Can a premium car be underrated and yet far from best-in-class at the same time? Apparently it can, especially if you end up spending too much on the wrong spec.
According to reviewer Doug DeMuro, the 2018 Lincoln Continental is a solid offering in the luxury sedan segment, as long as you buy the right version and don’t overspend, which would be easy to do if you swing big with the $69,630 Black Label model.
It might be better to just opt for either the Select or the Reserve specs, which cost upwards of $49,370 and $54,785 respectively. Both of these price tags are considerably lower than those of the entry-level Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8 or the BMW 7-Series, all costing over $80,000. Even the Lexus LS starts off from $75,200.
It terms of value, it’s probably best to compare the Continental with the likes of the Cadillac CT6, Genesis G90 or the Kia K900, as DeMuro thinks they’re all quite similar as far as features, comfort and overall quality.
He did take some points away from the Lincoln for the absence of a V8 power unit. In fact, the most potent engine you can have is a twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, putting down 400 HP and 400 lb-ft (542 Nm) of torque. While performance isn’t necessarily bad, the Continental can’t really keep up with its German rivals, especially anything with an M or an AMG moniker.
Overall, though, the 2018 Continental is a solid choice for anyone looking for a luxury saloon at a reasonable price. According to a report from earlier this year, the automaker is committed to both the Continental as well as the MKZ, which means that you don’t have to worry about Lincoln sedans going extinct anytime soon, despite people buying more crossovers.