THE LINCOLN CORSAIR SUV TAKES FLIGHT

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair SUV is the all-new compact luxury SUV from Lincoln that now replaces the alphabetic MKC in the Lincoln lineup. Utilizing what Lincoln Design Studios call the “Quiet Flight” ethos, the Corsair includes all the design cues found on Lincoln vehicles made within the past three or four years.

That includes a quiet chassis that minimizes extraneous road noises and a ride that will lull most passengers to sleep. On the other hand, there is plenty to keep the driver engaged along the way.

WHAT IS THE LINCOLN CORSAIR?

A compact five-passenger, four-door Sport Utility Vehicle with a hatchback, the Lincoln Corsair is the newest from Ford’s luxury brand, and one that is available in either front- or all-wheel-drive configurations. The standard engine choice is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 250 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque, or the uprated 2.3-liter turbo four-pot engine making 280 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to a smooth-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission.

One of the Corsair’s standout features is Lincoln’s “Phone as a key” feature that allows drivers to lock and unlock the vehicle, open the liftgate, and start, as well as drive the vehicle.

COMPETITIVE SET

The Lincoln Corsair SUV competes against a wide variety of other luxury SUVs. They include the Acura RDX, Lexus NX, Mercedes-Benz GLC, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Volvo XC60. That’s quite a heady collection, so Lincoln needs to be prepared to bring it. This ultra-competitive market only allows one shot.

A LINCOLN CORSAIR WALKAROUND

A Lincoln through and through, it’s clear as soon as you catch a glimpse of the signature grille. Low and hunkered down, it sits lower than many other SUVs. Still, it’s smaller than its Aviator big brother and has a more stylish name than its departed MKC relative that was discontinued last year.

Sculptured sides add visual interest to the overall look, and the slopping greenhouse helps to lend a younger and more exciting sense of purpose than a more conventional “two-box” SUV design.

WHAT ABOUT INSIDE?

Our Corsair Reserve model jumps the already nice interior further up to an entirely new level. A wide dash design emphasizes the space available to the front row driver and passenger seat. Speaking of those front seats, our Reserve included 24-way “Perfect Position” seating (with extendable thigh support!). We didn’t have any idea there were 24 different ways to adjust our seating in ANY vehicle! The second-row bench seat can accommodate three across, but they will find the shoulder room to be slightly hindered. But rear legroom really shines here; The second-row seat can slide forward and backward up to six inches.

A new digital dashboard makes its way inside and offers animation that corresponds to the Corsair’s variable drive modes. They include Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions and Conserve. The Normal mode displays as you would expect traditionally. Switch to Excite and it adjusts accordingly.

As part of our available Reserve Package, our Corsair was equipped with a 14-speaker Revel audio system.

BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE NEW LINCOLN CORSAIR

In a word, the new Lincoln Corsair is quiet. Starting with a push of the ignition button, the Corsair comes to life with a recording of chimes courtesy of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Here, you will find six different arrangements in case you have a case of Audio ADD. The sound of the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine is almost non-existent thanks to a dual-wall firewall that keeps it under the hood rather than inside the cabin.

Normal drive mode seemed perfect for most occasions and suited us best when driving with the family. But when it was just me, Excite was the mode of choice. Think of it as more of a “Sport” mode than anything else. The eight-speed transmission is a smooth shifting gearbox. The gearbox would hold a gear a slight bit longer on descending road grades. The result of holding the gears allowed a form of compression braking, which does extend the overall life of the brake pads. In Excite mode, we noticed a firming of the suspension that allowed for more spirited driving without making the ride objectionably firmer.

The Lincoln Corsair SUV is a legacy builder for the Lincoln brand. We at Napleton.News enjoyed our time behind the wheel of this new version of Luxury from this venerable brand.