2020 Lincoln Corsair

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Rating7.3

Ranked #13 in 

Compact SUV
Write Review
$35,945 - $44,830
Starting Price 
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on October 31, 2023

ProsConsWhat's New

Excellent cabin design

Opting for sunroof limits the headroom for rear row occupants

Since Corsair is a complete replacement for MKC, everything is going to be different than before

Attractive exterior design

Price tag increases rapidly with optional features

We cannot say it is a game-changer in the market. But it sure holds up against top dogs in its segment.

Perfect noise cancellation results in the silent cabin

Sluggish transmission

The exterior design has been changed, but the redesigned cabin is way different from the MKC interior in a good way.

Lincoln also updated the list of tech features and made some of those standard features which were optional before.

A premium audio system with 14 speakers, lane-keeping assist and lane departure warning system, and Pre-collision assist with an automatic emergency braking system.

Specs & Features

$35,945

price

250 hp @ 5500 rpm

horsepower

275 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm

torque

8-Speed Shiftable Automatic

transmission

2.0L 4cyl FWD 8A

engine

-

basic warranty

Overview

Corsair is the latest entry in Lincoln’s arsenal which replaces the old MKC. Although based on Ford Escape, this compact SUV certainly rises above both Escape and MKC as it offers a far superior and luxurious cabin with excellent quality, neck turning exterior design, and a joyful driving experience. 

The qualities are similar to its siblings such as Navigator and Nautilus. Fully loaded with tons of tech features and two engine options to choose from.

Buying Advice

At first glance, the standard trim seems to be the best choice. But we would advise you to go for Reserve trim. As not only does it improve upon the base trim by adding more premium features but what you get with it justifies its price tag. Available in two engine configurations, Reserve offers features such as premium quality leather upholstery, panoramic roof, a hands-free liftgate, and a revel audio system which is top of the class. Two packages ‘Reserve I’ and ‘Reserve II’ further enhance Corsair. Reserve I adds features such as more safety features, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats. Reserve II loads a digital gauge cluster, 24-way power-adjustable front seats, a more powerful engine, and the ability to use your phone as a key. 

Comparative Analysis against Competition

This magnificent machine starts from a price point of $35,945 and goes all the way upto $42,890 and can easily go against rivals such as BMW X3, Mercedes Benz GLC Class, and Volvo XC60.

Features
8.0/10

Lincoln Corsair comes in two trim levels. A standard/base trim and a ‘Reserve’ trim ranging from $36,940 to $45,825. But once you start choosing features or should we say dive into customizing your Corsair, it gets complicated quicker than you think. As each trim comes in different packages. By default just like any other lincoln, choosing base trim gets you a decently loaded corsair with various features ranging from exterior to interior. Standard infotainment and safety features are also available. But additional features are only bundled under specific packages. ‘Reserve’ on the other hand up the level of corsair by adding more premium features whether it be luxury features or more technology.

Trim

Standard

Reserve

MSRP (FWD)

$36,940

$43,625

MSRP (AWD)

$40,540

$45,825

Key Features

18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels

19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels

 

Lincoln Premium audio system with 10 speakers with subwoofer

Panoramic roof for 1st and 2nd row

 

2-way power front passenger seat with power cushion tilt

Leather upholstery

 

Lincoln soft-touch heated comfort seats

Front fog lamps

 

Dual-zone front automatic air conditioning

Black power heated side mirrors with auto-dimming, power-folding, and turn indicators

 

Manual tilt and telescopic steering wheel column

Revel audio system with 14 speakers and subwoofers

 

Illuminated locking glove box

Power tilt and telescopic steering wheel column

 

Day-night auto-dimming rearview mirror

Premium leather heated comfort seats

 

Black power heated side mirrors with power folding

 

Which Trim should you buy?

At first glance, the standard trim seems to be the best choice. But we would advise you to go for Reserve trim. As not only does it improve upon the base trim by adding more premium features but what you get with it justifies its price tag. Available in two engine configurations, Reserve offers features such as premium quality leather upholstery, panoramic roof, a hands-free liftgate, and a revel audio system which is top of the class. Two packages ‘Reserve I’ and ‘Reserve II’ further enhance Corsair. Reserve I adds features such as more safety features, a heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats. Reserve II loads a digital gauge cluster, 24-way power-adjustable front seats, a more powerful engine, and the ability to use your phone as a key. 

Fuel Economy
4.0/10

Usually, when it comes to powerful engines, bad fuel economy is expected naturally. but in the case of the 2020 Lincoln Corsair the situation is quite different or should we say magical. The 250 horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine is not only powerful but also offers excellent fuel economy. As you get a mileage of 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highways, and 25 mpg when combined. Which is easily one of the best mileage in its class. The 16.5 gallons of fuel tank capacity is also decent resulting in a range of 412.5 miles when combined. Making it a great vehicle in its class for daily usage as well as for long route trips. The laid-back drivers are going to cherish this one.

Models

2020 Lincoln Corsair

2020 Volvo XC60

2020 BMW X3

2020 Mercedes Benz GLC Class

MPG (City)

22

22

25

22

MPG (Highway)

29

29

29

29

MPG (Combined)

25

24

27

24

Fuel Capacity (gallons)

16.5

18.8

17.2

17.4

Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles)

363/478.5/412.5

413.6/545.2/451.2

430/498.8/464.4

382.8/504.6/417.6

The fuel economy of Lincoln Corsair is impressive but when compared to its rivals, it surpasses both Volvo XC60 and Mercedes Benz GLC Class. But BMW X3 takes the lead here by offering better mileage. In the fuel tank capacity section, Corsair again falls behind others as even though 16.5 gallons of the fuel tank is enough its rivals offer bigger ones resulting in a better range.

Interior
8.0/10

Lincoln is one of those brands in the market that knows how to do luxury right and Corsair demonstrates that, as you get one of the best-looking interior designs in its class where the whole cabin design is hypnotizing. It is a lot different from what MKC offered but way more similar to Navigator. On base trim, leather-trimmed surfaces with aluminum accents are available which feels excellent. ‘Reserve’ offers genuine wood incorporated with leather trim. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is manually tilt and telescopic on standard but a power version is available on reserve. We must say the joystick-like quick controls on the steering wheel are very good and provide perfect accessibility. 

As for the seats on standard, the front row gets power-adjustable seats with smooth bolsters. For rear occupants, a 60/40 split-folding bench seat with headrests is available. Both front and rear row occupants get adequate room for maximum-sized occupants. But if you opt for a sunroof on the rear row then expect the shortage of headroom. On reserve trim, 24-way power-adjustable front row seats are available with updated upholstery. Regardless, all seats are fully comfortable and everything is placed perfectly inside a fully soundproof cabin. The 27.6 cubic feet cargo capacity it offers is decent for its segment. But the inside of the cabin offers a decent number of storage spaces but they are all a bit smaller than usual.

Models

2020 Lincoln Corsair

2020 Volvo XC60

2020 BMW X3 

2020 Mercedes Benz GLC Class

Seating Capacity

5

5

5

5

Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Legroom, in inches)

39.5/57.1/43.2

38/58.2/41.5

41.1/57.6/40.3

37.8/57.3/40.8

Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Legroom, in inches)

38.7/56.3/38.6

38/56.3/38

39.1/56/36.4

38.5/56.5/37.3

Trunk Capacity (cubic feet)

27.6

29.7

28.7

19.4

Corsair offers one of the spacious cabins in its class, even when compared to its rivals it surpasses both Volvo XC60 and Mercedes Benz GLC Class. But BMW X3 offers more headroom. On the other hand Corsair’s cargo capacity is decent but only surpasses Mercedes Benz GLC Class as both Volvo XC60 and BMW X3 offer bigger trunk volume. However, you can further increase this volume by folding down rear seats. Below are some of the key interior features.

  • Illuminated locking glove box
  • Day and night auto-dimming rearview mirror
  • 24-way power-adjustable front row seats
  • Panoramic roof for 1st and 2nd row
  • Premium leather heated comfort seats

What’s there to keep you entertained?

Just like its siblings, Lincolns’ SYNC 3 infotainment system is standard on Corsair. Which includes an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. The display is responsive and smooth however the UI feels a bit slow. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support are available but Lincoln forces you to use a smartphone navigation app if your phone is plugged in. An optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and in-dash navigation are also available but you will have to pay extra for that.

Multiple USB ports and other features such as SiriusXM, BlueTooth wireless phone connectivity, are available on both standard and reserve trims. Lincoln’s premium audio system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer sounds amazing but going for Reserve trim replace it with the Revel audio system with 14 speakers and a subwoofer that is top of its class. Below are some of its key infotainment features.

  • 8-inch infotainment touchscreen
  • Apple CarPlay support
  • Android Auto support
  • Optional 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster
  • Revel audio system with 14 speakers and subwoofers

Exterior
8.0/10

Being a new entry in Lincoln’s arsenal, Corsair is naturally going to have a new design. But Lincoln tried to keep it close to its heritage. It is looking spectacular and yes very compact. At the front, you get the usual Lincoln trademarked chrome grille but its pointy headlights are something that differentiates it from its siblings. Below you get the front bumper which is more seamlessly designed than before. Opting for Reserve adds fog lamps.

The side design of Corsair is more curvaceous than others but still has some similarities with the Navigator such as side indicators and chrome side window trims. On top, you get a glass black roof without a sunroof. But going for reserve lets you have a sunroof for 1st and 2nd-row occupants. The rear design feels like a bit more exotic version of the MKC rear but with flipped tail lights. Various body parts are either body-colored or black providing a very premium look to the vehicle. All in all, it’s a great design that perfectly sits alongside its siblings. 

Models

2020 Lincoln Corsair

2020 Volvo XC60

2020 BMW X3

2020 Mercedes Benz GLC Class

Curb Weight (lbs)

3,691

4,105

3,931

3,889

Length (inches)

180.6

184.6

185.9

183.3

Width (inches)

76.2

74.9

74.4

74.8

Height (inches)

64.1

65.3

66

64.7

Ground Clearance (inches)

7.8

8.5

8

5

Wheelbase (inches)

106.7

112.8

112.8

113.1

When compared to its rivals, Lincoln Corsair is lighter and smaller than the others, except for its width which is wider. This is the reason why it offers excellent volume inside the cabin. And the lightweight of the vehicle results in better control over the vehicle. However, both Volvo XC60 and BMW X3 offer more ground clearance making them more suitable for rough surfaces.

Below are some of its key exterior features.

  • 19-inch ultra-bright machined alloy wheels
  • Glass panoramic vista roof for 1st row
  • Body-colored front and rear bumpers
  • Black power heated side mirrors with driver auto-dimming and power-folding
  • Front fog lamps

Safety
9.0/10

Despite being a fast machine, Corsair offers a controlled driving experience that is smooth and stable. But to ensure maximum survivability of the vehicle and its occupants. Lincoln has done a great job loading Corsair with excellent safety features. As you get features under the Lincoln co pilot360 package such as blind-spot detection with cross-traffic alert, pre-collision assist with an automatic emergency braking system, and rear backup camera. Other features are also available such as rear park assist with parking sensors, lane-keeping assist, lane departure warning system, and roll stability control. These features function properly which results in vehicles having excellent safety. This is the reason why Lincoln Corsair got full star ratings in crash tests by NHTSA and received a ‘Top safety pick’ badge from IIHS. Below are some of its key safety features.

  • Pre-collision assist with an automatic emergency braking system
  • Blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert
  • Lane-keeping assist
  • Lane departure warning
  • Roll stability control

Competition
6.0/10

2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2020 Volvo XC60

Both Lincoln Corsair and Volvo XC60 are excellent vehicles but Corsair excels by having better engine performance and a spacious cabin with more volume inside. XC60 on the other hand offers more ground clearance, better driving range because of its bigger fuel tank and more cargo capacity.

2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2020 BMW X3

When stacked against BMW X3, Corsair sure offers a faster engine, more spacious cabin, and lighter body. But it can't match X3’s driving dynamics and better fuel economy. BMW also offers more cargo capacity which Corsair can't match even after folding down rear row seats.

2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2020 Mercedes Benz GLC Class

Mercedes Benz GLC Class is easily the most first name which comes up while talking about Lincoln Corsair. So when compared, Mercedes offer a faster engine which when combined with a bigger fuel tank results in a better driving range. However, Corsair offers a more spacious cabin, cargo capacity, and better control over vehicles because of more efficient brakes, and lighter body.

Final Verdict

It seems Lincoln’s decision of replacing MKZ with Corsair was perfect. As it surpasses its predecessors in every way by offering a better engine performance, a more spacious cabin with excellent quality design, and a plethora of technology and safety features. Making it a nice family compact SUV for daily use. But the rapid increase of price tag as you opt for more features would freeze some buyers while deciding. So if you are not worried about paying a bit more for such qualities and features then we think you should consider getting a 2020 Lincoln Corsair.

Trims

    Base
    $35,945 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl FWD 8A
    • Horsepower: 250 hp @ 5500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 275 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 6.6 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 25 mpg
    Standard
    $38,145 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl AWD 8A
    • Horsepower: 250 hp @ 5500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 280 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 6.2 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 24 mpg
    Reserve
    $42,630 onwards
    • Engine: 2.0L 4cyl FWD 8A
    • Horsepower: 250 hp @ 5500 rpm hp
    • Torque: 275 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm
    • 0-60 mph: 6.6 sec
    • Top Speed: 130 mph
    • Fuel Economy Combined: 25 mpg

Compare to similar cars

Price

$35,945- $44,830

Engine

Gasoline

Rating

7.28

Horsepower

250 hp @ 5500 rpm

Torque

280 lb.-ft. @ 3000 rpm

Capacity

5

Read Review

$37,800- $47,900

Gasoline

7.29

272 hp @ 6500 rpm

280 lb.-ft. @ 1600 rpm

5

Read Review

$41,950- $55,900

Gasoline

7.75

248 hp @ 5200 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm

5

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$51,100- $61,000

Gasoline

7.9

248 hp @ 5200 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm

5

Read Review

$44,095- $55,095

Gasoline

6.64

237 hp @ 5000 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1500 rpm

5

Read Review

$37,250- $55,850

Gasoline

6.91

268 hp @ 5600 rpm

280 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm

5

Read Review

$45,200- $80,600

Gasoline

6.77

247 hp @ 5500 rpm

269 lb.-ft. @ 1300 rpm

5

Read Review

$36,720- $45,210

Gasoline

6.38

235 hp @ 4800 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1650 rpm

5

Read Review

$40,150- $52,650

Gasoline

7.8

250 hp @ 5500 rpm

258 lb.-ft. @ 1500 rpm

5

Read Review

$41,400- $80,500

Gasoline

7.46

280 hp @ 5200 rpm

306 lb.-ft. @ 2000 rpm

5

Read Review

2020 Lincoln Corsair vs competitor's 0-60

    Car Name
    0-60 MPH
    Quarter Mile
    Top Speed
    SourceCompare
    6.6 sec15.0 sec130 mph
    5.8 sec14.4 sec132 mph
    2020 BMW X4

    Ranked #2

    6 sec15.1 sec130 mph
    6.1 sec14.1 sec-
    6.1 sec15.5 sec-
    6.3 sec-142 mph

    2020 Lincoln Corsair vs competitor's MPG

      Car Name
      MPG City
      MPG Highway
      MPG Combined
      Fuel Tank Capacity
      Range (C/H)
      SourceCompare
      22 mpg29 mpg25 mpg16.2 gal.363/478.5 mi.
      2020 BMW X3

      Ranked #1

      25 mpg29 mpg27 mpg17.2 gal.430/498.8 mi.
      23 mpg30 mpg26 mpg15.9 gal.365.7/477 mi.
      23 mpg29 mpg26 mpg16 gal.368/464 mi.
      22 mpg28 mpg25 mpg15.9 gal.349.8/445.2 mi.
      2020 BMW X4

      Ranked #3

      23 mpg28 mpg25 mpg17.2 gal.395.6/481.6 mi.

      2020 Lincoln Corsair vs competitor's dimensions

        Car Name
        Length
        Width
        Height
        Ground Clearance
        Wheelbase
        SourceCompare
        180.6 in.74.3 in.64.1 in.7.8 in.106.7 in.
        197.6 in.79.1 in.77.4 in.5.8 in.119 in.
        189.6 in.74.9 in.66.1 in.7.8 in.112.5 in.
        188.9 in.76.1 in.65.6 in.8.4 in.113.1 in.
        2020 BMW X4

        Ranked #4

        187.5 in.75.5 in.63.8 in.8 in.112.8 in.
        186.7 in.74.8 in.65.7 in.5.7 in.108.3 in.

        2020 Lincoln Corsair vs competitor's trunk space

          Car Name
          Trunk Capacity
          Passenger Volume
          Max Trunk Volume
          SourceCompare
          27.6 cu.ft.102.5 cu.ft.57.6 cu.ft.
          33.5 cu.ft.145.7 cu.ft.95.4 cu.ft.
          19.4 cu.ft.-56.5 cu.ft.
          31.4 cu.ft.104.4 cu.ft.65.1 cu.ft.
          17.7 cu.ft.71.6 cu.ft.54.6 cu.ft.
          29.7 cu.ft.103 cu.ft.63.3 cu.ft.

          2020 Lincoln Corsair vs competitor's cargo space

            Car Name
            Cargo Volume
            Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area
            Max Cargo Volume
            Bed Length
            SourceCompare
            65.7 cu.ft.27.6 cu.ft.57.6 cu.ft.-
            49.4 cu.ft.17.6 cu.ft.49.4 cu.ft.-
            32.8 cu.ft.31.1 cu.ft.79.8 cu.ft.-
            14.8 cu.ft.17.6 cu.ft.52.9 cu.ft.-
            2020 BMW X3

            Ranked #5

            15.5 cu.ft.28.7 cu.ft.62.7 cu.ft.-
            85 cu.ft.31.4 cu.ft.65.1 cu.ft.-

            2020 Lincoln Corsair vs competitor's towing capacity

              Car Name
              Towing Capacity
              Payload Capacity
              Weight
              SourceCompare
              3000 lbs.-3691 lbs.
              7716 lbs.1984 lbs.4815 lbs.
              5500 lbs.-3638 lbs.
              5291 lbs.1550 lbs.3870 lbs.
              5291 lbs.1293 lbs.4217 lbs.
              4409 lbs.1435 lbs.4099 lbs.

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