DecodedCars2018 Lincoln Continental
Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2018 models.
- Class
- Large Cars
- Body styles
- 4dr Sedan
- Engines
- 2.7L 6-cyl turbo, 3.7L 6-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl turbo
- Horsepower
- 305–400 hp
- Transmission
- 6-speed automatic
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
- Seats
- 5
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
- MPG (best)
- 21 combined · 18 city / 27 hwy
- Length
- 201.6 in
- Curb weight
- 4,224 lb
- NHTSA rating
- ★★★★★
- Recalls
- 2 campaigns
Pros & cons
What's good
- AWD / 4WD available
- 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
Watch out for
No weak spots against similar models in the data.
Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 31 similar 2018 models — not a review. How we calculate this →
Overview
The 2018 Lincoln Continental is a large car offered with 3 engines (2.7L 6-cyl turbo, 3.7L 6-cyl and 3.0L 6-cyl turbo) and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
It measures about 202 inches long and 75 inches wide on a 118-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,224 lb.
EPA rates its most efficient version at 21 MPG combined (18 city / 27 highway), 9% worse than the 2018 large car average of 23.1 MPG, for an estimated $3,200 a year in fuel.
In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.
It has 2 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the electrical system.
What changed for 2018
- Now crash-tested by NHTSA: 5 stars overall
Compared with 2017; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2017 Continental →
Trims, performance & features
Trims
Safety & driver-assist features
Built in: Flat Rock, Michigan
NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2018 Continental configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →
Dimensions & weight
| Body | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Track F / R | Curb weight | Weight F/R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4dr Sedan | 201.6 in | 75.2 in | 58.7 in | 117.7 in | 63.4 / 64.2 in | 4,224 lb | 59/41 |
Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.
Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →Engines, MPG & running costs
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | vs. class | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental FWD | 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 18 / 27 / 21 | -9% | $3,200 | 424 |
| Continental AWD | 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 / 25 / 20 | -13% | $3,350 | 451 |
| Continental FWD | 3.7L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 / 26 / 20 | -13% | $3,350 | 440 |
| Continental AWD | 3.7L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 24 / 19 | -18% | $3,550 | 466 |
| Continental AWD | 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 / 24 / 19 | -18% | $3,550 | 467 |
EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2018 EPA class average. How we calculate this →
Safety ratings & technology
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Driver / passenger | Side | Side pole | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Lincoln Continental 4 DR AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 5★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10.6% |
| 2018 Lincoln Continental 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 5★ / 5★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | 10.6% |
Similar 2018 large cars
| Model | Best MPG / range | NHTSA overall | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Lincoln Continental (this car) | 21 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
| 2018 BMW 5 Series | 30 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
| 2018 Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 25 MPG | ★★★★★ | 0 |
| 2018 Audi A6 | 28 MPG | ★★★★★ | 2 |
| 2018 Lexus LS | 28 MPG | Not rated | 4 |
| 2018 Tesla Model S | 335 mi | Not rated | 11 |
| 2018 Jaguar XJ | 21 MPG | Not rated | 0 |
Recalls (2)
Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera · Aug 26, 2022
NHTSA campaign 22V644000 · 277,040 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and 2017-2020 Lincoln Continental vehicles equipped with the 360-degree camera system. Degradation of the camera's anit-reflective lens coating can lead to a foggy or cloudy rearview camera image.
- Risk
- Lack of a clear rearview camera image can reduce the driver's visibility of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S51.
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch · Feb 11, 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V077000 · 27,609 vehicles
- Problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Lincoln Continental vehicles. The door latch pawl motors may not function properly, possibly resulting in a door latch not fully engaging.
- Risk
- A door latch that is not fully engaged may result in a door opening while driving, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the latch assemblies on all four doors, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S03.
Not every 2018 Lincoln Continental is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.
Owner-reported problems
Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.
Used 2018 Lincoln Continental buyer's checklist
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
- Electrical System — 5 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
- Latches/Locks/Linkages — 4 owner reports. Open and close every door, the hood and tailgate; look for rust or misaligned panels.
- Back Over Prevention — 4 owner reports. Make sure driver-assist systems and the backup camera work without error messages.
- Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 90,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
- Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.
Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2018 Lincoln Continental. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.
Other Continental years
Compare all years →| Year | MPG (best) | Length | Overall | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Continental | 21 | 201.6 in | ★★★★★ | 2 | 7 |
| 2019 Continental | 21 | 201.6 in | ★★★★★ | 3 | 33 |
| 2017 Continental | 21 | 201.6 in | Not rated | 4 | 75 |
Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Lincoln. How we calculate this →