The Lincoln Continental 2020, a luxury sedan that marks the return of an iconic nameplate, has undergone rigorous testing by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). For prospective buyers and safety-conscious drivers, understanding these ratings is crucial. This article delves into the IIHS safety evaluations for the 2020 Lincoln Continental, providing a comprehensive breakdown of its performance in various crash tests and safety assessments.
Small Overlap Front: Driver-Side Evaluation
The small overlap front crash test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object. This is a challenging test that assesses how well a vehicle protects the driver in such severe frontal impacts. The 2020 Lincoln Continental earned a “Good” rating in this demanding evaluation.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
The results indicate “Good” protection across all critical areas. The structural integrity of the 2020 Lincoln Continental held up well, maintaining the driver’s survival space. Injury measures for the head, neck, chest, hip, thigh, and lower leg/foot were all rated “Good,” signifying a low risk of significant injuries in a real-world crash of this type.
The dummy’s position after the test further confirms the effectiveness of the vehicle’s structure and restraint systems. The airbags and safety cage worked in concert to maintain a safe space for the driver, minimizing potential contact with жесткие structures or intruding elements.
Technical measurements provide further insight into the vehicle’s performance:
Technical Measurements – Driver-Side Small Overlap Front
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max | 5 |
| Footrest | 3 |
| Left toepan | 2 |
| Brake pedal | 4 |
| Rocker panel lateral average | 1 |
| Steering column | 3 |
| Upper hinge pillar max | 4 |
| Upper dash | 4 |
| Lower instrument panel | 5 |
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 77 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.6 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 18 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.16 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 21 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 0.1 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 0.0 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.49 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.33 |
Small Overlap Front: Passenger-Side Evaluation
Recognizing that passenger safety is equally important, the IIHS also conducts a passenger-side small overlap front test. The 2020 Lincoln Continental again demonstrated excellent crashworthiness, achieving a “Good” overall rating in this evaluation as well.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Hip/thigh | G |
| Lower leg/foot | G |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Similar to the driver-side test, the passenger compartment of the Lincoln Continental 2020 maintained its structure effectively. All injury measures for the passenger were rated “Good,” indicating a comparable level of protection for front-seat occupants on either side of the vehicle.
Technical Measurements – Passenger-Side Small Overlap Front
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion | Test ID: VTP1720 (cm) | Test ID: CEP1715 (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Lower hinge pillar max | 3 | 5 |
| Footrest | 1 | 5 |
| Right toepan | 2 | 2 |
| Center toepan | 1 | 1 |
| Rocker panel lateral average | 1 | 2 |
| Center dash | 1 | 2 |
| Upper hinge pillar max | 2 | 3 |
| Upper dash | 2 | 4 |
| Right lower dash | 2 | 3 |
| Passenger Injury Measures | Test ID: VTP1720 | Test ID: CEP1715 |
|---|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 190 | 141 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 1.1 | 0.7 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 15 | 23 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.25 | 0.21 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 20 | 18 |
| Femur – Left (kN) | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Femur – Right (kN) | 0.4 | 0.2 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.46 | 0.41 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.48 | 0.35 |
Moderate Overlap Front: Original Test Performance
In the moderate overlap front test, a larger portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts a barrier. This test is more representative of common frontal collisions. The 2020 Lincoln Continental once again received a “Good” rating, showcasing its robust frontal crash protection capabilities.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Chest | G |
| Leg/foot, left | G |
| Leg/foot, right | G |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G |
Technical Measurements – Moderate Overlap Front
| Measures of occupant compartment intrusion | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| Footrest | 4 |
| Left Footwell | 6 |
| Center Footwell | 4 |
| Right Footwell | 6 |
| Brake pedal | 10 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Left | 2 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement – Right | 2 |
| Steering column movement – Upward | 0 |
| Steering column movement – Rearward | -3 |
| A-pillar rearward movement | 1 |
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 129 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.6 |
| Neck Extension bending moment (Nm) | 17 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.18 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 26 |
| Femur force – Left (kN) | 0.5 |
| Femur force – Right (kN) | 0.6 |
| Maximum tibia index – Left | 0.42 |
| Maximum tibia index – Right | 0.44 |
Side: Original Test Results
Side impacts are another significant source of injury in accidents. The IIHS side crash test evaluates a vehicle’s ability to protect occupants in a side collision. The 2020 Lincoln Continental achieved the highest rating of “Good” in the side crash test, indicating excellent protection in this type of accident.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Structure and safety cage | G |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Driver head protection | G |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | G |
| Torso | G |
| Pelvis/leg | G |
| Rear passenger head protection | G |
Technical Measurements – Side Crash Test
| Occupant Compartment Intrusion | Measurement (cm) |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat | -24.0 |
| Driver Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 247 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 35 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 1.4 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 30 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 22 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.3 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 2.8 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.2 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 19 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | 48 |
| Passenger Injury Measures | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 65 |
| Neck Tension (kN) | 0.2 |
| Neck Compression (kN) | 0.7 |
| Shoulder Lateral deflection (mm) | 9 |
| Shoulder Lateral force (kN) | 0.5 |
| Torso Maximum deflection (mm) | 21 |
| Torso Average deflection (mm) | 21 |
| Pelvis Iliac force (kN) | 0.3 |
| Pelvis Acetabulum force (kN) | 2.2 |
| Pelvis Combined force (kN) | 2.5 |
| Left femur L-M force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Left femur L-M moment (Nm) | 21 |
| Left femur A-P moment (Nm) | 78 |
Roof Strength Evaluation
Roof strength is critical in rollover accidents. The 2020 Lincoln Continental again excelled, earning a “Good” rating in the roof strength test. This signifies that the roof can withstand significant force, reducing the risk of injury in a rollover scenario.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Curb weight | 4,308 lbs |
| Peak force | 21,861 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.07 |
Head Restraints & Seats: Whiplash Protection
Whiplash is a common injury in rear-end collisions. The IIHS evaluates head restraints and seats to assess their effectiveness in preventing whiplash. The 2020 Lincoln Continental’s head restraints and seats were rated “Good” for dynamic performance and geometry, indicating superior whiplash protection.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G |
| Dynamic rating | G |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G |
Technical Measurements – Head Restraints & Seats
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Backset (mm) | 12 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 10 |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 14.6 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 52 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 8 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 479 |
Headlight Performance
Headlight effectiveness is a crucial safety feature, especially for nighttime driving. The IIHS evaluates headlight performance, and the 2020 Lincoln Continental’s headlight ratings vary depending on the trim level and headlight type.
For Reserve trim equipped with Luxury package, Reserve trim equipped with LED Headlight package, and Black Label trim, the LED projector headlights earned a “Good” overall rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | G |
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
However, for Select trim, Reserve trim, and Premiere trim, equipped with HID projector headlights, the overall rating was “Poor” due to excessive glare from the low beams.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | P |
| Low-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| High-beam headlight type | HID projector |
| Curve-adaptive? | Yes |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle System
The 2020 Lincoln Continental comes standard with Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking. This system was evaluated by the IIHS and received a “Superior” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. The system successfully avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph tests, meeting forward collision warning requirements.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Superior |
| Forward Collision Warning | Meets requirements |
| 12 mph test | Collision Avoided |
| 25 mph test | Collision Avoided |
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH) for Family Safety
For families, child seat safety is paramount. The 2020 Lincoln Continental’s LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) for child seat installation was rated “Acceptable.” It features two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors.
| Overall evaluation | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | A |
LATCH System Details:
| Position | Rating | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tether anchor: easy-to-find location; Lower anchors: too deep in seat, but usable | |
| 2 | Tether anchor: easy-to-find location; Lower anchors: Can be borrowed from positions 1 and 3 | |
| 3 | Tether anchor: easy-to-find location; Lower anchors: too deep in seat, but usable |
Conclusion: A Safe Choice in the Luxury Sedan Segment
The IIHS safety ratings for the 2020 Lincoln Continental paint a clear picture: this luxury sedan prioritizes occupant safety. With “Good” ratings in all crashworthiness tests, a “Superior” rating for front crash prevention, and a “Good” rating for head restraints and seats, the Lincoln Continental 2020 stands out as a safe vehicle choice. While headlight performance varies by trim, the top trims offer “Good” rated LED headlights. The “Acceptable” rating for LATCH system indicates room for improvement, but overall, the 2020 Lincoln Continental delivers robust safety performance, providing peace of mind for drivers and passengers alike.
