If you want to get your tires dirty, the 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is suitable for moderate off-roading. A flick of the dashboard switch is all it takes to engage the shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system, and undercarriage skid plates are optionally available.

On the road, the Lincoln Mark LT is a smooth driver. The F-150 chassis that underpins the Mark LT has a stiff, fully boxed frame for better handling and responsiveness. Additionally, the rear shock absorbers are positioned outboard of the frame rails, for added stability. Rough roads will coax some rear end jiggles, especially with an empty cargo box, but overall the Mark LT has a very good, big truck ride. The power steering imparts a good feel for the road, neither under- nor over-boosted, and the disc brakes are responsive. Sailing along in highway traffic, large trucks often feel like they’ve got brakes that are too small for the job, but the Mark LT’s binders breed confidence.

The new Lincoln Mark LT benefits from a proven powertrain. The Triton 5.4-liter V8 is rated at 300 horsepower and 365 lb.-ft. of torque, and there’s plenty of power on tap to pass or pull. The gearing of the four-speed automatic transmission matches well with the engine’s powerband. Given the amount of muscle on tap, the Triton is a relatively quiet driver – silent, but with a strong appetite. Tipping the scales at 5,370 lbs. (2WD) and 5,677 lbs. (4WD), the Lincoln Mark LT is no lightweight and it has a healthy appreciation for a pint of petrol. The EPA rates the 4WD at 14 mpg in the city and 18 mpg on the highway. A consolation is that the large, 30-gallon gas tank yields a long cruising range between wallet-sapping fill-ups.

Photos: © Dan Lyons 2005