2006 Lincoln Town Car Review

Changes for 2006 are limited to new wheel designs.

If you want a big American luxury car for a reasonable price, the 2006 Lincoln Town Car is the only game in town, but equivalently priced European and Japanese luxury sedans are better in almost every respect.

Lincoln first used the Town Car nomenclature to define an upgraded interior trim on the 1969-1971 Continental, but a Town Sedan version of the 1949 Cosmopolitan is probably the true source of the current model's name. The Town Sedan lasted just one year, and it wasn't until 1972 that "Town Car" was used to delineate the most luxurious versions of the Continental sedan. Continental coupes of the time were called, not surprisingly, Town Coupe.

In any case, the Town Car has been Lincoln's flagship sedan since the early 1980s, and it has one of the highest owner loyalty ratings in the luxury car segment. With its size and relatively modest price, the Lincoln Town Car is also a favorite of livery services and limousine converters. An extensive redesign of the Town Car's suspension, exterior and interior for 1998 boosted the refinement levels a few notches. Further refinements in 2003 helped usher the platform into this century. Nevertheless, the 2006 Lincoln Town Car remains an old-school example of rear-drive Detroit steel and this helps keep its price relatively affordable -- exactly what Town Car loyalists want. However, discerning shoppers are apt to find modern cars like the Chrysler 300C, Infiniti Q45 and even the Toyota Avalon more qualified in nearly every area.

All Town Car models are powered by a 4.6-liter V8 rated at 239 horsepower and 287 pound-feet of torque. A standard four-speed automatic transmission sends the power to the rear wheels. Fuel economy is rated at 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

The Town Car comes standard with front-seat side airbags and three-point seatbelts for all five seating positions. All-speed traction control is standard, as is four-wheel ABS with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist technology, which applies full braking power in a panic stop. Stability control and side curtain airbags are not available. In NHTSA testing, the Lincoln Town Car earned five stars (the best rating given) for all front and side-impact crash tests.

Thrust from the V8 should be fully adequate for most buyers. Passing maneuvers are accomplished with ease, and freeway cruising at 80 mph is hushed. The 2006 Lincoln Town Car has no peer when it comes to transporting large (or large numbers of) people. Besides offering a comfortable ride, this Lincoln car is a decent handler -- the steering has some feel to it, and the body doesn't roll too much around corners. Compared to premium luxury sedans like the BMW 7 Series, Infiniti Q45, Lexus LS 430 and Mercedes S-Class, the Town Car's mediocre levels of refinement quickly stand out, but none of those cars can match the Lincoln's under-$50,000 price tag.

Boasting large interior dimensions and a massive trunk (20.6 cubic feet), the Town Car's primary mission is to transport multiple passengers to their destination silently and comfortably. Buyers can also select the L version, which offers a whopping 47 inches of rear legroom thanks to its 6-inch-longer wheelbase.