2010 Lincoln Town Car

Literally the very last of a nearly extinct breed, the third-generation 2010 Lincoln Town Car hangs on as America’s sole full-size, body-on-frame luxury sedan. Its combination of Old-World styling, rear-wheel drive, spacious accommodations, and a gas-eating V8 engine appeals primarily to limo services and those who have fond memories of the Reagan years.

For 2010, Lincoln offers two Town Car trims, the Signature Limited and the Signature L, with the significant difference being the Signature L’s extra 6 inches of lean-back-and-stretch length. Both trims feature six-passenger seating, a comfortable, if not exactly sporty ride, and a massive 21 cubic feet of trunk space.

Each of the 2010 Lincoln Town Car trims is powered by a 4.6-liter SOHC Flex Fuel V8 that’s harnessed to a four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. This combination will put out 239 hp and 287 lb-ft of torque at an EPA-estimated 14/22 mpg.

Standard appearance, comfort, and convenience features for the 2010 Town Car, though adequate, lag far behind most of today’s luxury-sedan competitors. Such features include 17-inch aluminum wheels, leather upholstery, power-adjustable, heated front bench seats with memory settings, leather and wood interior trim, remote keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, a power-opening trunk lid, and a 190-watt, 6-CD changer with nine speakers, including a sub-woofer. The stretched Signature L offers, as well, heated rear seats, a rear folding armrest with storage, and rear-seat audio and climate controls. Options for both 2010 Town Car Signature trims include upgraded wheel styling, a trunk organizer, and high-intensity-discharge (HID) headlights.

Safety features for the 2010 Lincoln Town Car include four-wheel disc ABS, traction control, dual front side-mounted airbags, parking-assist sensors, cornering headlights, and child-proof power door locks. Though consistently rated highly in crash tests, the 2010 Town Car lacks some of the more sophisticated stability control and side curtain airbag features that are standard on many of its competitors.

Owners of the 2009 Lincoln Town Car cite gas mileage, the lack of navigation, SYNC, and moonroof options, and quality issues as downsides, with ride, cabin room, seat comfort, audio quality, and trunk space being notable positive features. Additionally, many 2009 owners are impressed by the Town Car’s sheer American luxury styling, while others prefer its pricetag to that of, for instance, a Rolls Royce.

By Eric Tallberg