The 4x4 Extended-bed Mark LT offers the greatest utility by far. What more could you ask for than a tough and traditional four-wheel drive system combined with the exceptional payload capacity (1,680 pounds) of the extended bed?
This longer-bed trim adds one foot to the standard bed's 5.5 feet. The electronic shift-on-the-fly four-wheel drive, a traditional system with 2H, 4L, and 4H, is a pleasure to operate and helps to make the LT quite a workhorse.
The 5.4-liter, three-valve V8 provides 365 lb.-ft. of torque and delivers an mpg rating of 14 city/18 highway. When properly equipped with the available trailer tow package (which adds a frame-mounted Class IV hitch receiver, seven-pin wiring harness, upgraded radiator and auxiliary transmission-oil cooler) it can tow 8,600 pounds. You can also add the Reverse Sensing system, which detects obstacles in the truck's rearward path.
The interior is both stylish and spacious. Comfortable leather seats (with 6-way power-adjust and two memory settings on the driver's) come standard, and the general atmosphere is gussied up with wood trim, satin-nickel accents, and stylish gauges. Rear passengers will appreciate the full-sized doors and roomy backseat - a nice break from many of the cramped extended-cab trucks out there.
The 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive and electronic throttle control delivers smooth and efficient shifting, and the double-wishbone suspension and coil-over shocks work with rack-and-pinion steering to give the LT a wonderful ride. Look for it to be low-noise too, owed to the trademark Quiet Steel construction plus thick glass and an extra-stiff body and frame.
The Mark LT did very well in NHTSA crash tests, earning 5 stars in all but the rollover test, where it scored 4 stars. Safety features run from multi-stage air bags and seat belt pretensioners to ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution on rear brakes - a big help especially when the truck is carrying heavy loads.
For security from crime, look to the SecuriLock perimeter-alarm system, which is activated if somebody tries to enter the vehicle after the key is removed; it also will not allow the engine to be started without the coded key. The remote keyless entry comes with a panic alarm, and the driver's door also has a keyless-entry pad for punching in an access code.
Other notable standard features include Electronic Automatic Temperature Control, an Audiophile sound system with seven speakers plus an 8-inch subwoofer, and 18-inch spoked wheels. Some of the available options are a tonneau cover, skid plates, a monochrome package, Sirius satellite radio, a moonroof, a Navigation system, and an Overhead Modular Rail Storage System with integrated dome and map lights. The Mark LT 4x4 also offers a limited-slip axle option.
