2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair was a standout in the luxury SUV segment, exuding refinement and elegance. Despite sharing its chassis and some powertrains with the Ford Escape, the Corsair maintained a distinct identity with unique body panels and trim pieces. Its low hood line, restrained chrome grille, and teardrop headlights gave it a sophisticated appearance. The tall roof gently sloped from the B-pillar, ending in a Land Rover-like edge, while the clamshell tailgate and thin taillights added to its elegance. The Corsair borrowed design cues from leading luxury SUVs but managed to create a unique and elegant look.

Inside, the Corsair's dashboard was almost as captivating as the Mercedes-Benz GLC's, featuring rich materials and details like curved matte-finish wood and a thick strip of leather with contrast stitching. The long, horizontal air vents and floating center stack with gear-selector buttons added to the luxurious feel. Chrome trim adorned various controls, and the two-tone steering wheel featured thumb joysticks for easy control of the stereo and digital instrument panel. Despite some minor issues with hard plastic and matte black finishes, the Corsair's interior felt expensive and fashion-forward.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, with its familiar styling theme, received minor tweaks for the new model year. The updated grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and a new gloss black spear with a chrome insert modernized its appearance. New wheel designs debuted for the top three trim levels, reducing brightwork and giving the Odyssey a more contemporary look.

The Odyssey offered five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with base prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820. Our test vehicle, the Lunar Silver Metallic Elite trim, featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces. These updates brought the Odyssey closer to serving as the Acura of minivans, with a more luxurious interior and toned-down chrome.

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, with front-wheel drive (FWD) standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. The 2.3T trim, available only with AWD, shared a 295-hp, 310 lb-ft, 2.3-liter engine with the Mustang. While the transmission occasionally hiccuped in lower gears, it generally provided a smooth experience, keeping the engines in their powerbands. The Corsair's steering lacked road feel, but the body maintained total control, offering a steady and composed ride even at high speeds. Adaptive dampers came standard with the 2.3T, firming up the ride in Excite mode, though the overall driving experience wasn't particularly sporty. 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 2021 Honda Odyssey retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine and ten-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. The drivetrain included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, along with paddle shifters. The V6 and automatic transmission provided smooth, effortless power, with variable cylinder management conserving fuel. The EPA estimated 22 mpg in combined driving, and our testing loop averaged 21.8 mpg. AWD was unavailable, putting the Odyssey at a disadvantage in snowy regions. However, the new electronic brake booster supported stop-and-go low-speed following for adaptive cruise control and improved brake pedal feel and response. The Odyssey's ride and handling qualities contributed to a pleasurable driving experience, with perfectly weighted steering and firm but comfortable ride. However, the brakes struggled under heavy use, heating up and fading during a Southern California heatwave.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair's interior was designed for comfort, with seat controls on the doors and a button for massage settings on the touchscreen. The driver and passenger enjoyed 24 ways of adjustment with the Perfect Position seats, including separate extensions for each thigh. The driving position felt airy, with good sightlines and ample headroom and legroom for rear passengers. Cargo space was on the smaller side, with 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 buried in the driver-assist menu. The center console was roomy, with a sliding storage bin and a wireless phone charger in the center armrest.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat was standard in all but the base LX trim, providing comfort with inboard adjustable armrests. The Elite trim added a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The front passenger seat lacked height adjustment, but passengers didn't complain due to good thigh support. Storage space was excellent, with shelves in the front doors and a wireless smartphone charger on the center console's top tray. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout allowed for various seating modes, with plenty of support and armrests on each side. Cargo space measured 32.8 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat tumbled, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. However, removing and reinstalling the second-row seats was cumbersome.

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 our test vehicle. The hidden touchpad on the B-pillars allowed for unlocking the car with a 5-digit code. The head-up display (HUD) was wide and info-rich, displaying outside temperature, turn signals, and semi-automated driving controls. The instrument panel could have offered more customization, but voice recognition and destination searches were fast and accurate. In-car WiFi was available, though software updates required an external WiFi connection.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey's EX trim and above featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. Touring trim added a navigation system, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging. The rear-seat entertainment system in Touring and Elite trims featured a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, wireless headphones, and built-in streaming apps. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair had not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (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 headlight scores. 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 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety with standard Honda Sensing on all trims, expanding its capabilities with a new radar unit and standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam assist. Honda Sensing added low-speed follow capability to adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a new Honda Sensing menu button. Blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning required upgrading to EX trim. The Odyssey's ADAS worked accurately but could be smoother. The IIHS ratings were expected to carry over, aside from headlight ratings, and the NHTSA assigned top five-star ratings for all assessments except rollover resistance, which earned a four-star score.