Test Drive Gallery: 2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve

2021 Lincoln Corsair Reserve AWD

Miles driven: 296

Fuel used: 13.2 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 22.4 mpg

CG Report Card

Room and Comfort	B
Power and Performance	B-
Fit and Finish	A
Fuel Economy	B-
Value	C+

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A-
Tall Guy	A-

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	295-hp 2.3-liter
Engine Type	Turbo 4-cylinder
Transmission	8-speed automatic
Drive Wheels	AWD

Driving mix: 55% city, 45% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 21/28/24 (mpg city, highway, combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $45,090 (not including $995 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Equipment Group 201A ($4200), Pristine White paint ($695), adaptive suspension ($700), 17-inch mini spare wheel w/ tire ($150), Perfect Position 24-way leather seats ($1100), Technology Package ($3000), Sport Package 20-inch bright machined aluminum wheels ($2500)

Price as tested: $58,430

Quick Hits

The great: Posh interior trimmings, broad range of available comfort and technology features

The good: Quiet, comfortable ride; decent passenger room within tidy exterior dimensions

The not so good: Optional equipment pushes reasonable starting prices skyward; some minor ergonomic peculiarities

More Corsair price and availability information

CG Says:

In the premium compact crossover SUV category, the Lincoln Corsair stands a bit apart from most of its competitors. Like the Ford Escape with which it shares its core architecture, the Corsair is one of the more “car-like” SUVs in its class; it’s a bit smaller and lower overall than the average premium compact SUV. And, whereas most of the segment focuses on dramatic styling and/or an athletic driving character, the Corsair is all about serenity. Its styling inside and out is more subdued than some of its class rivals (we’re looking at you especially, Lexus NX), and its overall demeanor from behind the wheel is more about effortless cruising than corner carving.

The Corsair debuted for the 2020 model year, replacing the outgoing MKC as Lincoln’s smallest, most-affordable SUV, and hasn’t seen any major changes so far. For 2021, the Corsair lineup gained a plug-in-hybrid model named Grand Touring as a mid-year addition, as well as a couple new appearance packages. For 2022, only minor option-package changes and a shuffling of color choices is on the docket.

You can check out our Corsair First Spin report here, and read our full road-test review of a 2020 Reserve model here. Our test vehicle this time around was again a mid-line Reserve model that was upgraded with the Equipment Group 201A option package, which adds heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, and a windshield-wiper de-icer.

Also included in the 201A group is the upgraded Lincoln Co-Pilot360 Plus suite of active-safety features, which adds a 360-degree surround-view camera display, automated park-assist system, adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist, and evasive steering assist (a feature that provides steering support in an evasive steering maneuver to help the driver avoid a collision). These “Plus” features supplement the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 equipment: forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, a blind-spot monitor, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights.

The other big-ticket items on our tester were the Technology Package, which adds a wireless smartphone charger, head-up display, adaptive headlights, and Lincoln’s Phone As A Key technology (which allows the driver to lock/unlock and start the vehicle using their smartphone). The Sport Package adds 20-inch bright-machined wheels, a black mesh grille, and illuminated door-jamb scuff plates.

All those packages (and a couple other stand-alone options) tacked on a substantial $12,345 to the $45,090 base price, bringing the bottom line with destination to an eye-opening $58,430. That’s on par with with similarly equipped European rivals, but significantly above competitors such as the Acura RDX and Lexus NX—and most of the rest of the class offers more interior space than the Corsair does. Still, the Corsair’s laid-back, “rolling-sanctuary” character may scratch an itch that its rivals don’t… and the “Beyond Blue” leather upholstery of our test vehicle is as yacht-rock fabulous as it gets.

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