2010 Lincoln Town Car - Review

The Basics:

The 2010 Lincoln Town Car is large, luxurious in its own way, and a throwback to the old days of car design and construction. Accordingly, don't expect any fresh styling cues or complete redesigns from the 2010 model-if you've seen a Town Car in the past five years or so, you know what to expect. It's old-fashioned inside and out, eschewing modern luxury looks for old-school standards and materials.

With a 4.6-liter V-8 engine under the hood, you'd be forgiven for expecting some oomph. Unfortunately, the anemic 239-horsepower output fails to deliver, though it does get decent fuel efficiency at 16 mpg city and 24 mpg highway despite its four-speed transmission and mammoth size.

Driving the 2010 Lincoln Town Car is a soft and forgiving experience, but don't expect it to handle quick direction changes or anything more than a sedate pace with aplomb. It's a true throwback to earlier times, and it shows in the handling department, where basically any modern sedan will outmatch it.

With a body on top of a frame as opposed to modern unibody construction, the Town Car is known for its pillowy ride, big V-8 engine, and capacious seats and cabin-perfect for its common duties in taxi and rental car fleets everywhere. Curiously for such a ride-centric vehicle, the seats, though large, aren't particularly supportive or comfortable. There's plenty of space in the trunk to haul your luggage to or from the airport.

There are a few concessions to (relatively) modern technology, however, in the form of standard safety gear like four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, front and front side airbags, and traction control. Thanks in part to its size and its safety equipment, the 2010 Lincoln Town Car rates five stars with NHTSA and rates a top mark of "good" from the IIHS.

The 2010 Lincoln Town Car is available in two trim levels: Signature Limited and the Signature L, which features a wheelbase that's six inches longer than that of the Signature Limited. With the Town Car's legendarily soft ride, relaxed handling, and roomy interior, there's plenty of comfort to be had for up to six adults. Despite these strengths, however, its age is catching up with it and is expected to exit retail sale after the 2010 model year.

Standard wheels are 17-inch alloy units, though 18-inch wheels are available. Other options include a power moonroof, high-intensity-discharge headlamps, a CD changer, and a navigation system that incorporates a THX-certified audio array and satellite radio compatibility.