2023 Lincoln Corsair

Though Lincoln has three variants of the Corsair, the top Grand Touring version of this SUV is a plug-in hybrid variant, hence, the regular SUV is split into two trims. The Standard trim starts selling for $39,885 and buyers looking to up the features and tech will have to shell out $44,270 for the Reserve trim. Lincoln includes a number of desirable features in exchange for a significant price increase, including 19-inch wheels, a hands-free power liftgate, fog lamps, a 14-speaker Revel stereo system, in-dash navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, a power-adjustable steering column, genuine wood interior trim, and heated front seats with 10-way power adjustment and memory settings for the driver.

Collection II package

• Front and rear parking sensors
• 360-degree camera system
• Hands-free tailgate
• Auto-dimming mirrors
• Power-folding rear seatbacks
• Power-adjustable steering column
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless smartphone charging pad

Collection III package

• Adaptive headlights
• ActiveGlide hands-free highway driving system
• Heated rear seats
• Automated parking system
• Head-up display
• 14-speaker Revel sound system
• An upgraded cabin filtration system

Jet Appearance package

• 20-inch alloy wheels finished in black
• Pillar Black grille, fender badges, door frame molding, and lower fascias
• Body-color fender molding and lower door molding

We Recommend

We believe that the Reserve trim holds a lot more value than the standard model considering the additional features that it comes with. The Corsair Reserve has a much-plusher cabin finished in upscale materials like genuine wood and leather compared to the plastic panels and faux leather found in the base model.

Release Date

Although there aren't official dates available, Lincoln intends to bring the updated Corsair on sale in early 2023.

A 2.3L, 4-cylinder turbocharged engine powered Corsair's previous iteration. With the 2023 model year, Corsair discontinued this powerplant for a standard 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which is the only available engine for the Standard and Reserve trim. Both front-wheel drive and an 8-speed automatic transmission come standard while an all-wheel drive system is available as an option. The engine produces 250 horsepower and when paired along with the AWD system, Corsair manages to clock a 0-60 mph time of 6.1 seconds, putting it right within the proximity of its European rivals. The Corsair also has a plug-in hybrid model called the Grand Touring trim which is reviewed separately but is a great choice for someone looking for a more efficient variant of this compact luxury SUV.

Though the Lincoln places itself in the last spot in terms of acceleration, the American manufacturer has managed to keep itself in this tough competition and those looking to obtain a quicker acceleration can opt for the all-wheel drive system. The Audi Q5 has the most powerful engine in the lineup and hence it happens to be the quickest SUV to 60mph. All the SUVs use a similar engine configuration and differ majorly in their transmission configuration. Audi also happens to be the only option to come with an AWD system as standard while other SUVs provide it as an option.

2023 Lincoln Corsair Ride and Handling

Lincoln prioritizes quality and comfort. Despite being a compact luxury SUV, the Corsair has quiet interiors, plush seats, and a smooth ride. Every part of the standard strut-type front and integral bush rear suspensions were tweaked or completely reworked by Lincoln technicians to further minimize road noise and roughness of transmission to the Corsair's cabin, enhancing ride and comfort. If you want even more refinement, you can choose the Corsair with an adaptive suspension as an option that helps the tiny SUV benefit from a softer ride, less noise, and improved body control on winding roads.

2023 Lincoln Corsair Braking Performance

The Corsair is equipped with a respectable braking system from Lincoln that is capable of handling any circumstance. The front disc brakes have good ventilation, and the braking system includes numerous aids such as electronic parking brakes, hill hold controls, and an anti-lock braking system. The front wheels carry 12.1-inch rotors while the rear wheels come equipped with 11.9-inch discs which together help this compact SUV stop from 60 mph in just 111 feet.

Lincoln manages to put out a commendable braking distance but it isn't the best that the class has to offer. BMW takes an easy win in terms of braking distance and the surprising fact is that the X3 happens to be the heaviest vehicle in the lineup. The Mercedes despite having a range-topping front brake size takes the longest distance to come to a complete stop. Audi sits right behind the Lincoln with a stopping distance of 112 ft., which is still a competitive figure for a vehicle that is not performance oriented.

The front-wheel drive, turbo-four model achieves 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway while choosing all-wheel drive reduces the city mileage by 1 mpg. These figures aren't less in any way as they put the Corsair on par with its rivals. The true differentiation comes in its overall range, which solely depends on the gas tank capacity in this case, and the 16.2-gallon fuel capacity means that the Corsair might see a fuel break much earlier than its rivals.

The EPA rating of Corsair is rather practical and very similar to what this particular segment has to offer. The Corsair does not take a fall in terms of fuel efficiency but the rivals come with a larger gas tank, allowing them to cover better distances overall. Corsair barely crosses the 400-mile mark in terms of combined range whereas the class-topping Audi Q5 manages to cover a total of 463 miles with a single tank of gas. The BMW takes the second spot on the table, leaving Mercedes-Benz in third. However, if city commutes are what you’d mostly be doing, the Corsair would not disappoint as it's as efficient as its rivals.

The attractive inside of the 2023 Corsair is comparable to that of other Lincoln SUV models. It has a lot of features and beautiful leather upholstery. The option to buy features like programmable ambient lighting, power seats with 24-way adjustment, a head-up display, and an app that enables smartphone unlocking, locking, and starting of the car will add a hefty sum to the final price. There are two unique interior themes available. The first, Smoked Truffle, gives the Corsair's interior a sequence of warmly toned trimmings and upholstery, while the second, Eternal Red, gives the interior a throwback appearance with deep red leather and shiny aluminum trim. Another method the Corsair maintains occupant safety and comfort while driving is through the filtration and purification of the cabin. The technology maintains the Corsair's interior air fresh and clean in addition to the vehicle's conventional dual-zone automatic temperature control by offering reliable and effective defense against contaminants and offensive odors. The 60/40 flat-folding rear seatback, which was formerly an option on the 2023 Lincoln Corsair, is now a standard feature. It automatically folds down at the push of a button, providing incredible cargo flexibility while reducing the time and effort required to fold seats.

Buyers leaning toward the Corsair can rejoice as the SUV provides a larger cabin than its rivals, which cost much higher in comparison. The Lincoln offers great legroom and headroom on both rows, allowing taller occupants to feel comfortable. The only place where one of the rivals beat the Corsair is in terms of the rear-row headroom, where the Audi shines with a slightly better room. Things aren’t all that confusing when you move to the cargo space and the Corsair takes a clear victory by offering a class-leading trunk capacity. Fold down the rear seas and it opens up an even larger area enough to pack a vacation worth of luggage.

Some standout interior features on the 2023 Lincoln Corsair include

• Power-adjustable front seats
• Heated front seats
• Leather upholstery
• Drivers seat memory function
• Interior ambient lighting
• Dual-zone automatic climate control

How intuitive is the 2023 Lincoln Corsair infotainment system?

Both a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 13.2-inch touchscreen running Lincoln's Sync 4 infotainment system come standard. The interface is reasonably simple to use, and the convenient small joystick on the steering wheel encourages the driver to control the screen without having to reach it. Every model has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, however the Standard trim's in-dash navigation costs extra. The audio setup on the base model comprises a 10-speaker layout but picking the Reserve trim brings on board a Corsair-specific high-end Revel audio system with 14 speakers. A 12-channel Class D amplifier, HD radio, satellite radio, 18-station memory presets, and rear-seat audio controls are all included in the system. Music can also be enjoyed in Traditional Stereo, Audio, or On Stage modes.

Some of the standout infotainment features on the 2023 Lincoln Corsair are

• 13.2-inch infotainment touchscreen
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 10-speaker audio or 14-speaker premium Revel audio system
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Steering-mounted joystick controller
• Lincoln’s Sync 4 system

The Corsair already has highly sophisticated and well-designed exterior aesthetics. Lincoln nevertheless continued to strive to make advances despite this. A newer, wider grille and new, revised daytime running lights on the front give the car a commanding visual presence. Additionally, Crystal Red and Whisper Blue have been added to the already wide choice of colors, giving you even more possibilities to complement Corsair's daring new style. The end result is a car that is attractive in any situation. The Corsair's sleek body distinguishes itself from the Ford Escape in a significant way, with some muscle and sinew poking through its minimalist suit. The SUV will now have a package with blacked-out wheels and trim. There are two new wheel designs offered in each of three sizes, with a diameter of 18, 19, or 20 inches. The rear does not receive any changes and features the sleek taillights as before and the blacked-out pillars blend in with the rear window, giving the SUV a premium appeal. On the bottom, there are two massive exhaust tips visible that accentuate the whole design of the vehicle.

Despite having a larger cabin and cargo space, the Corsair has the smallest exterior dimensions. The SUV sits lower to the ground in comparison, giving it a more planted ride feel and its lower height keeps the body roll very minimal. The Corsair is also the lightest SUV in the lineup while BMW takes the spot for being the heaviest and the longest vehicle here. All these SUVs come with ample ground clearance to keep their belly away from getting scrapped and are also capable of handling mild off-road if necessary.

Some of the standout exterior features include

• 18”/ 19”/ 20” alloy wheels
• LED headlights
• Power liftgate
• Panoramic glass roof
• Single-tip exhaust on either side
• Daytime running lights

The Co-Pilot 360 suite of driver assistance systems is included on all models, but to access cutting-edge features like Lincoln's ActiveGlide hands-free driving system, you must upgrade to the Co-Pilot 360 2.1 Drive system, which is an option. On designated split highways known as Hands-Free Blue Zones, the ActiveGlide driver assistance technology makes it possible to drive hands-free. Depending on the amount of traffic and the state of the road, the technology can autonomously accelerate, change lanes, and stop the Corsair when activated. Even though Corsair is not entirely independent as a result of this, it is a step in the right direction. Though the 2023 model hasn't been tested yet for crash safety, the previous year Corsair performed extremely well, resulting in NHTSA scoring it 5 stars and IIHS awarding the SUV with the Top Safety Pick title.

Some of the standout safety features available with the 2023 Lincoln Corsair are

• Forward collision mitigation
• Lane-keeping system
• Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning
• Adaptive cruise control 
• Evasive steering assistance
• Rear automatic braking

2023 Lincoln Corsair vs 2023 BMW X3

BMW is known to provide engaging drive regardless of the kind of vehicles they make and the X3 is no exception, with thrilling drive and adequate steering response. The Lincoln sure does not feel as sharp in terms of the drive but is more spacious than the X3. The Corsair also manages to offer an equally appealing cabin with the top-notch build quality, making it a more valuable deal. There is no reason to skip the Lincoln apart from drive engagement being your major priority, which the BMW takes a clear win at.

2023 Lincoln Corsair vs 2023 Audi Q5

The Audi Q5 is the quickest vehicle in the lineup and although not very advanced as the Lincoln in terms of quality and drive feel, the Lincoln is much more affordable. There are no evident differences in terms of the materials used or the construction that both these SUVs carry but the brand value that Audi holds is far superior to that of Lincoln and this is the major force that leads a lot of people to choose the Q5 over the Corsair. However, if all that you’re looking for is value and quality, the Lincoln will be a great purchase and can help you save a lot of money.

2023 Lincoln Corsair vs 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

There is a clear difference between both these SUVs especially in their cabin feel. Despite the Lincoln being a well-made SUV with premium materials, the Mercedes-Benz showcases the true definition of luxury and hence, costs way too much compared to the Lincoln. Opting for the higher Reserve trim on the Lincoln would still cost less than the Mercedes but if all you're looking for is that plush interior and comfort that would age well, the Mercedes is a great option to look at but the deal that Lincoln put out imposes a lot more value, hence making the Corsair our choice out of the two.

Even though the Corsair is a compact SUV, Lincoln doesn't skimp on the quality of the inside. High-quality soft-touch fabrics are employed in both the spacious second row and the front row. The inside may pamper and coddle with features like entering chimes and the optional massaging front seats on the top model. A previous issue with the old screen's diminutive size is addressed with the new standard infotainment touchscreen. The 2023 Corsair offers enough advantages with its revamp to entice open-minded customers away from the typical premium brands. The Lincoln Corsair is a solid option to consider if you're looking for a plush and comfortable ride and we see no issues with the SUV that could turn your purchase into a nightmare.