Used 2008 Lincoln Mark LT

Unwilling to watch Cadillac’s Escalade EXT go unchallenged, Lincoln offers a luxury pickup of its own. Based on the popular Ford F-150, the 2008 Lincoln Mark LT combines the plush interior of a Lincoln sedan with a versatile pickup bed perfect for hauling jet skis, ATVs or a new 50-inch flat-screen TV. Available only in a SuperCrew Cab configuration, the Mark LT features a long list of standard luxury amenities and offers the option of four-wheel drive. Whether the Lincoln name carries enough clout to justify the extra cost over a loaded King Ranch or Harley-Davidson Ford F-150 is yet to be seen, but in a country where status is sometimes everything, the Mark LT should find enough buyers to keep the production line up and running.

For a luxury vehicle capable of towing a very sizeable boat or horse trailer, the 2008 Lincoln Mark LT delivers an acceptably smooth and quiet highway ride. Like many traditional luxury vehicles, however, this heavyweight rides better than it handles. Putting the throttle all the way to the floor won’t deliver startling performance, but the powerful V8 and four-speed automatic transmission work well together in delivering smooth acceleration that’s more than adequate around town or on a highway cruise. As long as you climb into the cab with an appreciation (and maybe a need) for the Mark LT as a fully functional pickup, you should find it plenty luxurious.

Upgraded less with wood and more with chrome and leather, the Mark LT’s contemporary, stylish and comfortable interior is better described as modern than plush. The sophisticated design rivals the new Cadillac Escalade EXT’s cabin, and neat stitching on the leather-covered shift lever is a nice touch (even if it isn’t really hand stitched). Whether you find the contrasting piping on the seats stylish or not, you’ll appreciate the well-cushioned comfort those seats offer. Rear-seat passengers are also in luck, as full-size rear doors open up to full-size rear legroom.

Start with a Ford F-150 SuperCrew Cab pickup, add a big chrome grille, big taillights, more chrome and nicely-styled 18-inch wheels, and you’ve got the Lincoln Mark LT. The five-and-a-half-foot-long cargo bed is deep and wide and should provide plenty of room for the Mark LT’s most truck-like tasks, but, if you need more room, a six-and-a-half-foot bed is available. The mechanically-assisted tailgate, called Tailgate Assist, is easy to open and close.

Standard Stereo
Standard on the Mark LT is an impressive AM/FM/6CD/MP3 sound system that delivers crisp, powerful music through six speakers and a subwoofer.

Tailgate Assist
The Mark LT’s large tailgate features a built-in torsion bar that makes both opening and closing it surprisingly easy.

Included as standard on both the two- and four-wheel-drive Mark LT is a 300-horsepower V8, a four-speed automatic transmission, leather seating, ebony wood trim, power and heated front seats with driver’s-side memory, easy-lift tailgate, AM/FM/6CD/MP3 premium sound system, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Electronic Automatic Temperature Control, electronic message center, remote keyless entry with door keypad and integrated garage opener. Safety equipment includes front airbags and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS).

Upgrading to the four-wheel-drive Mark LT adds only the shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system. Also available are a rear-seat DVD entertainment system, DVD-based navigation, 20-inch chrome wheels, Reverse Camera System, power sliding rear window, 6.5-foot bed, power-adjustable pedals, power moonroof and a Reverse Sensing System.

The only powertrain decision to make when purchasing a Mark LT is between two- or four-wheel drive. Although four-wheel-drive costs about $3,000 more, the enhanced traction helps to offset the truck’s lack of an available stability control system. The Mark LT offers legitimate, truck-like hauling and towing capacities of up to 1,620 pounds and 9,000 pounds, respectively.

5.4-liter V8
300 horsepower @5000 rpm
365 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3750 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 12/16 (2WD), 13/17 (4WD)