Large pickup truck; Built in USA
  • crew cab
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $7,200 – $9,500*


2002 Lincoln Blackwood


2002 Lincoln Blackwood


2002 Lincoln Blackwood


2002 Lincoln Blackwood

Pros:
  • Interior storage space
  • Low-speed acceleration
  • Front-seat comfort
Cons:
  • Fuel economy
  • Ride/handling
  • Wind noise
  • Brake-pedal feel

Basically, Blackwood was an ill-conceived, overpriced lifestyle statement that deserved its fate. If nothing else, it was exclusive–far more than intended, judging by sales totals. A Blackwood isn’t as comfortable or versatile as any full-size SUV, and lacks 4WD security as well as “real truck” practicality. Blackwoods may have slight collectible appeal as a curiosity, almost like the antique Edsel, but their daily-driving virtues are minimal.

Overview

Lincoln’s first pickup truck borrowed its front-end styling and interior appointments from the company’s big Navigator sport-utility vehicle, but got its own unique cargo bed. Basically a full-size Ford F-150 SuperCrew, the Blackwood seated four occupants instead of five or six. Blackwoods came only with a 5.4-liter V8, four-speed automatic transmission, and rear-wheel drive. Four-wheel drive was not offered. Towing capacity was 8700 pounds. The cab had four full-size front-hinged doors, while the 4-ft 8-inch cargo box had two side-opening doors, instead of a tailgate. Rather than open, as in conventional pickups, the cargo box was capped with a solid, power-lifted, front-hinged non-removable cover, designed to be watertight. The box also had storage compartments, floor carpeting, stainless-steel sidewall trim, and internal lighting. Every Blackwood had front side airbags, traction control, antilock four-wheel disc brakes, power-adjustable foot pedals, heated and ventilated front seats, and a rear obstacle warning system. Blackwoods came only in black, and a navigation system was the sole option. Rivals included the Chevrolet Avalanche SUV/pickup, plus such conventional pickups as the Ford F-150 SuperCrew and GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab.

Yearly Updates

2003 Blackwood
2003 Lincoln Blackwood: Only a few hundred 2003 models, unchanged from 2002, closed out Lincoln’s failed attempt at its first pickup truck. Even before the 2002 model year was over, Lincoln announced that it would discontinue the truck due to slow sales. Positioning it as a luxury pickup/SUV crossover, Lincoln had hoped to sell about 18,000 Blackwoods over the 2002-03 model years. Actual sales totaled only 3356 units, according to Automotive News. Among the factors contributing to Blackwood’s demise were its high price, lack of four-wheel drive, and limited cargo versatility.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear-wheel drive

Only one powertrain is available in Blackwoods: a 300-horsepower 5.4-liter V8 engine, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission.

dohc V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.4/330
Engine HP 300
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 355
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

12/17

14.8

Road Test

Acceleration is inconsistent: strong off the line, but suffering lazy passing response above 35 mph. A test model accelerated from 0-60 mph in 8.7 seconds. Fuel economy wins no prices, either, and premium-grade gasoline is required. A test Blackwood averaged 13.8 mpg including gas-eating performance tests, and 14.8 mpg in a city/highway mix. Expect a jittery ride on scalloped surfaces, turning jumpy over sharp bumps, despite the Blackwood’s unique air-assisted leaf-spring rear suspension. Though body lean is moderate in hard corners, a Blackwood feels as ponderous as most big pickups and is clumsy in tight spots–though the rear-obstacle warning system increases confidence when backing up. Simulated panic stops are swift and sure, but the brake pedal has dull, high-effort action. Quietness is a virtue. Tire noise is well checked, and the nice-sounding engine is noticed only under full throttle. One new test model had low wind noise, but another suffered intrusive wind howl above 60 mph. Inside, the cabin’s dark-tint real-wood trim clashes with run-of-the-mill plastic. Borrowed from the humble Ford F-150, the dashboard uses fairly inflexible automatic climate system mounted a fair reach from the driver. Radio controls also demand a reach (though redundant controls are on the steering wheel). The optional navigation system’s console-mounted screen is too small and too low for easy viewing. Front-seat space is ample. Drivers enjoy a tilt wheel, power seat, adjustable pedals, plus a two-position memory to save all settings. Internal heating/cooling of the front seats works well. Entry/exit is awkward only for shorter folks, and visibility is clear to all corners. In the back seat, adults ride knees-up if front seats are halfway back, and have hardly any toe space beneath them. Bucket seats are small and poorly bolstered. Lowish step-in height is a benefit, but narrow floor-level passageways hinder entry/exit. Lincoln called the cargo box a 26.5 cubic foot “trunk.” Though long, it’s neither very wide nor deep, and isn’t trimmed for dirty work. The non-removable cover powers up and down without fuss, using the keyfob or cabin buttons, but it does not lift high enough to carry tall objects or provide much side access at its forward end. Rear seats fold in one step, but don’t lie flat. Small-items storage is ample, but audio and navigation CD units use up most of the big front center console bin.

Ratings

Model Tested: 2003 Lincoln Blackwood

Ratings values are on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the best. With the exception of Value, these numbers reflect how the vehicle compares against the universe of vehicles, not just against rivals in its class.

Performance

Acceleration - 5
50%
Fuel Economy - 2
20%
Ride Quality - 3
30%
Steering/Handling - 3
30%
Quietness - 5
50%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 10
100%
Room/Comfort Rear - 5
50%
Cargo Room - 6
60%

Other

Value - 1
10%

Total: 46

Specifications

crew cab
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
138.5 220.2 78.0 73.6
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
1200 25.0 4
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
38.5 39.2 41.0 37.4
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: 2003 Lincoln Blackwood crew cab

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Front Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

Side Impact Test

Driver Injury - N/A
N/A0%
Rear Passenger Injury - N/A
N/A0%

HLDI

(A score of 100 is average. Lower is better)

Collision N/A
Injury N/A
Theft N/A

Trouble Spots

Trunk latch
Description: The tonneau cover may not stay closed or may reverse when closing due to either a problem with the pinch strip, the “open” switch or both. (2002)
Electrical problem
Description: Whining or buzzing from the speakers is caused by the electric fuel pump in the tank requiring installation of an RFI (radio frequency interference) filter in the circuit. (2002-03)

Recall History

2002-2003 Blackwood
Description: On vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat and possibly cause a fire. Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge.
2002-2003 Blackwood
Description: For vehicles manufactured from June 20, 1995, through August 4, 2004, originally sold, or currently registered in, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Prolonged exposure to road deicing chemicals may cause severe corrosion of the fuel tank straps which secure the tank to the vehicle. As a result of the corrosion, one or both straps may fail allowing the fuel lines to separate from the tank, or in some cases, causing the tank to contact the ground. Either scenario may result in a fuel leak and present a fire hazard. Ford will notify owners and instruct them to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the fuel tank straps replaced with straps that have increased corrosion protection. Early in this campaign, if replacement straps are not available, dealers may install a cable support under the strap as an interim repair or a steel reinforcement over the existing strap as a permanent repair. Any repairs will be performed free of charge.

Equipment Lists

Equipment lists are only viewable on larger screen sizes.

Pricing

Used-car pricing varies widely depending on local market conditions. Therefore, we recommend visiting websites that list used cars for sale to get a better idea of what a specific model is selling for in your area.

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