Lincoln introduced the Corsair in 2020 as its entrant in the compact luxury crossover segment. It's based on the Ford Escape, and it shares its essential chassis and powertrain hardware with that vehicle. However, Lincoln worked hard to make the Corsair look and feel like a proper luxury vehicle. The exterior wears the brand's latest design approach, while its interior has upscale materials and trims. The Corsair is an American player in a segment long dominated by European and Asian brands.

What's New

• The Grand Touring trim features a plug-in hybrid AWD powertrain
• New paint and wheel choices
• Technology package adds two additional rear USB charge ports
• Co-Pilot360 Plus package gains front and rear camera washers
• Monochromatic package features black 20-inch wheels, additional body-color trim, and color matched badges
• Sport Appearance package has 20-inch two-tone wheels, black mesh grille, additional body-color trim, illuminated sill plates
• A new towing package is available

What We Think

Lincoln impressed us with its full-size Navigator, which was followed by the midsize Aviator SUV. The Corsair proves that downsizing doesn't mean sacrificing the brand's approach to luxury.

Like its larger counterparts, the Corsair shares key hardware with Ford vehicles and successfully hides its mainstream roots. That's especially apparent in the cabin, which has an attractive art-deco design trimmed in lovely materials. Details like the solid-feeling switches and orchestral chimes indicate Lincoln's effort to make the Corsair more than just a plush Escape.

On the road, the Corsair distinguishes itself too, thanks to its quiet and absorbent ride. Accurate steering aids a lightweight, tossable feeling. In our off-road testing the available AWD system enabled some rally-car antics. Acceleration is comparable to segment competitors, and we found the brakes to be grabby. Other than that, though, driving the Corsair is pleasant and relaxing.

The Corsair can get expensive, but Lincoln's entry-level SUV proves that it's worthy of consideration against established players in the luxury arena.

Performance and Fuel Economy

The Corsair's standard engine is a 2.0-liter turbo-four producing 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. FWD is standard, while AWD is optional. An eight-speed automatic transmission is used. MotorTrend tested an AWD Corsair with this engine accelerating from 0-60 mph in 7.3 seconds. In 2020, the EPA rated this engine's fuel economy at 22/29 mpg city/highway with FWD, and 21/29 mpg with AWD.

A 2.3-liter turbo-four is available. It produces 280 hp and 310-lb ft of torque, again sent through an eight-speed automatic but with AWD standard. The test team at MotorTrend measured a 6.5-second 0-60 mph time from this engine. Fuel economy for the 2020 Corsair with this engine was EPA-rated at 21/28 mpg.

For 2021, the Corsair Grand Touring plug-in hybrid joins the lineup. It features a 2.5-liter I-4 engine powering the front wheels through a CVT automatic and a rear axle electric motor powered by a 14.4-kWh battery pack. Combined output is 266 hp. Lincoln is targeting 25 miles of all-electric driving range.

Safety

The Corsair gets a five-star overall safety score from the NHTSA (out of five stars). From the IIHS, it earned 2020 Top Safety Pick designation when equipped with the available LED projector headlights. Regardless, it earned top marks in all IIHS crashworthiness tests.

Standard active safety and driver-assist features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Optional features include adaptive cruise control with lane keep assist, rain sensing windshield wipers, and a semi-autonomous parking aid.

Cargo Space and Interior Room

With the second-row seats upright, the Corsair's cargo space measures 27.6 cubic feet. With the 60/40 split-folding second-row seats lowered, maximum cargo capacity is 57.6 cubic feet. It's possible that the Grand Touring trim's hybrid battery pack will slightly reduce cargo space.

Front-row headroom measures 39.5 inches in the Corsair, which compares to 39.4 inches in the Cadillac XT4. Second-row headroom is also close, measuring 38.7 inches in the Corsair and 38.3 inches in the XT4. Front-row legroom advantage goes to the Lincoln, as it offers 43.2 inches to the Cadillac's 40.4 inches. However, second-row legroom measures 38.6 inches in the Corsair, compared to the XT4's 39.5.

Technology

Standard Corsair equipment includes an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto; built-in navigation is included on higher trims. A 6.5-inch gauge cluster display is standard, while a full 12.3-inch unit is optional. Four USB ports are standard, with two more and a wireless charging pad optionally available. A 10-speaker audio system is included, and a 14-speaker Revel premium setup is optional or included on Reserve trim. All trims can be equipped with a 360-degree parking camera system. An optional system allows the driver's smartphone to be used instead of the standard vehicle key.

Top Features by Trim

2021 Lincoln Corsair Standard

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Power liftgate
• Sliding second-row seats
• 10-speaker audio system

2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Panoramic sunroof
• Heated premium leather seating upholstery
• Built-in navigation

2021 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring (plug-in hybrid)

• Hybrid AWD
• Estimated 25 miles of all-electric range

Key Competitors:

• Audi Q3
• Volvo XC40
• Cadillac XT4
• Lexus NX