2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair was a standout in the luxury SUV segment, offering a distinct design that set it apart from its Ford roots. Despite sharing some components with the Ford Escape, the Corsair maintained its own identity with unique body panels and trim pieces. Its exterior design was marked by a low hood line, a restrained chrome grille, and teardrop headlights, giving it a refined appearance. The J-shaped LED running lamps were reminiscent of a Jaguar, while the clamshell tailgate and thin taillights drew comparisons to the Audi Q5 and Porsche Cayenne, respectively. The Corsair's interior was equally impressive, with rich materials and a dashboard design that nearly rivaled the Mercedes-Benz GLC. The cabin featured curved matte-finish wood, leather with contrast stitching, and chrome trim, creating an elegant and luxurious atmosphere.

In contrast, the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover exuded a timeless elegance, drawing deeply from its storied past. Despite its design approaching a decade in age, the Range Rover maintained a classic look with hallmark design cues like blacked-out windshield and roof pillars, large nameplate lettering, and clean styling. The test vehicle, finished in Byron Blue with silver 21-inch wheels, looked stunning. Inside, the Range Rover offered a high-contrast Ivory-color interior with a mid-century modern ambiance. While the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system wasn't as advanced as newer models, it was manageable with some patience. The Range Rover's interior was luxurious, with quality leather upholstery and a commanding view from the driver's seat, though the second row lacked comfort and adjustability.

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 producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The 2.3T trim, sharing a 295-hp, 310 lb-ft engine with the Mustang, came with all-wheel drive only. While the transmission occasionally hiccupped in lower gears, it generally provided a smooth experience. The Corsair's steering lacked road feel, but the body maintained excellent control, offering a composed ride even at high speeds. The adaptive dampers, standard with the 2.3T, firmed 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.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover offered a range of powertrain choices, including turbodiesel V6, supercharged V8, mild-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. The HSE Westminster special edition featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, paired with a flawless eight-speed automatic transmission. Four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case was standard, ensuring the Range Rover's off-road capabilities. The adaptive air suspension provided a classic wafting sensation, filtering road harshness effectively. While the Range Rover excelled in comfort and off-road prowess, its steering was slow in response, and the SUV's weight and tall center of gravity led to side-to-side wallow on uneven roads. The EPA estimated fuel economy at 20 mpg combined, with our test averaging 18.5 mpg.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair's interior was designed for comfort and convenience. Seat controls were located on the doors, similar to a Mercedes, allowing easy adjustments. The Perfect Position seats offered 24 ways of adjustment, including massage settings and separate thigh extensions. The driving position was airy, with good sightlines and ample glass. Rear passengers enjoyed sliding and reclining seats, with optional heated rear seats and a panoramic moonroof enhancing the experience. Cargo space was limited, with 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 58 cubic feet when folded. The Sync 3 infotainment system was user-friendly, though the engine auto stop-start control was somewhat hidden. The center console was spacious, with a sliding storage bin and a wireless phone charger in the center armrest.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured an air suspension with a kneel mode for easier entry and exit. The front seats were decadently comfortable, wrapped in quality leather upholstery. However, the second row lacked comfort, with insufficient thigh support and a slouched seating position. Despite this, the back seat offered quad-zone climate control and heated and ventilated outboard seating positions. Storage space was limited, with dual glove compartments compensating for the small center-console bin. Luggage volume was also restricted, with 25 cubic feet behind the seats and 59.8 cubic feet when folded. A button in the cargo area activated the suspension kneel function for easier loading.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair offered advanced technology features, including the option to use a smartphone as an ignition key through the Lincoln Way app. The head-up display was wide and info-rich, displaying outside temperature, turn signals, and directions. The Co-Pilot360 Plus system provided semi-automated driving assistance, though it occasionally warned to steer unnecessarily. 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 connection.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured fully digital instrumentation and infotainment, rendered across three displays. The InControl Touch Pro Duo system offered numerous features, though it wasn't entirely intuitive. Using the two 10-inch touchscreens while driving was distracting, and the head-up display was difficult to see with polarized sunglasses. The Range Rover's technology required setup to personal preferences to minimize fuss while driving. The Activity Key wristband allowed leaving the key fob inside the vehicle during activities, and the iGuide smartphone app served as a digital owner's manual.

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, though the LED headlights were deemed adequate. The Co-Pilot360 system included 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, evasive steering assist, and rear emergency braking. Rear side airbags and knee airbags for both driver and passenger were standard.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, front and rear parking sensors, and a speed limiter as standard. Optional packages offered additional driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. The HSE Westminster Edition included the Drive Pro and Park packages, though the adaptive cruise control was slow to respond. Overall, the safety features were effective and accurate, though the Driver Assist Pack's advanced technology was not assessed.