The Mark LT is a full-size truck, make no mistake. It rides like a truck, rocking and rolling over pavement heaves and mid-corner ripples. This is a consequence of a relatively high center of gravity that plagues pickups and SUVs, but we wonder how much the old-fashioned live rear axle and heavy duty leaf springs contribute. Especially when we didn't experience similar dynamics on a recent ride in a Cadillac EXT, which employs a live rear axle but with trailing links, coil springs, Panhard rod and automatic load leveling. The Mark LT tracks around sweeping freeway on-ramps about the way we expect a full-size pickup to track: Initially, it understeers, where the front end wants to slide. Lift off the throttle and the relatively lighter back end teases with hints of oversteer, where the back end gets loose and starts to come around.

Steering was about par for a pickup, with decent on-center feel and reasonably responsive turn-in; most certainly, there's no dartiness in the Mark LT's directional stability depth chart.

Braking was solid and linear. Even with the front-end dive that hard braking induces, we experienced no rear wheel lockup, thanks to Electronic Brake-force Distribution.

The Mark LT is rated to tow up to 8600 pounds with four-wheel drive, 8900 pounds with two-wheel drive. Maximum payload is 1460 pounds with four-wheel drive, 1620 pounds with two-wheel drive.

Summary

The 2006 Lincoln Mark LT is a worthy successor to the ill-fated Lincoln Blackwood. One might even argue, it's what the original Blackwood should have been. There's no denying its F-150 origins, but Lincoln has done a quality job in endowing the Mark LT with enough creature comfort to earn it a place on any dealer's showroom floor.

New Car Test Drive correspondent Tom Lankard filed this report from Carmichael, California.

Model Line Overview

Model lineup:Lincoln Mark LT 2WD ($38,680); Mark LT 4WD ($42,235)

Engines:5.4-liter single overhead cam 24-valve V8

Transmissions:four-speed automatic

Safety equipment (standard):dual-stage frontal airbags; child safety seat anchors (LATCH)

Safety equipment (optional):reverse sensing system ($245)

Basic warranty:4 years/50,000 miles

Assembled in:Dearborn, Michigan