2020 Lincoln Continental

While the masses are shifting towards the "Foreign" offerings in the segment, the native, Continental, takes the battle to them by matching their standards in terms of luxury and class. Alongside the Lincoln Continental, the competition comprises of its younger sibling, the Lincoln MKZ that is based on the same platform but costs much less, and the German's luxurious brand, BMW 5 Series. Where does the Continental stand? Let's move ahead and find out.

Segregated in 4 different configurations, the Lincoln Continental not only offers an extensive list of features but also sports different configurations under the hood as well. With the front-wheel-drive variant of the base trim, the Continental Premier, priced at $46,145, the top of the line, Black Label, takes things way over $70k. For an extra $2000, you can also opt for the available all-wheel-drive system that can be mated with any trim of your choice. 

In this review, we explore the Premier variant of the Continental with the FWD option that comes with a 3.7L V6 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain churns out 307 horses and 280 pound-feet of torque. This large luxury sedan houses an extensive list of opulent features and with it, a grand table of safety parameters and technology follow as well.

We Recommend

The price gap between the base spec Continental and the top-spec continental is huge. At $46,145, there is no other car in the market that offers features and luxury like the Continental does. So, the base spec, Premier, offers a great proposition to your money and is the variant you should opt for. We would also suggest you go shell out $2000 extra and go for the all-wheel-drive system for better driving dynamics.

“A well-sorted suspension and brisk acceleration make the 2020 Lincoln Continental feel smaller than it actually is.”-thecarconnection

The American manufacturer takes customization to a whole new level by offering three different motors for the Continental sedan. Except for the base trim, Premier, that features a 3.7L, naturally aspirated V6 motor, all other trims come with a 2.7L, twin-turbocharged V6 motor as standard. The former produces a 305 HP of power and 280 lb-ft of torque. The smaller, 2.7L, V6 motor adds 30 more horses to the power figures bumping it up to 335 HP. The torque figures also get a similar treatment and the output increases to 380 lb-ft.

For the top-trims, Reserve and Black Label, Lincoln has also provided an optional motor just in case 330 horses don't quench your thirst for power. Yes, there's another 3.0L, Twin-turbocharged V6 unit, that spits out 400 horses and throws a force of 400 lb-ft on the crank. There is loads of power on tap here, however, you should also realize that with more power, comes low fuel economy. As expected, this motor is the least fuel-efficient of the lot. 

Mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, irrespective of the engine you choose, Lincoln allows the option of sending the power only to the front wheels or to all the four wheels. Power is sent to the ground by the means of a torque vectoring differential. The 3.7L, V6's performance is smooth and feels refined with perfect power delivery when needed, amassing good points for the same. But coming to its automatic gearbox, you’d feel the shifts need polishing and more work as it lets down the experience otherwise given by its engine.

The Continental's V6 motor is overpowered by the Audi and Cadillac. The most powerful is the Genesis G80 due to the advantage of the extra two cylinders as compared to the 6-cylinders in the Audi and Cadillac.

Acceleration

The Continental isn’t really a car you would take to the track. Nevertheless, its performance is quite spectacular for a luxury sedan and that is complemented by the time it takes to reach the 60 MPH mark which is 5.8 seconds. Furthermore, it completes the quarter-mile run in 14 seconds flat.

The more powerful, 3.0L, twin-turbocharged V6 unit does the 0-60MPH run in just 5.0 seconds which is just ballistic for a luxury sedan. However, it isn't very easy to live with because its throttle is snatchy and the power delivery is unpredictable. This could get cumbersome within traffic conditions as you might end up revving the motor hard.

If you're looking for a punch from the motor, then you'll be highly mistaken as the Continental aims to engulf you into luxury and comfort, and it isn't just limited to its extravagant luxury features, but this feeling is also extended beneath the hood as well. The power delivery is linear and is evened across the rev band. However, do not confuse this with sluggish performance as there's enough juice under the hood to make those overtaking maneuvers effortlessly.

Only the Genesis G80 and the Audi A6 are quicker than the Continental but the Lincoln goes head to head with the Cadillac CT6.

Ride and Handling

Lincoln pretty much has a reputation of building cars with soft suspensions that kind of offer floaty and wobbly ride quality. But not with this one. Suspensions have been firmed up quite a bit such that the ride quality has gone somewhat on the harsher side and is something that you would generally not expect from a luxury car. Expect a bump or a two to travel through your spine as you go over bad roads. The ride quality is just OK and could have been better.

The steering on the car is sharp and responsive. The car turns perfectly well and the steering wheel isn’t vague. The car zips past corner nicely and the stiffer suspension set up further enhances the high-speed cornering abilities. The steering is not like a sports car but is easily one of the best when it comes to mid-sized luxury sedans.

Braking

Brakes aren’t just mere devices that help in stopping your car but also protect you from fatal accidents. Moreover, good stopping powers of the car give you the confidence to exploit all the horses that the engine makes. The Lincoln Continental comes with 13.9 inches diameter discs at the front and gets 13.6 inches diameter discs at the rear. Slam on the brakes and the Continental will come to a halt at a distance of 110 feet from a speed of 60 MPH.

Unfortunately, we do not have the braking figures to compare with as of now. However, judging by the weight, the Genesis G80 seems to lose out on this front.

Fuel economy is the least of most people’s concerns who shop for a luxury sedan. But for the very few environment-friendly people out there, we have the facts and the figures with us. The Lincoln Continental can go for 17 MPG of fuel in the city while on the highway it can go for 26 MPG of fuel. It gets a combined fuel economy rating of 20 MPG.

The Cadillac and Lincoln share similar fuel economies where the former has a tad better efficiency. The Volvo and BMW share the podium for the best fuel efficiency ratings in the competition while the Lincoln towards the bottom of the list.

The Volvo S90 and the BMW 530i win this battle hands down. They are the most fuel-economical vehicles of the lot. The Genesis, on the other hand, emerges as the fuel-guzzler with an unimpressive fuel economy of 15 miles to a gallon in the city. 

“The days of Lincolns with outdated interiors full of hard plastics and cheap bits are long over. The cabin of the … Lincoln Continental is modern, stylish and filled with upscale materials and precise fit and finish.” - cars.usnews

Seating and Comfort

The 2020 Lincoln Continental’s cabin is one of the most pristine interiors in the segment. Crafted in leather and other upmarket materials, it almost feels like you are sitting in a car that’s twice the cost of the sticker price of the Continental. There are digital speedometer and tachometer which sit right in front of the driver and it also doubles up as a display for the navigation system.

There is an 8-inch central display which is home to the infotainment system and other car controls and settings. The dashboard is neatly laid out and you will find extensive use of leather, aluminum, and chrome inside the car. The cabin is spacious and once you get in you wouldn’t really want to get out.

You expect a luxury car to be spacious and comfortable and the Lincoln Continental does live up to your expectations. The seats are nicely cushioned hence offering you a better in-ride experience. You also get an optional 24-way adjustable seat package with a massage feature to take your in-ride experience a notch above.

There's no challenging the mighty Lincoln here in this comparison. It is the biggest and the most spacious vehicle of the lot here. The Cadillac CT6 comes quite close to the Lincoln in terms of passenger volume, however, come to the rear and the Continental lunges ahead for the first place again. The Genesis G80 loses to the Cadillac in a similar manner.

Cargo Capacity

The Lincoln Continental is the car of the rich and the elite. If you ever have to go to the golf club, you can throw in your golf kit into the large trunk of the Continental. The Continental has a total cargo volume of 16.7 cubic feet which is pretty decent for a car in this segment and the biggest of the competition.

The foot-activated boot lid opening feature certainly adds more points to its convenience factor. The lid, otherwise, opens high and wide and is further complemented by the large mouth of the trunk. You can slide in the largest of bags with ease in the Continental's trunk. However, being a sedan, you might have to struggle a bit to bend into the trunk in case you need to arrange the luggage in a proper manner.

The Cadillac comes second in the comparison just behind the Lincoln with a capacity of 15.8 cubic feet while the Genesis G80 comes with 15.3. The Audi A6 and the Volvo S90 remain out of question here as they feature the least spacious trunk in the segment.

Infotainment System

The infotainment system of the Lincoln Continental is pretty disappointing. It is the only place where Lincoln has cheaped out. It is the Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment interface and is not at all intuitive. The screen lags and is slow to respond. The brightness levels are low and on a sunny day, the screen tends to glare away. Having said that, some of the key features of the infotainment system are:

• Apple Carplay and Android Auto
• Bluetooth music streaming
• Alexa Voice assist
• Sirius XM 6-month All Access Trial Subscription
• 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
• 13-speaker Revel Audio System

On the flip side, you get all your basic features like a CD player, aux input, HD radio and a couple of USB ports. The plus point of the infotainment system is that you get an optional 19 speaker Revel Ultima sound system which delivers crisp audio quality. We need not mention that it adds more money on top of the MSRP of the vehicle.

Interior Features

The Lincoln Continental has been stuffed with goodies and a few of them have been listed below.

• Tri-zone electronic automatic climate control
• Keyless ignition
• Leather upholstery
• Wood accents on the leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Rear power sunshade
• 24-way power-adjustable front seats with memory functions
• Illuminated front door-sill scuff plates
• Dual Panel Moonroof
• Heated and ventilated front seats

“Going retro can be hit-or-miss, but the 2020 Lincoln Continental is a greatest hits album of old-school cool and modern touches.” -thecarconnection

Dimensions and Weight

The Lincoln Continental is a large luxury sedan. It has got a commanding stance and has an excellent street presence. The proportionate and thoughtfully laid out dimensions of the car give it great looks. The Continental is 201.4 inches long, 75.3 inches wide and is 58.5 inches wide. The car gets a decent ground clearance of 5.5 inches.

The Cadillac is the longest car in the competition at 202 inches while the widest car of the lot is the Lincoln Continental and also the tallest car of the lot at 59.1 inches. The BMW gets the best in class ground clearance of 5.7 inches while the lowest is the A6 by Audi.

Exterior Features

Some of the cool features on the outside of the Lincoln Continental are listed below.

• 18, 19, 20 inch alloy wheels on offer as per the trim levels.
• Adaptive xenon headlights.
• LED running lights and taillights.
• Power folding heated mirrors with integrated blind spot assist.
• Auto-dimming driver mirror.
• Keyless entry.
• Powered tailgate.
• Active grill shutters.

Lincoln understands that important people will be driven around in this car and so the Continental has been equipped with tons of safety features which include –

• Four-wheel disc anti-lock brake system (ABS)
• Driver and front-passenger airbags
• Front seat side airbags
• Driver knee airbag
• Glove-box-door-integrated knee airbag
• Side-curtain airbags
• Belt-Minder
• Child-safety rear door locks
• Emergency trunk release
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children)
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System
• Personal Safety System
• Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (excludes spare)
• Engine-Only Traction control
• Panic brake assist
• Rear view camera

2020 Lincoln Continental vs Lincoln MKZ

Both the Americans are basically similar except of the price, and powertrain. While being a tad smaller than the large sedan of the Continental, the MKZ and its elder sibling share the same philosophy and with the former, at its base offering price, you can basically kit it up nearly every feature with a host of available optional packages and get it to the same price as that of the Continental.

2020 Lincoln Continental vs BMW 5 Series

The American luxury sedan, Lincoln Continental, costs almost a grand less than the opulent cum athletic BMW 5 series. If you had the money, the Beemer is clearly without doubt the better option since it houses plush interior, excellent and spirited driving dynamics alongside a list of many safety and luxurious features. Even its infotainment system scores better than the Continental.

With the Lincoln Continental, you’d find snobbery and sense together. It has a host of great features as well as practicality alongside a good engine performance. For what it’s worth, the sedan sure offers value for your money. However if you have a tight budget, you should consider its younger sibling, the MKZ, where you can bulk it with nearly every feature with optional packages and still have a bit of cash left in your hand. Otherwise, the Continental is still a really worthy car and bang for your buck.

2020 Lincoln Continental Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the 2020 Lincoln Continental AWD?

Yes, the 2020 Continental is available as both, front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive. The latter being slightly more expensive.

What kind of gas does the 2020 Lincoln Continental run on?

Lincoln claims that the 2020 Continental can run on 87-octane fuel without causing any harm to the engine. However, the user manual recommends 91-octane fuel.

Does the 2020 Lincoln Continental feature massage seats?

Yes, but not as standard. In order to get the massage seats, you need to opt for the rear-seat package along with the vehicle that adds $4,300 to the MSRP of the Continental.

Does the 2020 Lincoln Continental come with a warranty?

Yes, the 2020 Continental is backed by a 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty. For more information on this front, please head over to the features tab on top of this page.