The 2023 Lincoln Corsair, based on Ford’s Escape SUV, gives a suitable sense of a land yacht for this more costly model. The Corsair is a tiny family automobile for freeway-based road trips and regular suburban activities. It is also a fuel-efficient plug-in vehicle that can travel great distances. It is a relatively modest two-row crossover. But it’s so constrained that you wish it were an SUV that runs entirely on electricity or a conventional hybrid.
2023 looks better, thanks to a more contemporary front end with a more prominent grille and a new, sexier light arrangement and style. Thanks to the new Whisper Blue (and Crystal Red) exterior paint, it now looks less like a dowdy family vehicle. Inside, hands-free driving is possible with ActiveGlide 1.2. The top Grand Touring model only offers the 2.5-litre plug-in hybrid or the 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder gas engine. The entry-level Standard and mid-level Reserve models have front- and all-wheel drive options.
Unlike most SUVs of similar size, the Alfa Romeo Tonale and Lexus NX both come with a plug-in option, but the Alfa is much less expensive. A plug-in version of the 2024 Dodge Hornet will also be released shortly. The plug-in hybrid BMW X3 xDrive30e is no longer available, although it is a comparable size and has a more upscale focus.
The three Corsair trims offer two drivetrains—Standard, Reserve, and Grand Touring—with the GT only being offered as an AWD plug-in hybrid. A 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque is standard on the basic ($38,690 to start) and mid-grades. AWD costs $2,300 more on the 2.0-litre Standard and Reserve models. The Grand Touring ($53,885) has a continuously variable gearbox (CVT) and a 2.5-liter Atkinson engine.
Even though the plug-in version sacrifices some rear comfort, the Corsair provides significant legroom up front and a respectable amount in the back despite its severely bolstered and stiff seats. The rear seat is simple to fold into various configurations, and the load capacity is more than enough for a small SUV. The Corsair is a more contemporary SUV thanks to a revamped front end and interior updates, notably a 13.2-inch touchscreen equipped with Ford’s newest Sync 4 infotainment system.
Although Lincoln’s ActiveGlide is a pricey option, it is a feature that makes lengthy travels more bearable and provides a preview of future automotive technology for regular highway travellers or Roadtrippers. The plug-in hybrid is the most practical alternative in terms of fuel economy, but its high cost and limited range make other PHEV SUV options seem more attractive. The Corsair’s basic model is a gas-powered luxury SUV with plenty of standard equipment.
What’s New?
- The destination charge went from $1,195 to $1,395, and the base price rose from $36,580 to $38,690.
- Available with the ActiveGlide 1.2 hands-free driving technology from Lincoln.
- a larger grille and updated daytime running light design, new possibilities for wheels
- Accessible Auto Air Refresh for air filtration and monitoring
- Contemporary interior design themes: Truffle Smoke and Eternal Red
- Crystal Red and Whisper Blue are two new exterior hues. Jet Appearance Package is furthermore offered.
- Lower instrument cluster
Performance: Lincoln Corsair
The 3,685 to 4,397-pound SUV can accelerate quickly off the line and hit 60 mph in under 8 seconds, but it is not a racing vehicle. Although the Tonale, BMW, and Lexus are quicker, a second doesn’t matter much for a family vehicle mainly used on interstates and suburban thoroughfares.
The trims with gas-only options come with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and a 2-litre turbocharged inline-four engine. The gas-powered model boasts 275 pound-feet of torque and 250 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid has a continuously variable gearbox (CVT) and a 2.5-liter Atkinson inline-four. There are 266 horsepower in the larger PHEV.
Its most annoying feature was the plug-in’s continual insistence on using the battery. The vehicle would switch back to utilizing the gas engine after selecting pure EV mode, with a pop-up message stating that the “engine is enabled for system performance.” It was readily set off, making relying only on the batteries arduous. Preserve, the second EV option, seemed like Lincoln’s privilege since it conserves battery life. Being an EV enthusiast, I thought I was pushing the vehicle to utilize its 28 miles of battery power before turning on the engine.
Four modes exist: Normal, Excite, Slippery, and Conserve when the device is not operating as a hybrid. The CVT was a little loud but seemed more startling after utilizing battery-only mode. Despite its size, driving was generally smooth and could manage fast twists and manoeuvres. Long after the battery expired, the 1.5-hour journey via congested highways remained bearable.
The piano key gear shifter is simple to get accustomed to, yet it seems like a problem looking for a solution. Even though it’s not the intended outcome, it removes the driver from the driving experience.
All three grades have a 3,000-pound towing capacity.
Fuel efficiency: Lincoln Corsair
The Corsair has average fuel efficiency for an SUV, but not in a horrible way: front-wheel drive models get 25 mpg combined (22 cities, 30 highway), while all-wheel drive models lose one mpg. This contrasts with comparable-sized gas-only SUVs like the standard Lexus NX (28 mpg) or AWD NX (25 mpg), the Alfa Romeo Tonale’s (29 combined mpg), and the (25 combined mpg) BMW X3 rear-drive.
The plug-in version, however, alters the rules of the game. Although the Grand Touring weighs 4,397 pounds more, it boasts better fuel economy. The total MPGe is 78, and the pure battery range is 28 miles. This contrasts with the Tonale’s 77 MPGe and the NX’s 84 MPGe. The NX has a massive 37 miles of pure battery, while the Tonale has a 33-mile range.
The Lincoln Corsair manages 33 mpg combined when considering the plug-in boost.
The Grand Touring charges quite slowly, mainly using a Level 1 home charger. Although Level 2 reduces the time to almost 4 hours, the PHEV Corsair cannot handle quick charging. With just 28 miles of battery range, the 14.4 kWh battery drains rapidly. Expect to plug up often.
Safety & Driver Support
The Corsair is a reliable SUV in terms of safety, although it is not outstanding. Given that this is a premium Ford, Lincoln generously offers the most cutting-edge safety technologies as part of its Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Technology package as standard equipment. These features include blind spot and lane departure warnings, collision avoidance, cross-traffic alerts, and more.
Highway driving is almost too simple with ActiveGlide 1.2 (access requires a two-year membership). With 130,000 miles of hands-free, autonomous driving in North America, Lincoln’s version of Ford’s BlueCruise performs almost like General Motors’ Super Cruise. However, the latter system has a more specific and durable feeling. When turned on, ActiveGlide performs effectively while being more tiny, as if the automakers don’t want you to use it until it’s required. Although it is less confident when there is a lot of traffic, easy highway driving during the day or at night reduces tiredness, and the system even suggests lane changes.
The Corsair has “Good” ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for its weak performance in its new side impact test. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awards it five stars as in previous years.
Comfort and Space
The backseat is decent for a small two-row SUV, but it’s not as comfy when fully loaded. Lincoln instead focused on the front, albeit the driver’s and passenger’s seats seemed unnecessarily bolstered and stiff. All seats can be easily adjusted, and optional comfort options like heating and cooling may be installed.
The rear seat offers 38.6 inches of legroom, which is competitively sized. The BMW is 36.4 inches, whereas the NX is a more compact 36.1 inches. The Tonale is comparable to 38. The Ford Escape has a somewhat larger rear end, measuring 38.9 inches. The double panoramic glass ceiling opens up the room, a regular feature.
Unfortunately, the PHEV version doesn’t give the same level of headroom and legroom in the front and rear. However, the back legroom significantly decreases to 36.7 inches.
Infotainment: Lincoln Corsair
The Corsair is a high-end SUV, and the baseline tech features confirm why you shelled even more money to level up. Even the Standard trim seems opulent inside because of the 14 speakers that come as standard, ambient lighting, and wireless smartphone connectivity.
The front console has been reorganized for 2023. While practically everything is now controlled digitally via the Sync 4 system, it still seems natural and easy enough to adjust (and discover) settings. Even for temperature settings, a larger 13.2-inch touchscreen is the central control, which might be annoying in an emergency.
Although many of the complex system driver controls are on the steering wheel and aren’t always obvious or straightforward to discover, ActiveGlide, available as part of an additional package, makes effective use of the driver screen.
A head-up display is one of the extra elements in add-on packages that may make the trip even more abundant. Air quality is added as a premium feature with an Auto Air Refresh air filter system, also offered as an add-on package.
Storage & Cargo Space:
As an authentic small SUV, Corsair compares well to its rivals regarding load capacity. With the seats folding, the 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space increase to 57.6 cubic feet. The NX is smaller, with 22.7 cubic feet in the rear and 46.9 with all the seats folded down. The Tonale is also smaller, with equivalent cube sizes of 22.9 and 50.5. The most excellent option is the BMW X3, which has 28.7 cubic feet of space and 62.7 with folding seats. With 34.4 cubic feet of space with the seats up and 60.8 with them down, the Escape is roomier than the Corsair.
The Grand Touring PHEV sacrifices cargo capacity, which is reduced to just 56.2 cubes with all the seats folded down and 26.9 cubic feet in the rear.
There was a ton of storage space up front, on the sides, and in the show, with several compartments and cutouts for beverages, gadgets, and other goods. The rear had more limited room and only provided little storage in the seatbacks. The trunk was simple to access and load, and the backseats were spacious enough to accommodate children and car seats.
Design: Lincoln Corsair
The Corsair is a stylish SUV that isn’t particularly striking. Still, it is pleasantly compact—something that isn’t typically true with Lincoln SUVs (the hulking Aviator and Navigator spring to mind). The revised front end does a lot overall, giving Corsair a fresh appearance and vigour. The most prominent change is the larger grille, which is evident in a friendly manner. Modernizing the front are the longer front lights.
With their fashionable matte finish, new hues like Whisper Blue give the SUV a more contemporary feel.
Although the inside is minimalist, it isn’t as stark as a Tesla Model Y or flimsy as a Ford SUV. Although it’s still dull inside, interior packages like the new Smoked Truffle and Eternal Red are entertaining and give it some life. That doesn’t diminish the feeling of excellent quality. Because it is, it has the same upscale feel as any Lexus, BMW, or Alfa.
The 2023 Lincoln Corsair: Is It Pricey?
The Corsair breaks down to three trims with two engine types:
- Standard: Starts at $38,690 (not including the destination fee) with a 2-litre engine in either AWD or front-wheel drive
- Reserve: $43,075 with the same I-4 engine in AWD or FWD
- Grand Touring: $53,885 for the 2.5-litre VCT Atkinson I-4 plug-in hybrid engine, only in AWD
Collections are bundles available for each trim level and have varying pricing. For $2,940, the Reserve trim’s comfort and safety package (Collection II) adds heated and ventilated seats, motorized seatbacks, and a hands-free liftgate. The $10,730 Collection III is a complete tech bundle that adds ActiveGlide to Collection II. However, Collection II costs $3,595, and the ActiveGlide package costs $10,360 for the Standard trim. The additional PHEV Grand Touring level packages are significantly less expensive ($2,940 and $8,005, respectively).
The additional amenities raise the price of the Standard to over $40,000. If choosing the gas-only Corsair, we advise against the Standard; instead, go for the basic model. Go for the Grand Touring if an electric version is beckoning. However, given its price range, we’d suggest looking at alternative plug-in small SUVs with a higher capacity and comparable (or lower) prices. The NX begins at $56,555 and offers over ten additional miles per charge. The Tonale is the best value, costing $42,995, and has a comparable range and experience.
How Much Will Insurance for a 2023 Lincoln Corsair Cost?
Corsair’s insurance rates are comparable to those of several of its rivals. Our statistics show that a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean driving record may anticipate an average yearly premium ranging from $2,107 to $2,321. However, this aggregates all 50 states. In contrast, the BMW X3 costs $2,290, the Alfa Romeo Tonale $1,790, the Lexus NX $2,136, and the plug-in NX $2,334 (all totalled).
Verdict
With its plug-in Grand Touring model, the 2023 Lincoln Corsair offers yet another option for going electric in an SUV, but ultimately it’s just too annoying. Due to the high cost of the PHEV, alternative plug-ins and complete EVs are preferable options since they provide immediate acceleration and an electric shock that a heavier PHEV simply cannot. The Corsair works well in both the city and the suburbs and is the ideal size for an SUV for a small family. Due to its overhaul, it seems as expensive as it is.
