The Lincoln Corsair has only been on the market for two years, but these have been two years of success for the American brand. It isn't a cheap vehicle with an MSRP of $66,850 on our test vehicle, but it has found its niche between the German and the Japanese premium brands in the midsize SUV segment. Let's find out why the Kentucky-built Corsair was the best-selling vehicle for Lincoln last year.
Firstly, Lincoln knew that a typical Corsair buyer would be more interested in luxury rather than sportiness. The mix of the white paint and black wheels and roof really bring out an air of sophistication that we don't find on the German brands or even on other American brands. The white grille is subtle; it's nice to see on such a vehicle. The brake lights in the back also stand out, they are distinctive, but we didn't like the Corsair badges on both sides of the vehicle. It didn't look elegant in our opinion; we would prefer only one badge in the back. And the 20-inch black wheels are immense; they looked great on this vehicle.
Secondly, inside, the mix of ebony and black trims emphasizes that this is an upscale vehicle. The leather stitching on the doors and the dashboard are very soft and pleasing to lay your fingers on. The seats are very comfortable, in front and back, making the Corsair one of the best in this price range in this particular aspect. In the back, the back seat offers a decent amount of headroom and legroom plus the ISOFIX ports are somewhat easy to reach, it could've been easier to attach a car seat, but it's still pretty easy to do it. The bad news, this model doesn't have a third row. The good news, the cargo space is ample for a midsize SUV. Once again, you have a sense of luxury all over the cabin.
Thirdly, moving under the hood, we tested the base engine, a 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that should be plentiful for most buyers. It makes 250hp and 280lb-ft of torque, coupled with an 8-speed automatic transmission, tuned for comfort and fuel economy. We averaged 9.0L/100km on the highway. In the city, we were around 12.3, which's about a litre more than the official figure announced by Lincoln. A plug-in hybrid powertrain is available for 2021 on the highest trim; you will need to shell out a couple of grand to get it. We found it weird how the buttons to put the car in Drive or Park are located between the infotainment screen and climate controls. Our vehicle was equipped with the optional Adaptive suspension; it gave us the feeling of riding a cloud. You can barely feel the imperfections on the road; even the accelerations felt smooth, thanks to this $1,250 option. All-wheel drive is offered standard so that you can use the Corsair any day of the year. Road noise is minimal, and the Revel sound system was pretty good, too, so you can listen to your favourite playlist without being disturbed by the outside world. The driving experience isn't engaging or dynamic, but this vehicle will be your best bet in the 60k price range if you focus on ride quality and comfort.
Now closing with technology and features, the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 Plus Package available in our test vehicle features automatic cruise control and even automatic Park Assist, which literally helps you find a parking spot and park in it. We also had many features expected at this price point, such as a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic temperature and panoramic sunroof. The climate controls are placed at an angle so that both the driver and the passenger can easily reach them. We liked the fact that they are knobs and buttons instead of all in the infotainment system. We also had heated and ventilated front seats. Speaking of the front seats, the process of adjusting the lumbar support was very cumbersome since those controls were in the center screen. The seats were uncomfortable initially, but it turned out that the previous driver had different seat adjustments!
Last but not least, you will find two screens, one in front of the driver and the other in the center. The cluster is fully digital, but you will find a distinct speedometer and tachometer and your preferred info in the middle, such as your trip info or what's playing on the radio. There is a cute animation when you switch between the drive modes, such as snow or sport. The middle screen is an 8-inch LCD screen with no wireless Apple Carplay or Android Auto. We wish the screen would be a little bit bigger, besides that, it is very responsive and fast.
Overall, the Lincoln Corsair plays the luxury card perfectly. With the 2.0L turbocharged engine, you get a subtle and powerful vehicle that can handle any task thrown its way. If you want the most comfortable ride at a reasonable price, look no further, you will barely feel any imperfections on the road. Adding the premium interior materials, no wonder it was last year's best-selling car for Lincoln.
Lincoln has lent us this vehicle one week as a press vehicle. We have no affiliation with Lincoln Canada. The above is a recollection of our personal opinion of the car referred above.
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