, however.

Driver aids

7.0

We appreciate the full set of driver aids, and the adaptive cruise control works in stop-and-go traffic. However, the autonomous functions aren't as advanced as luxury rivals'. The collision warning sounds unnecessarily early, with a panic-inducing alarm.

Voice control

8.0

The native Sync system makes an admirable attempt at understanding you and puts prompts on screen as well as offering spoken guidance when it can't. Not all commands are made clear, though: Temperature can be adjusted by voice, but there's no prompt on screen to tell you that.

2019 Lincoln Continental models

The 2019 Lincoln Continental is available in four trim levels. The base trim shares some luxuries and features with its more expensive brethren but has a limited options list. The Select is only a modest upgrade but has access to a decent options list. The Reserve trim is more generously equipped with luxury features. The range-topping Black Label comes with unique, upscale interior options and membership in Lincoln's lifestyle service program.

Three engines are available for the Continental. The base engine is a 3.7-liter V6 (305 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque), which comes standard on base and Select trims. A turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 (335 hp, 380 lb-ft of torque) is standard on the Reserve and Black Label trims. Both engines are paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and can be had with either front- or all-wheel drive.

The third engine option is a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 (400 hp, 400 lb-ft) that's optional on the Reserve and Black Label trims. To manage this engine's power, Lincoln bundles it with a torque-vectoring AWD system. This engine also uses a six-speed automatic transmission.

Beyond the 3.7-liter V6, the base trim receives 18-inch wheels, xenon headlights, power-folding side mirrors (driver-side auto dimming), front and rear parking sensors, an adaptive suspension and keyless entry.

Inside, you get dual-zone climate control with a rear-seat air vents, power-adjustable front seats with heating, and simulated-leather upholstery. Infotainment duties are handled by Ford's Sync 3 system, which comes with an 8-inch touchscreen interface, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, satellite radio, two USB ports and a 10-speaker sound system. All Continentals now come with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring and lane keeping assist as well.

Moving up to the Select trim adds 19-inch wheels, power-operated soft-close doors, a hands-free trunklid opener, navigation, leather upholstery and rear-seat USB ports.

The Reserve trim, in addition to the turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, gets heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a surround-view parking camera system, an automated parking system, a head-up display, a panoramic moonroof and a 13-speaker Revel audio system. It also upgrades to 24-way power-adjustable front seats that are heated and ventilated, three-zone automatic climate control with separate rear-seat controls, and a power rear window sunshade.

At the top of the range, and nearly doubling the base's starting price, is the Continental Black Label. This trim comes standard with 20-inch wheels, 30-way-adjustable seats and unique interior materials and colors. A Rear Seat package with power-adjustable seats is available as an option.

Buying a Black Label car also gets the buyer access to Lincoln's lifestyle and concierge service. Lincoln will wash your car for free, pick it up from you for service, and book reservations for you (and even buy you dinner), among other services. Black Label Continentals are also covered by a four-year/50,000-mile maintenance plan that covers services and wear items.

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Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

4/5Excellent

#3 out of 48 among Luxury Fullsize Cars

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

^{The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of the Lincoln Continental from 2008-2022.}

$617/yr

vs. $729/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Frequency

^{The average number of times this model is brought into the shop for unscheduled repairs and maintenance in a single year. RepairPal calculates this metric by tracking millions of unique vehicles over multiple years to determine an average number of visits per year (omitting small routine visits, e.g., oil changes).}

0.36x/yr

vs. 1.74x/yr
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

Severity

^{The probability that a repair will be a major issue, meaning the repair costs 3x the average annual repair cost for all models. This threshold will be higher for vehicles that have higher labor rates and parts costs (such as a premium brand).}

9.7%

vs. 14.7%
for Average Luxury Fullsize Car

powered by RepairPal ^{Based on RepairPal reliability data as of 8/23/2023. Ratings are provided by RepairPal and Edmunds is not responsible for their accuracy.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Lincoln Continental.

5 (66%)

4 (6%)

3 (17%)

2 (8%)

1 (3%)

4.2

29 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

Last Time

Last Time, 06/10/2018

2018 Lincoln Continental Reserve 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 6A)

I am very impressed with the overall performance of this vehicle. The 2.7L 6-cyl engine turbo 6A has a lot of kick to it. I have not experienced any delay or hesitation in acceleration when stepping on the gas pedal like the Lincoln 2015 MKX I owned . Very responsive and the handling is what I expected from a luxury vehicle. Very roomy, quiet, and I love the 30-way seats, especially …

You have to love it to own it...

Capti, 08/31/2020

2018 Lincoln Continental Black Label 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 6A)

It’s easier to identify Continental by what it isn’t rather than what it is. While it’s bigger then an Audi A6 or a BMW 5 Series it isn’t a true Mercedes S Class or BMW 7 Series competitor. While the 400 HP Turbo 6 packs enough punch to leave most cars behind - you’d be silly to toss it around corners like a Beemer or even a Cadillac. What it is - is a dignified domestic Luxury car …

Much more car for the $$$

BG , 08/31/2019

2018 Lincoln Continental Reserve 4dr Sedan (2.7L 6cyl Turbo 6A)

I would like to thank all of the pretentious Euro sedan fans and critiques who thumb their noses at American luxury vehicles. Thanks to you, I was able to purchase a new Continental Reserve loaded up with all the features for less than 50k all in and out the door! I love my new Conti which had a sticker of >70k. The 30 way seats and massage are super comfy, the 19 speaker revel …

World Class Presence, Luxury and Performance!

Jesse, 12/06/2019

2019 Lincoln Continental Select 4dr Sedan (3.7L 6cyl 6A)

The 2019 Lincoln Continental delivers world class presence, luxury and performance! I am pleased and impressed with the iconic Lincoln Continental, elegant, graceful and understatedly top of this high-end car market segment. I wanted a car that would create comfort and enjoyment for my family. This fabulous car has an interior that nutures care, comfort and welcome. My Mom said, wow you …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2019 Lincoln Continental, so we've included reviews for other years of the Continental since its last redesign.

See all 29 reviews of the Lincoln Continental

Write a vehicle review

2019 Continental Highlights

Trim:

Base

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$46,145
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	20 MPG
Cost to Drive	$174/month
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Continental models:

Pre-Collision Assist: Alerts the driver of the need to apply the brakes to avoid a forward collision and automatically brakes if the driver takes no action.
Lane Keeping System: Warns the driver when the car drifts out of its lane and can apply steering input to keep the car in its lane.
Blind-Spot Information System

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.6%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Good
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Good
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Good

2019 Lincoln Continental Review

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Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Lincoln Continental 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 $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

What's it like to live with?

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which Continental does Edmunds recommend?

2019 Lincoln Continental models

Reliability Ratings by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Most helpful consumer reviews

Last Time

You have to love it to own it...

Much more car for the $$$

World Class Presence, Luxury and Performance!

2019 Continental Highlights

Safety

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Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Lincoln Continental 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 $2.93 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}