Lincoln's stylists did a better than decent job of making a square peg fit in a round hole in the design of the Mark LT's front end. Only the most observant eye notices that what looks like a distinctive Lincoln face, like that of a Navigator or of a Blackwood, is the trademark air vent-like Lincoln grille carefully shaved to slide into the same opening as a Ford F-150 grille. Otherwise, everything that makes up what the Mark LT first presents to the world is, yes, out of the same parts bins as feed the F-150 assembly line. Still, it's not an unflattering face.

Distinctive marks on the Mark LT's side panels are few, but noteworthy. Front fender side panels sport the Lincoln badge and a Mark LT logo. The mirrors wear chrome caps over a matte black base, which matches the mounting plate filling the forward lower corners of the front door windows. Door handles are chrome full-rounds set in body-color bezels. Chrome cladding visually links the front and rear bumpers.

Large, mostly rectangular taillight and reflector lenses bridge the seam between the fenders and tailgate. A chrome handle in a body-color surround above an oversize Lincoln badge opens the lockable tailgate, which also wears Mark LT identification. The license plate occupies a recess in the chrome rear bumper above an inset step pad over the optional hitch receiver plate. A single chrome exhaust tip peeks out under the side body panel aft of the right rear tire.

Climbing into the Mark LT is a major step up even with the assist of the optional running boards. And about those running boards, they weren't much help. To be truly functional, they need to protrude farther from the body. As they are, they're some help climbing in, but when you're climbing out, they mostly serve to dirty the back side of your leg as it's nigh impossible to twist your foot around to use them as a step. The powered running boards on the Navigator, which extend when the door is opened and retract when it's closed, were a better idea.

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