2022 Lincoln Corsair Review: Pirate Luxury

Representing the brand's best-selling model, the Lincoln Corsair moves into the new year with the hopes of putting up a fight against rivals like the Cadillac XT4 and the Lexus NX. And, while its reasonable starting price and classy interior have it earning a few points in the competition, the compact crossover doesn't offer much in the lineup if you're searching for driver engagement and a fun driving experience. If you were hoping to get the adrenaline flowing, you'd be better off looking at the BMW X3 or Audi Q5, but if it's a comfortable family cruiser you're after, you should be quite happy with the latest Corsair. The Corsair's powertrain options range from a default 250-horsepower 2.0-liter turbofour-cylinder to a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-pot with 295 hp, and, for the eco-conscious (or those that want lower fuel bills) there is the Grand Touring Plug-In Hybrid model, too. But with the upper-tier models asking for a few thousand dollars more over the base trim, how much luxury does the luxury-oriented brand actually give you?

What's the Price of the 2022 Lincoln Corsair?

With a starting price of $36,105 for the base model in FWD guise, the Corsair offers an attractive proposition in the compact crossover segment. Upgrading to AWD means adding the Corsair I equipment group at an overall additional cost of $4,850. Alternatively, selecting the 2.3-liter turbo four-pot will add a total of $7,350 to your bill, and includes AWD.

Reserve models have an MSRP of $40,825 with the base engine and FWD, with an extra $2,300 required to have AWD. The more potent powertrain with AWD requires an outlay of $4,800 extra over and above the base Reserve model. If you want the PHEV, the sticker price of the Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring is $50,330. On a positive note, the PHEV did qualify for a tax credit of $6,843 at the time of writing. These prices are exclusive of a $1,195 destination fee.

Handling and Driving Impressions

Lincoln markets itself as a luxury brand and when it comes to providing comfortable, serene driving experiences, it hits the mark. The Corsair's well-tuned chassis isolates occupants from road bumps and abrasions and there's enough cabin damping to keep road and wind noise at bay. Adaptive suspension is standard on the Grand Touring models but can be added to the Reserve trims too if you want even more cushioning. Passengers won't mind spending time in the Corsair, and while it's not an entertaining or overly-fun driving experience for the one behind the wheel, it's pleasant and compliant. The steering feels light and precise, and the SUV is quite easy to maneuver.

All models get the Lincoln Drive modes, including 'Excite', which is really just Lincoln's take on 'Sport' - it firms up the suspension setting and tweaks the transmission shifts a little, but it's not really enough to warrant calling the drive sporty (which is maybe why the manufacturer opted for the more accurate 'excite' descriptor). Throw it into corners at speed and you'll get noticeable body roll, so while the Corsair is by no means a rival for the likes of more athletic SUVs like the BMW X3 or Audi Q5, it handles daily driving and even longer road trips brilliantly.

Grand Touring models have PHEV-specific drive modes called Preserve EV and Pure EV, with the former banking electric power for when you need it most by utilizing both the engine and electric motors; Pure EV mode allows the Corsair to run on electricity alone, in near silence.

Verdict: Is the 2022 Lincoln Corsair A Good SUV?

The Corsair has been around for two years, and while the brand does an admirable job of providing a reasonably-priced compact crossover with a luxury focus, we're not sure it's right for those who want something more than just a classy family carrier. There's not much to write home about in terms of performance, regardless of which powertrain you opt for - in fact, the difference between the two gas options may seem substantial on paper, but is rather disappointing on the tarmac. It's also far from being a fun vehicle to drive. On the other hand, it comes into its own in terms of offering a plush cabin and a comfortable ride - passengers won't be opposed to longer drives. There's enough on the features list and in the safety suite to give you peace of mind, too, and a high reliability score means this is an ideal car for the burgeoning family. So, if you're not opposed to the base model (or willing to fork out a few thousand for some posh extras), the Corsair won't disappoint.

What Lincoln Corsair Model Should I Buy?

The range for 2022 is limited to three trims, and depending on your powertrain of choice, picking a trim is a no-fuss affair. If you're going the hybrid route, there's only the Grand Touring to choose from. If you're trying to decide between the gas models, the difference between the Standard and Reserve is around $4,700 - both have access to the same power- and drivetrain options, but feature differences need a closer look. The Reserve gets leather seating and access to genuine wood interior trim, and has a leather-wrapped steering wheel, ambient lighting, and a frameless rearview mirror as standard. The steering column is power-adjustable and has a memory setting, and the color driver information cluster is 12.3-inches - a big improvement over the 6.5 inches on the Standard. Navigation is added to the Reserve, but you do also get access to more upgrades, including the Revel sound system, upgraded seats, and a hands-free liftgate, to name just a few. Personally, we'd be happy with the Grand Touring for the gas mileage benefits,

2022 Lincoln Corsair Comparisons

2022 Lincoln Corsair vs Lexus NX

All-new for 2022, the Lexus NX starts at just under $38k for the entry-level car. Base models have a 203-hp 2.5-liter engine, and there are two hybrids available with up to 304 hp in the top-spec version. As far as features go, the compact Lexus is well-specced with features that include LED lights, a ten-speaker sound system, a larger 9.8-inch infotainment screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and faux leather upholstery. The driver assist suite on the NX includes adaptive cruise control off the bat. There's much more customization available in the Lexus lineup, although pricing also spreads upwards of $56,900 for a fully loaded F Sport derivative - much higher than the top-spec Corsair. Neither of these crossovers is particularly sporty, though, regardless of the F Sport's name, and both feel more like the comfortable cruisers they are designed to be. Lexus just does a better job of making the cabin feel special. So, if we had to choose, we'd err on the side of the Lexus NX.

2022 Lincoln Corsair vs Lincoln Nautilus

One step up from the Corsair, the Nautilus brings a slightly larger body to the table, and with it, a little more space in the cabin. You'll need to shell out around $42,500 for the base model here, and you get access to the Black Label trim for the ultimate in luxury - but this requires an outlay of $65k. The Nautilus comes with a 13.2-inch capacitive touchscreen in the center stack from the base model, and has blind-spot monitoring and pedestrian detection as part of the basic driver assistance suite. It runs upgraded software in the form of SYNC 4 but has similar infotainment options to the Corsair. Under the hood, the Nautilus has two powertrain options to hustle the larger body along, including a 250-hp 2.0-liter engine, and a 335-hp 2.7-liter V6. Both powertrains perform their job adequately, and these siblings actually score similarly in our rankings for what they are priced at. If you need a bit more space, opt for the Nautilus. Otherwise, it's really much of a muchness.