2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2020 Lincoln Navigator

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair never felt like a Ford despite sharing its chassis and some powertrains with the Escape. It had unique body panels and trim pieces, exuding refinement with a low hood line, restrained chrome grille, and teardrop headlights. The J-shaped LED running lamps resembled those of a Jaguar. The tall roof gently sloped from the B-pillar, ending on a Land Rover-like edge, while the clamshell tailgate and thin taillights with a connecting strip added elegance. The Corsair's body sat low on optional 20-inch wheels, and the model name was integrated into the front doors, making it unique and elegant.

Inside, the Corsair's dashboard was almost as riveting as the Mercedes-Benz GLC's, with rich materials and details like curved matte-finish wood, leather with contrast stitching, and floating gear-selector buttons. Chrome trim adorned various controls, and the two-tone steering wheel featured thumb joysticks for the stereo and digital instrument panel. Despite some hard plastic on the lower dash and a matte black center console, the Corsair felt expensive and fashion-forward.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator shared its basic platform with the Ford Expedition but stood out with unique front and rear styling elements and the Lincoln Embrace lighting system. The lattice-type grille insert mimicked the Lincoln star logo, and the illuminated star in the center added a touch of luxury. Fender vents, full-width taillights, and black roof pillars gave the Navigator a distinctive look. The new Reserve Monochromatic Package added custom touches with body-color grille and side mirror enhancements and 22-inch black-painted wheels.

The test vehicle, a standard-length Navigator Reserve with 4WD, featured a Dark Slate leather interior with 30-way Perfect Position front seats, a dashboard with mid-century modern styling cues, and a wide, two-tiered storage console. Digital instrumentation, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, and piano-key transmission controls set the Navigator apart from the Expedition. A panoramic glass roof and high-quality materials added to the luxurious feel, making the Navigator a convincingly luxurious flagship SUV.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair offered two turbocharged 4-cylinder engines paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0T trim had a 2.0-liter engine with 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, with FWD standard and AWD optional. The 2.3T trim, available only with AWD, shared a 295-hp, 310 lb-ft, 2.3-liter engine with the Mustang. The transmission occasionally hiccuped in lower gears but was otherwise smooth. The Corsair's steering lacked road feel, but the body maintained total control, providing a steady and comfortable ride. Adaptive dampers came standard with the 2.3T, firming up the ride in Excite mode. Fuel economy for the 2.3T was EPA-estimated at 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined, with the 2.0T AWD rated at 21/29/24 and the FWD model at 22/29/25.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. RWD was standard, with 4WD optional. Lincoln Drive Modes tailored the powertrain to specific driving situations, including Conserve, Normal, Excite, Slippery, Deep Conditions, and Slow Climb with the towing package. The Navigator's maximum towing capacity was 8,700 pounds with RWD and 8,300 pounds with 4WD. Pro Trailer Backup Assist made towing easier by allowing the driver to steer the trailer using a dashboard knob. The Navigator's acceleration was strong, with a subtle engine note. Fuel economy averaged 16.4 mpg on the testing loop, with an EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined. The Navigator's adaptive damping suspension provided excellent body motion control, though impact harshness was an issue with 22-inch wheels. The SUV felt huge around town but was more maneuverable with a tight turning radius, parking assist system, and numerous camera views.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair's interior was comfortable, with seat controls on the doors and a button for massage settings on the touchscreen. The driver and passenger had 24 ways of adjustment with the Perfect Position seats, and the driving position felt airy with good sightlines. Rear passengers could slide the seat back and recline, with optional heated rear seats and a panoramic moonroof adding to the comfort. Cargo space was 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 58 when folded. The Sync 3 infotainment system was easy to use, though the engine auto stop-start control was hard to access. The center console was roomy, with a sliding storage bin and a wireless phone charger in the center armrest.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator required climbing up into the SUV, but once inside, passengers found plenty of room to stretch out. The test vehicle's 30-way Perfect Position front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with power-adjustable pedals and a heated steering wheel. The second row offered a choice between a three-person bench or captain's chairs, with a large center console available. Triple-zone climate control and heated rear seat cushions ensured comfort across all three rows. The third-row seat provided ample legroom and thigh support. Cargo volumes were class-leading, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.5 behind the second row, and 103.3 cubic feet maximum. The longer Navigator L offered even more space, with 34.3, 73.3, and 120.2 cubic feet, respectively.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair offered the option to use a smartphone as an ignition key through the Lincoln Way app, though this feature was deactivated in the test vehicle. The hidden touchpad on the B-pillars allowed for unlocking the car with a 5-digit code. The head-up display was wide and info-rich, showing outside temperature, turn signals, directions, and controls for the semi-automated driving feature. The instrument panel was minimalist, with limited customization options. Voice recognition and destination searches were fast and accurate, and in-car WiFi was available, though software updates required an external WiFi connection.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 3 infotainment system was slow to load content, but a new Sync 4 platform was on the way. The system provided Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, a Lincoln Way app, and wireless device charging. "Phone As A Key" technology allowed for unlocking, starting, and driving the SUV without a key fob. The voice recognition system worked reasonably well but required specific command pathways. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system offered a compelling audio experience, with Stereo as the preferred listening profile. Additional technologies included a surround-view camera system and a head-up display, though the test vehicle lacked the optional Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair had not been tested by the NHTSA, but the IIHS rated it a Top Safety Pick with the best scores in all six crash tests and for its forward emergency braking system. It lost the "+" designation due to poorer scores for headlights. Co-Pilot360 came standard with forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, auto high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. Co-Pilot360 Plus added lane-keep assist with semi-automated functionality, evasive steering assist, and rear emergency braking. Rear side airbags and knee airbags for both driver and passenger were standard.

The 2020 Lincoln Navigator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot360 collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, a blind-spot warning system with trailer coverage, a rear cross-traffic warning system, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Reserve trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The Navigator's adaptive cruise control operated with refinement, and the lane-keeping assistance system was subtle yet effective. The lane-departure warning system produced a vibration in the steering wheel. The Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the 2020 model.