Large pickup truck; Built in USA
  • 4-door ext. cab
  • crew cab
  • longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive
Good condition price range: $14,000 – $25,200*


2006 Lincoln Mark LT


2006 Lincoln Mark LT


2006 Lincoln Mark LT


2006 Lincoln Mark LT

Pros:
  • Passenger room and comfort (front seat)
  • Quietness
Cons:
  • Passenger room and comfort (rear seat)
  • Ride
  • Steering/handling

Lincoln shouldn’t be faulted for taking advantage of a ready market niche with a lavishly gilded version of the solid Ford F-150 SuperCrew. However, the company could be censured for doing so little to upgrade the interior to truly premium levels of feel and functions. Lincoln disappoints most by denying the LT important features that are expected at this level: an antiskid system, head-protecting curtain side airbags, all-wheel drive, and an engine distinct from that available in an F-150.

Overview

Launched as an early 2006 model, the Mark LT was Lincoln’s second attempt at a luxury pickup truck, following the poor-selling 2002-2003 Blackwood. This time, the Mark LT mimicked the full-size Ford F-150 SuperCrew crew cab model with four conventional doors and a 5.5-foot cargo bed.

Styling suggested a family relationship to the Navigator luxury sport-utility vehicle, and Lincoln promoted the Mark LT as an expression of “personal style.” Chrome accents decorated the exterior, led by a “signature” waterfall grille. A bold chrome band wrapped around the entire vehicle. Taillamps wrapped into the tailgate.

Twin front captain’s chairs and a rear bench seat provided five-passenger capacity. Nudo leather upholstery was standard, with genuine Ebony wood accents in the cabin. Front and rear seats had a quilted pattern insert, and the steering-wheel rim was trimmed in tone-on-tone contrasting leather.

Borrowed from Ford’s F-Series, the lone powertrain was a 300-horsepower, 5.4-liter V8 with a four-speed automatic transmission. Mark LTs came with rear-drive or four-wheel drive, which included low-range gearing but was not meant to be left engaged on dry pavement. Chromed alloy 18-inch wheels and antilock four-wheel disc brakes were standard. Side-impact and curtain side airbags were not offered.

Options included power-adjustable pedals, a sunroof, rear-seat DVD entertainment, rear park assist, running boards, a tubular cargo-bed extender, and skid plates (on 4WD models). Chrome-adorned box rail moldings also were available.

With its Mark LT, Lincoln competed against the Cadillac Escalade EXT and GMC’s plush Sierra Denali.

Yearly Updates

2007 Mark LT
An extended-wheelbase model joined the 2007 lineup. Mark LT pickups got revised styling this year, plus a newly optional navigation system. Built on a 150.5-inch wheelbase rather than the standard 138.5-inch span, the extended model got a 6.5-foot cargo bed rather than the regular 5.5-foot unit. An Elite option package included chrome step bars, and 20-inch aluminum wheels could now be mounted. Ebony wood trim was added to Mark LT steering wheels.
2008 Mark LT
A rearview camera became optional on the 2008 Mark LT.

Engines

longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive

All Mark LT pickups contain a 5.4-liter V8 engine that develops 300 horsepower, coupled to a four-speed automatic transmission. Rear-drive and four-wheel-drive models have been offered.

ohc V8
Engine Size (liters/cubic inches) 5.4/330
Engine HP 300
Engine Torque (lb-ft) 365
Avail. Trans. EPA MPG (city/hwy) MPG avg. as tested
4-speed automatic

15/19

14.1

Road Test

The regular-length LT accelerates adequately, with enough muscle for most towing and hauling chores. But highway-speed passing power and overall responsiveness rank as mediocre.

Fuel economy falls short, too. A test Mark LT averaged 14.1 mpg in mixed city/highway driving. At least, the Mark LT uses regular-grade fuel.

Ride quality differs little from an F-150 SuperCrew 4WD, which means it’s reasonably composed at speed and over big dips and swells. The long wheelbase and hefty weight take shocks out of pavement cracks and ridges. Nevertheless, the LT’s chassis shows annoying jiggle and quiver over most bumps and ripples.

Handling is ponderous in tight maneuvers, but the LT offers accurate, nicely weighted steering and good control in most changes of direction. Like all pickups, the tail hops in bumpy corners. Brakes feel strong and easily modulated, but simulated panic stops induce considerable nosedive. The Mark LT’s 4WD system has low-range gearing for severe off-road duty; but unlike rivals’ systems, it should not be left engaged on dry pavement.

Mark LTs emit the same subdued road and wind noise as an F-150 SuperCrew, along with similar engine characteristics: quiet cruising, with slightly intrusive roar in rapid acceleration. Even so, better sound insulation is expected of a Lincoln.

Main gauges are unobstructed and attractively backlit in white, though markings are too small to suit some drivers. Controls for audio and automatic climate systems are slightly undersized. The turn-signal/windshield-wiper stalk is too short. Steering wheel buttons for audio, climate, and cruise functions, are not positioned or marked for easy use.

Standard leather upholstery is no more impressive than in a top-line F-150 model. LT puts slightly nicer finishes on interior panels, but they’re a veneer over the same hollow feeling, hard plastic surfaces used in its Ford cousin. Glovebox and ashtray doors, and the console-mounted transmission shift lever, suffer particularly low-budget movement and feel.

Front occupants get ample head and legroom. Seats are firm and flat, but comfortable. Step-in is tall, but big doors allow easy entry/exit. Still, we prefer the optional running boards. Outward visibility is unobstructed.

Rear-seat riders enjoy copious headspace and good–but not great–legroom. The poorly contoured seat has stingy thigh support and an uncomfortably upright backrest. Entry/exit is awkward. The optional power sliding rear window is a welcome convenience, if one can be found.

Backseat bottoms tip up to increase storage, but seat-frame corners jut into cargo space. Generously-sized map pockets are in all doors. An optional tubular bed extender would enhance cargo-box utility, but the bed itself is bare metal. A factory-standard integrated bed liner would have been appropriate for the LT’s upscale aspirations.

Ratings

Model Tested: Mark LT w/4WD

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 - 6
60%
Fuel Economy - 2
20%
Ride Quality - 4
40%
Steering/Handling - 4
40%
Quietness - 6
60%

Accommodations

Controls/Materials - 6
60%
Room/Comfort Front - 9
90%
Room/Comfort Rear - 6
60%
Cargo Room - 6
60%

Other

Value - 4
40%

Total: 53

Specifications

4-door ext. cab
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
150.5 235.8 78.9 73.5
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
1570 30.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.1 39.6 41.3 39.0
crew cab
Wheelbase (in.) Length (in.) Width (in.) Height (in.) Weight (lbs)
138.5 223.8 78.9 73.5
Cargo Volume (cu/ft) Payload Capacity (cu/ft) Fuel Capacity (gal.) Seating Capacity
1680 30.0 5
Headroom Legroom
Front Rear Front Rear
40.1 39.6 41.3 39.0
Safety Ratings

Model Tested: N/A 4-door ext. cab

NHTSA

(5 is the highest rating)

Front Impact Test

Driver Injury - 5
100%
Front Passenger Injury - 5
100%

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

Brakes
Description: Vibration from the rear at speeds over 45 mph may be due to the parking brakes not fully releasing due to problem with parking brake cables. (2004-07)
Fuel gauge
Description: The fuel gauge may be inaccurate and the check engine light may come on if the fuel level sender gets contaminated with sulfur in the gasoline. (2004-07)
Poor drivability
Description: Poor drivability (including rough running, hesitation and backfiring) after cold soak when the ambient temperature is below 60 degrees requires recalibration of powertrain control module. (2007)
Poor transmission shift
Description: Some vehicles with the 5.4L engine may hesitate between 3-4 downshifts requiring reprogramming of the powertrain control module. (2006)
Rear axle noise
Description: Shudder and/or vibrations during aggressive acceleration due to rear axle’s pinion angle requiring shims to correct. (2006-07)
Spark plugs
Description: Spark plugs tend to break off in the cylinder heads on 5.4L, 3-valve engine often requiring costly head removal. (2004-05)
Steering problems
Description: A clunk or rattle while turning the steering wheel on rough roads may be due to the power steering return hose lacking a flow restrictor. (2006)
Transmission problems
Description: The torque converter clutch may apply after the transmission goes into second gear which feels like a lack of power due to a damaged check ball in the transmission’s valve body. (2006)
Transmission problems
Description: When starting from a stop, it may feel that the vehicle lacks power or is upshifting too soon due the torque converter clutch engagement caused by a problem check ball in the transmission valve body. (2005-06)

Recall History

2005-06 Mark LT with 5.4-liter 3-valve engines
Description: The brake-booster supply tube, which helps provide power brake assist, may swell and separate from its fitting, increasing brake-pedal effort significantly. Dealers will replace a rubber hose on the brake-booster vacuum-supply-tube assembly.
2006
Description: Windshield wiper motor may have been produced without grease applied to output shaft gear; after period of continuous high-speed use, gear could distort or fracture, resulting in loss of wiper function.
2006
Description: Software error in instrument cluster of some pickups could prevent ABS warning light from illuminating if the ABS module became inoperative.

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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