Base MSRP Range: $39,200 - $42,700
Base Invoice Range: $34,130 - $37,105
MSRP As Tested: Not Available.
Versions: 2WD, 4WD
Vehicle Category: Full-Size Luxury Pickup Truck
Engine Location: Front Engine
Drive Wheels: Four-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive.
Standard Engine: 5.4-liter, Single Overhead Cam, 24-valves, V-8, 300 - horsepower at 5000 rpm and 365 lb-ft torque at 3750 rpm.
Transmission: Four-speed automatic with overdrive.
Fuel Economy (city/hwy): Not Available.
Standard Safety Features: Driver and passenger airbags, ">Four-wheel anti-lock brake system.
Competition: Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra 1500.
The Blackwood was Lincoln's first attempt at making a luxury pickup truck, and only 3,356 were sold before it was axed after a mere 15 months in production. It was a pathetic sales flop by any standard.
Fast forward to today, and Lincoln is hoping for much better sales from the 2006 Mark LT truck, this time priced thousands less than the Deadwood - er, Blackwood -- and its nearest competition, the Cadillac Escalade EXT.
Aside from its stratospheric price, the Blackwood failed because it was almost totally useless as a real truck, with a bed that was way too fancy for hauling stuff and towing capacity that was way too wimpy. Nobody who really needed a truck wanted to buy it. It looked nice, but it couldn't do the kinds of things that people buy trucks for in the first place.
The Mark LT addresses the Blackwood's shortcomings by being heavily based on the Ford F-150 pickup, which can be a good or bad thing depending on how you look at it.
On the bright side, the F-150 is the most refined full-size truck on the road, with a quiet cabin that already feels like it belongs in a luxury car. If you're building a luxury truck, you can't start with a better platform, and there's no doubt that the Mark LT can perform like a real truck at the same time.
On the downside, the Mark LT's body looks virtually identical to its Ford cousin from many angles, so it lacks the bling-bling style of the Cadillac truck that shows up so often on MTV. In comparison, the Lincoln looks like somebody bought an F-150 and installed a grille from Pep Boys.
Well, almost. The back end is actually very nice looking, complete with wrap-around taillights that match the upscale Lincoln Navigator.
Where the Mark LT really stands apart from the Ford version is in the cabin, where there are even better materials and less road noise than in the already impressive F-150. Real ebony wood accents, soft, supple leather and lots of standard equipment leave no doubt that it's a step above its more plebian cousin with the Ford badge.
It comes with cruise control, a trip computer, power everything, automatic headlights, automatic climate control, a great stereo and leather everywhere at no extra cost. That's not bad for around $43,000, significantly cheaper than the Escalade competitor. Options include a DVD player, reverse sensors, power moonroof and plenty of truck accessories like skid plates and chrome bed rails.
Surprisingly, Lincoln doesn't offer a navigation system in the Mark LT, something virtually all new high-end vehicles offer at least as an option, if not standard equipment.
In the performance department, this new Lincoln doesn't disappoint, as its 5.4-liter Triton V8 engine makes 300 horsepower and 365 foot-pounds of torque, which is less than the huge V8 in the Cadillac competition but more than most buyers will ever need.
Compared with the Caddy, what the Lincoln's engine lacks in brute power it makes up for in refinement, offering a smoother, quieter experience when you step on the gas.
The Mark LT's suspension feels just like that in the F-150, which is a good thing. It offers a nice compromise between stability and smoothness, feeling connected to the road but never too bouncy or harsh.
All in all, the Mark LT is a huge improvement over the Blackwood and perfect for people who want a truck for practicality, comfort and style, and it's almost sure to be much more popular as a result. Better yet, its base price is even less than a high-end version of the F-150 -- the Lariat King Ranch Edition with four-wheel drive.
How popular will the Mark LT be? That just depends on whether buyers mind that it looks and drives a lot like its Ford cousin.
Only time will tell.
Pros? It performs like a truck but feels like a luxury car, and it's priced thousands less than its only real competition, the Cadillac Escalade EXT.
Cons? From the outside, it looks like a gussied-up Ford F-150. Other than a classy grille, Lincoln barely tried to hide the fact that it's based on a less exclusive vehicle.
Ratings (1-10)
- Style: 6
- Performance: 9
- Price: 10
- Handling: 6
- Ride: 6
- Comfort: 9
- Quality: 9
- Overall: 7
More Data
Where Built: USA
Major Options: Satellite Radio (late availability), Power adjustable pedals, Limited slip rear axle, Power moonroof, DVD electrical prep package, Rear seat entertainment system, Power sliding rear window with Privacy Tint, Reverse sensing system (a parking convenience feature), Bed extender, Chromed box rails, Class IV Trailer Tow package, Running boards, Skid plates (available on 4x4 models), 18-inch, 8-spoke chrome wheels, 20-inch wheels (late availability).
Seating: 5.
Number of Rows: 2.
Length in Inches: 223.8
Warranties: 4 years/50,000 miles bumper to bumper.
Weight in Pounds: 5312 lbs. - 5599 lbs.
Cargo Capacity in Pounds: 1620 lbs. - 1460 lbs.
Gross Maximum Vehicle Weight in Pounds: 14500lbs.
Towing Capacity in Pounds: 8900 lbs. - 8600 lbs.
Gas Tank Capacity in Gallons: 30
Destination Charge: $795
