2023 Lincoln Corsair

With a streamlined body showing off muscle and some sinew, the Corsair’s look and feel is a welcome departure from its cousin, the Ford Escape. The trim grille bears the Lincoln gunsight badge while slender headlights fold into the front fender contours. The shoulder line adds visual length, and a band of chrome across the rear and the LED taillights provides structure.

Inside, a belt of vents, continuing the rectangular-shaped theme, splits the cabin across the equator. The dash is finished in soft materials and topped with a big touchscreen display, accented by piano-key climate controls and pushbutton shiftgear. The cabin’s as spare as the exterior, with bright bands of striking metallic trim in perfect proportions.

The plug-in hybrid model comes standard with all-wheel drive, and it’s optional with the base engine.

How fast is the Lincoln Corsair?

The Corsair comes standard with a turbo-4 with 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, paired to a buttery 8-speed automatic. It’s capable of a seven-second run to 60 mph and even all-wheel-drive models, weighing about 140 lb more, still feel quick.

The Corsair Grand Touring plug-in hybrid model features a second traction motor, rated for 67 hp, at the back wheels, plus Ford’s common 165-hp hybrid system that combines a 2.5-liter inline-4 planetary-gear system with a primary traction motor up front. In addition to a 0-60 mph sprint of approximately seven seconds, this powertrain supplies 28 miles of all-electric range courtesy of the 14.4-kwh battery pack. It can be charged in about three hours with a Level 2 charger at home.

These numbers are good, but the Grand Touring falls a little short when it comes to the sharp acceleration you might expect from a plug-in hybrid, whether you’re in hybrid or fully electric mode.

The standard suspension in the Corsair does a fair job of smoothing out rough roads. Steering feedback is a perfect match for the Corsair’s mildly sporty approach to luxury. The optional adaptive suspension is a good upgrade if you can swing it, since it ensures a comfortable ride even if you have the bigger 20-inch tire and wheel sets.

With a mix of leather, wood, and other quality trim, the Corsair boasts an impressive cabin. Plenty of sound insulation creates a welcoming, serene space where miles melt away and the Revel audio system sets the tone.

On short trips, the Corsair’s rear row can accommodate a third occupant, and there’s up to 38.6 inches of legroom back there. The seat is comfortable, especially when reclined.

The Corsair’s low load floor helps accommodate 27.6 cubic feet of cargo (26.9 for Grand Touring models) and the power tailgate provides ready access.

The list of safety features includes blind-spot monitors (newly upgraded with warning lights in the side mirrors), automatic emergency braking, and active lane control. New for 2023, the Corsair also includes Lincoln’s ActiveGlide limited hands-free driving system, which enables automatic lane changes at speeds up to 80 mph on specific mapped highways, and cruise control is automatically adjusted based on curves in the road.

Safety options include a head-up display, a surround-view camera system, and automatic park assist.

As for options, there’s a split-folding back bench, all-wheel drive, and navigation, pushing the price above the $40,000 mark.

The $43,075 Corsair Reserve has all-wheel drive, heated and cooled 24-way adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, digital information gauges, wireless device charging, an adaptive suspension, and 20-inch tires and wheels. A Revel premium audio system with 14 speakers is available.

How much is a fully loaded Lincoln Corsair?

For $53,385, the Grand Touring pulls together the luxury elements from Reserve models; options include automatic park assist, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Revel stereo, pushing the price tag well over the $60,000 mark.

Lincoln’s standard warranty coverage is good for four years or 50,000 miles, although some competitors include scheduled maintenance, a perk that would add another point here. So would the Black Label options available with other Lincoln models.

With the turbo-4 and front-wheel drive, the Corsair is rated at 22 mpg city, 30 highway, 25 combined. Those numbers drop to 21/28/24 mpg with all-wheel drive.

The Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, which is available only with all-wheel drive, is EPA-rated for 78 MPGe, 33 mpg combined, and 28 miles of electric range.