Used 2020 Lincoln Continental

#10 in Best Midsize Luxury Cars of 2020

The Lincoln Continental is the flagship sedan from Ford’s luxury division. The iconic Continental name was reborn three years ago when this all-new generation debuted. As with the Continentals our fathers and grandfathers drove, this new one is big, plush and can’t help but make a statement. Complementing this old-school appeal are the latest technologies, safety features and amenities.

The Continental also appeals with its price, especially in base form. Starting just over $46,000, the 2020 Lincoln Continental is a lot of metal for the money when compared to European luxury sedans like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. But prices escalate and its value statement wanes as you climb trims, despite offerings of more powerful V6 engines, all-wheel drive and Lincoln’s excessive 30-way-adjustable front seats. For 2020, the extravagant, $115,000-plus 80th-anniversary Coach Door edition also returns. Then there’s the cachet factor. The Continental certainly has fans who appreciate its history. But overall, the Lincoln lacks the prestige of European brands, a trait that isn’t exactly helped by the Continental’s use as a chauffeur’s car.

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The Lincoln Continental is not a sporty sedan, but it can be quick. Any of the three available engines do an admirable job ushering this big Lincoln sedan up to freeway speeds, but it’s the twin-turbo V6 powerplants in the higher trims that get the job done best. Naturally, there are selectable driving modes, one of which is Sport (perking up throttle response, transmission shift points and suspension damping), but it can’t raise the Continental to the same engagement level as a BMW or Audi.

As long as a driver gets into this car knowing there won’t be much driving feel or information coming up to the hands or seat of the pants, but rather hushed comfort, then the Continental’s talents and the user’s expectations will be more in harmony. If you do opt for the more powerful 2.7-liter turbo engine, we recommend also getting all-wheel drive, lest you deal with torque steer. Wisely, Lincoln made all-wheel drive standard with the top-spec, 400-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6.

All engines are connected to a 6-speed automatic transmission that, while not fresh, remains adequately smooth. No matter which engine you choose, the Continental’s best trait is a comfortable, quiet ride for both driver and passengers.

There are a couple of big reasons Continentals are among the preferred vehicles for livery drivers: roominess and comfort. Rear-seat legroom is a limo-like 41.3 inches, allowing taller passengers to spread out. Regarding comfort, it wouldn’t be a Continental without that trait. The seats are plush, and the front seats come in three forms: 10-way, 24-way or an over-the-top 30-way version with massaging functionality. The 30-way seats are headline-grabbing for sure, but ironically some of our editors had a more difficult time getting comfortable, as there were too many adjustments. In this regard, the standard 10-way or up-level 24-way is better.

Controls are relatively easy to see and use, though some of the switches are small and you’ll need to focus on targeting the right button. Speaking of pressing buttons, it’s how you put the Continental into Drive, Park, Reverse and Neutral. We’re still not big fans of this method, despite it making the cabin more spacious and flush.

The Continental is big, stretching 201.4 inches — over 16.75 feet — in length. But it’s a shapely design, and we appreciate its hunkered-down profile. Helping the sleekness factor are door handles that, instead of pulling out, use what Lincoln calls a “light touch.” Simply touch a small button on the inside of the handle and it electronically unlatches. When exiting, it will automatically assist thanks to power-operated soft-close doors. That’s a nice touch.

Up front, the big chrome grille makes a statement without being ostentatious. A twin-panel moonroof is optional on base models and standard on higher trims, as is a hands-free power-operated trunk. Wheels range in size from 18 to 20 inches.

VALUE STATEMENT
Whether you are a ride-share driver specializing in high-end (and higher-paying) gigs or just an executive seeking a sanctuary on wheels, a base 2020 Continental is a lot of car for the money. Lincoln’s Continental has a spacious interior and an appealing, premium exterior design that belies its price.

80th-ANNIVERSARY COACH DOOR EDITION
On the opposite end of the spectrum is this limited edition, which we could call “Go big or go home.” As with last year’s edition that was limited to 80 models, this exclusive Continental boasts a longer length and trademark coach or “suicide” doors of yore.

The new Lincoln Continental comes in three main trims: Standard, Reserve and Black Label. A Standard, base model is a nicely equipped car and a good value. It includes 10-way-power front seats with heat, dual-zone climate control with rear air vents, faux-leather upholstery and wood interior trim, power-operated soft-close doors, power-folding mirrors, rain-sensing windshield wipers and universal garage remote.

Also impressive is the standard roster of safety and driver-assist aids called Lincoln Co-Pilot360 that include blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision alert with automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go. Finally, the standard infotainment system bundles an 8-inch capacitive touch screen, 10-speaker audio and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility.

You can add features like leather upholstery, a fine-sounding Revel audio system, heated rear seats and heated steering wheel to a base Lincoln Continental and still stay around the $50,000, which maintains the Continental’s value statement. Stepping up to the Continental Reserve adds a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, tri-zone climate control, head-up display, 360-degree camera, active parking assist that helps slot this big sedan into parallel spaces, 24-way-power front seats with heat and ventilation, leather interior, and heated rear seats.

The top-line Continental Black Label includes everything in the Reserve, plus a 19-speaker Revel audio system, 30-way-adjustable front seats with massage function, and Venetian leather. The two higher trims can also be had with the 400-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 that comes with all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is also optional with the other two engines.

Further upgrades include ventilated rear seats and, on Black Labels trims, themes such as “Rhapsody” and “Chalet.” Black Label models also include perks like complimentary car washes, vehicle pickup and drop-off services, a premium maintenance plan and more.

The Lincoln Continental sedan offers a choice of three V6 engines. The base unit is a naturally aspirated (not turbocharged or supercharged) 3.7-liter making 305 horsepower. The middle-spec engine is a turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 developing 355 horsepower. At the top, a twin-turbo 3.0-liter makes a strong 400 horsepower.

Note the base Continental is only available with the 3.7-liter V6, while the two higher trims come standard with the 2.7 or can be optioned with the 3.0. The sole transmission for all the available engine is a perfectly suitable 6-speed automatic.

Front-wheel drive (FWD) is the default setup for 3.7-liter and 2.7-liter engines, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. AWD comes standard with the top-spec 3.0-liter engine. From a fuel-economy perspective, all three engines achieve a rough average of 20 mpg and the turbo engines require 93-octane gasoline.

3.7-liter V6
305 horsepower @ 6,500 rpm
280 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/26 mpg (FWD), 16/24 mpg (AWD)

2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6
335 horsepower @ 5,700 rpm
380 lb-ft of torque @ 3,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/27 mpg (FWD), 17/25 mpg (AWD)

3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6
400 horsepower @ 5,750 rpm
400 lb-ft of torque @ 2,750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 16/24 mpg