Lincoln, traditionally known for its grand sedans like the Continental and Town Car, has successfully translated its luxury ethos to SUVs, most notably with the flagship Navigator. However, the brand’s current bestseller takes a different, more accessible approach: the 2021 Lincoln Corsair. This compact luxury crossover, starting at $36,105 and measuring just 180.6 inches long, offers Lincoln’s signature comfort and refinement in a more practical and popular segment. We spent a week test-driving the 2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve to evaluate how it competes in the crowded luxury SUV market and determine if it’s the right choice for you.
Elegant and Understated Design
Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Lincoln MKC, the 2021 Lincoln Corsair shares its platform with the Ford Escape but distinguishes itself with a unique and sophisticated design. Lincoln designers have successfully crafted a luxury aesthetic that avoids any visual resemblance to its mainstream sibling.
Introduced in 2020, the Corsair boasts a contemporary and distinctive appearance that is both refined and assertive. Its upright front end and high-mounted headlights project a sense of quiet confidence. The gracefully sloping window line, forward-leaning rear windshield, and blacked-out roof pillars give the 2021 Lincoln Corsair a less boxy profile, while the slim taillight bar serves as a subtle nod to classic Lincoln design cues. Our test vehicle’s Iced Mocha paint further enhanced the vehicle’s upscale appeal. Overall, the 2021 Lincoln Corsair achieves a premium look without resorting to aggressive or ostentatious styling.
Modern and User-Friendly Interior
The interior of the 2021 Lincoln Corsair echoes the design language found in other recent Lincoln SUVs, emphasizing clean lines and solid, substantial forms reminiscent of classic dashboards. However, it remains thoroughly modern, featuring an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen positioned centrally on the dash, complemented by a well-organized array of physical buttons beneath. In contrast to some luxury vehicles, Lincoln has prioritized simplicity and ease of use in the Corsair’s controls. While most materials are befitting of a luxury vehicle, we did observe some less premium plastic elements on the interior door panels and the rear of the center console.
The 8-inch touchscreen, although not the largest available today, operates efficiently and provides seamless integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. We anticipate that Lincoln may upgrade to a larger screen, perhaps the 13.2-inch unit from the Lincoln Nautilus or the 10-inch screen from the Navigator, in future model years without requiring a significant dashboard redesign. The driver also benefits from a customizable digital gauge cluster. Higher trim levels of the 2021 Lincoln Corsair offer smartphone-as-a-key technology, enabling authorized smartphones to unlock and start the vehicle via a dedicated app.
Surprisingly Spacious Cabin
While some luxury SUVs compromise interior space for style or mechanical packaging, the 2021 Lincoln Corsair offers a surprisingly roomy cabin for its compact classification. Although it concedes a few cubic feet compared to the Ford Escape, it surpasses many competitors in the luxury compact SUV segment in terms of passenger and cargo space.
The 2021 Lincoln Corsair comfortably accommodates four adults and can manage five, especially with the adjustable rear seats positioned fully rearward. The optional 24-way “Perfect Position” front seats offer extensive customization, a valuable feature for drivers seeking personalized comfort, although some might find the seats themselves could be wider. For cargo, the Corsair provides 28 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, expanding to 58 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Additionally, the vehicle boasts a respectable towing capacity of 3,000 pounds.
Comfortable and Composed Ride Quality
Contrary to the often firm ride found in many luxury SUVs, the 2021 Lincoln Corsair prioritizes a comfortable and easygoing driving experience. While opting for the test vehicle’s large 20-inch wheels will introduce some road feel, the overall suspension tuning is geared towards smoothness and tranquility. The Corsair generally delivers a smooth, quiet, and effortless ride.
However, this focus on comfort doesn’t equate to a dull driving experience. The Corsair inherits the moderately sporty underpinnings of the Ford Escape, retaining a degree of agility that belies its luxury designation. Driving enthusiasts may still prefer the sharper handling of a BMW X3 or Alfa Romeo Stelvio, but the 2021 Lincoln Corsair maintains a connection to the road and exhibits composure in corners. While not an engineering marvel, even with the optional adaptive suspension, it avoids feeling overly soft or unrefined. A tight turning radius and well-weighted steering further contribute to its ease of driving.
Responsive and Efficient Powertrain Options
The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offers two turbocharged four-cylinder engine choices, both delivering brisk acceleration and respectable fuel economy. A 250-horsepower 2.0-liter engine is standard, shared with higher trims of the Ford Escape. Our test vehicle featured the upgraded 2.3-liter engine producing 295 horsepower, an engine found in vehicles ranging from the Ford Mustang to the Ford Ranger. While the 2.3-liter provides a horsepower advantage over some competitors in this price range, both engines offer comparable real-world responsiveness. A plug-in hybrid variant, producing a combined 268 horsepower from a gasoline engine and electric motors, is also available.
The base 2021 Lincoln Corsair with the 2.0-liter engine and front-wheel drive achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy figures of 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined. Choosing all-wheel drive or the AWD-only 2.3-liter engine results in a minimal reduction of approximately 1 mpg. We observed an average of 25 mpg in our 2.3-liter test vehicle. The plug-in hybrid version offers an estimated 28 miles of electric-only range and a 33 mpg combined rating thereafter, outperforming luxury rivals in efficiency, although potentially at the expense of outright speed. All 2021 Lincoln Corsair engines are designed to run on regular-grade gasoline, offering another benefit to fuel budgets.
Award-Winning Safety Ratings
The 2021 Lincoln Corsair earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), achieving top marks in crash tests and demonstrating superior performance from its automatic emergency braking system. It narrowly missed the highest Top Safety Pick+ award due to less-than-perfect headlight illumination scores on most trims. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Corsair a five-out-of-five-star overall safety rating.
A comprehensive suite of advanced safety technologies comes standard on every 2021 Lincoln Corsair. These include forward automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, and a helpful rear-seat reminder. The optional Co-Pilot360 Plus package adds adaptive cruise control, enhanced semi-autonomous steering capabilities, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view parking camera. While some competitors might offer a slightly more extensive list of standard safety features, the 2021 Lincoln Corsair is notably generous, particularly considering its starting price point.
Competitive Pricing and Value
The 2021 Lincoln Corsair starts at $36,105 for the base Standard trim. Even in its base configuration, the Corsair is well-equipped, featuring leatherette upholstery, heated and 10-way adjustable front seats with memory, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and a power liftgate, in addition to the aforementioned safety technology. Optional upgrades include the Co-Pilot360 suite, genuine leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a navigation system, and the more powerful 2.3-liter engine.
The Reserve trim, like our test vehicle, starts at $42,890 and adds leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, navigation, and a 14-speaker Revel sound system. Features like the Perfect Position seats, phone-as-a-key system, and wireless smartphone charging are optional and require the Reserve trim. With options, our test vehicle reached a total price of $57,680. While luxury SUVs can easily reach even higher price points, prospective 2021 Lincoln Corsair buyers should carefully consider their desired features and compare pricing with competitors to ensure they are getting the best value. The Corsair Grand Touring plug-in hybrid starts at $50,230 and includes additional features compared to the Reserve trim, while also qualifying for a $6,843 federal tax credit.
Key Competitors in the Compact Luxury SUV Segment
The 2021 Lincoln Corsair faces strong competition in the compact luxury crossover segment. Several models offer compelling alternatives, particularly in terms of affordability and luxury features.
The Acura RDX stands out as a well-rounded SUV with enjoyable driving dynamics, even greater cargo capacity than the Corsair, and a fully loaded price point below $50,000. However, the Corsair offers more comfortable seats and more intuitive controls. The Cadillac XT4, Lincoln’s cross-town rival, presents a sportier aesthetic but falls short of the Corsair in terms of quickness, spaciousness, and interior refinement. The redesigned Buick Envision shares similar drawbacks to the XT4 but boasts a more affordable price and greater room than the Cadillac, though not the Corsair. The Volvo XC40, while technically a subcompact SUV, competes with the Corsair due to its combination of spaciousness and affordability. For buyers seeking more space and power while maintaining a similar design philosophy, the mid-size Lincoln Nautilus is an excellent option to consider.
Conclusion: Refined Luxury in a Compact Form
The 2021 Lincoln Corsair successfully embodies the essence of Lincoln luxury in a smaller, more accessible SUV package. It delivers the gentility and comfort associated with the Lincoln brand without the bulk of larger models. This is complemented by pleasant driving dynamics, a surprisingly spacious interior, and a competitive starting price.
While not engineered for outright sportiness like some European rivals, nor the most lavishly appointed luxury crossover available, the 2021 Lincoln Corsair excels in many key areas. This is especially true for buyers who prioritize value and opt for the well-equipped base model. If you believed a larger SUV was necessary to achieve a smooth, quiet ride and ample interior space, the refined and roomy 2021 Lincoln Corsair is certainly worth experiencing.
