Lincoln Mark LT Review

2008 Lincoln Mark LT Crew Cab

Astute consumers will note that the Lincoln Mark LT is actually the company's second attempt at building a luxury pickup truck. The similarly sized Blackwood of several years ago had a few unique and interesting features, but was criticized for being both overpriced and impractical. Moreover, many felt its cabin did not live up to its luxurious nameplate. So Lincoln went back to the drawing board and the resulting Mark LT is more practical and stylish. Though obviously closely related to the crew-cab version of the Ford F-150 full-size pickup, Lincoln's version does have a more contemporary and upscale interior and unique exterior styling cues.

As a competitor in the luxury truck segment, the Lincoln Mark LT pickup offers the benefits of an upscale look, a roomy cabin, a choice of a 5.5-foot bed or 6.5-foot bed, and smooth power and ride qualities. Full-size pickup truck shoppers just wanting something a bit different from a commonplace pickup will probably drive away from a Lincoln dealership satisfied. Just keep in mind that the Mark LT doesn't offer anything really significant beyond what you can already get on the F-150. It's mostly cosmetic upgrades like a chrome Lincoln grille, special taillights and Lincoln badging. If you really want a luxurious pickup, the Cadillac Escalade EXT, although considerably more expensive, will likely be a better choice.

Current Lincoln Mark LT

The Lincoln Mark LT is available only as a full-size crew-cab truck in two sizes: a standard-wheelbase model with 5.5-foot bed, or a longer-wheelbase version with a 6.5-foot bed. Compared to its down-market Ford cousin, the Lincoln differs mainly in its styling. There's only one trim level available -- standard features include leather seating, wood trim, heated front seats, keyless entry and a premium MP3/CD audio system (with satellite radio added for '08). Options include rear-seat DVD entertainment, a navigation system, a rearview camera (added for '08), a power rear window and chromed 18-inch wheels, bed-rail caps and running boards.

Behind the Mark LT's signature Lincoln grille is a 5.4-liter V8 making 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque; the only transmission is a four-speed automatic. Depending on your traction requirements, two- and four-wheel-drive variants are available. The Mark LT's roomy cabin seats five and, although luxurious, it is not substantially different from its fully dressed Ford cousin. The leather seats are comfortable and have contrasting colored piping, while the gauges are chrome-trimmed and incorporate the Lincoln logo. To lend an upscale look to the cabin, Lincoln designers dressed up the dash with faux wood trim and leather; the trim on the dash, steering wheel and shifter is especially nice, as the exposed stitching adds an extra element of refinement.

On the road, the Lincoln's V8 lacks the low-end grunt of the V8 engines in the Escalade EXT, Dodge Ram and Toyota Tundra, but almost makes up for that with its smooth, quiet power delivery. Suspension tuning is on the soft side, resulting in a smooth and comfortable highway ride, but handling is not exactly nimble. Brake pedal feel is only so-so as well, though the Lincoln Mark LT stops acceptably short for a vehicle that weighs nearly 3 tons loaded.

Past Lincoln Mark LT models

Lincoln introduced the Mark LT luxury pickup for the 2006 model year. A few changes came in 2007, as a navigation system, 20-inch chrome wheels and power-folding mirrors were added to the options list. The 6.5-foot cargo bed option was also new this year; all '06 Lincoln Mark LTs had a 5.5-foot bed.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.