2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2020 Nissan Rogue

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair was a standout in the luxury compact SUV segment, offering a distinct design that set it apart from its Ford Escape sibling. It featured unique body panels and trim pieces exclusive to Lincoln, exuding refinement with its low hood line, restrained chrome grille, and teardrop headlights. The Corsair's design cues borrowed from leading luxury SUVs, yet it maintained its own identity with elegant touches like the clamshell tailgate and thin taillights. Inside, the Corsair's dashboard was nearly as captivating as the Mercedes-Benz GLC's, with rich materials and details such as curved matte-finish wood and chrome trim. Despite some minor drawbacks like hard plastic on the lower dash, the Corsair felt like a truly luxurious vehicle.

In contrast, the 2020 Nissan Rogue, available in S, SV, and SL trims, presented a simpler, more utilitarian design. While it remained attractive with its bold V-Motion grille and 19-inch aluminum wheels, the Rogue's interior showed its age with older styling themes and unimpressive plastic surfaces. The waterfall control panel and rounded forms were less modern compared to newer designs. However, the Rogue did offer thoughtful touches like padded center console sides for driver comfort. Overall, the Rogue's design was more about practicality than luxury, appealing to those seeking a straightforward and functional vehicle.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair offered two turbocharged 4-cylinder engines paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0T trim featured a 2.0-liter engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, available in both FWD and AWD. The 2.3T trim, exclusively AWD, boasted a 295-hp, 310 lb-ft, 2.3-liter engine shared with the Mustang. While the transmission occasionally hiccupped in lower gears, it generally provided a smooth driving experience. The Corsair excelled in comfort and composure, with adaptive dampers standard on the 2.3T trim. 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 Nissan Rogue, on the other hand, came with a single engine and transmission option: a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with a CVT. While the CVT made the most of the engine's power, the Rogue struggled with acceleration, especially when merging onto highways or climbing grades. The EPA estimated the Rogue's fuel economy at 29 mpg combined for FWD models, but real-world testing yielded only 24.9 mpg. The Rogue's ride and handling were improved by Intelligent Trace Control and Active Ride Control, but it lacked the fun-to-drive factor. The steering was lifeless, and the suspension lacked isolation, making the Rogue more of a vehicle to endure than enjoy.

Inside the 2020 Lincoln Corsair, comfort was a priority. The Perfect Position seats offered 24 ways of adjustment, including massage settings, and the driving position felt airy with good sightlines. Rear passengers enjoyed sliding and reclining seats, with optional heated seats and a panoramic moonroof enhancing the experience. Cargo space was limited, with 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 58 when folded. The Sync 3 infotainment system was user-friendly, though some controls were less intuitive. The center console was spacious, with a wireless phone charger in the center armrest.

The 2020 Nissan Rogue's interior was less accommodating for taller drivers, with seats that were undersized compared to Nissan's usual Zero Gravity designs. Rear passengers, however, benefited from a high seat cushion, excellent thigh support, and a panoramic sunroof. The Rogue offered 39 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, with underfloor storage and a Divide-n-Hide cargo management system. In-cabin storage was limited, with the glove compartment providing the most space.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair offered advanced technology features, including the option to use a smartphone as an ignition key via the Lincoln Way app. The hidden touchpad on the B-pillars was a convenient feature for unlocking the car. The head-up display was wide and info-rich, displaying directions and controls for the semi-automated driving feature. However, the instrument panel lacked customization options. Voice recognition and destination searches were fast and accurate, but software updates required an external WiFi connection.

The 2020 Nissan Rogue's infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a hands-free text messaging assistant. Upgrades included SiriusXM, navigation, a Bose sound system, and NissanConnect Services. While the features were sophisticated, the NissanConnect interface was outdated, with a 7-inch touchscreen that was slow to respond. Voice recognition was subpar, and the navigation map was difficult to zoom accurately.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair was rated a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS, with top scores in all crash tests and for its forward emergency braking system. It lost the "+" designation due to poorer headlight scores. Standard safety features included Co-Pilot360 with forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and more. Co-Pilot360 Plus added lane-keep assist and rear emergency braking. The Corsair also featured rear side airbags and knee airbags for both driver and passenger.

The 2020 Nissan Rogue came with standard Safety Shield 360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. Additional features included Rear Door Alert and Tire Fill Alert. Optional safety features included a surround-view camera and ProPilot Assist. The Rogue received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a 3-star rating for driver protection in frontal impacts. The IIHS ratings were affected by headlight and front-passenger protection issues.