2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

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 a Jaguar's, while the clamshell tailgate and thin taillights with a connecting strip were reminiscent of an Audi Q5 and Porsche Cayenne, respectively. 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 second only to the Mercedes-Benz GLC in its segment. Rich materials and details, such as curved matte-finish wood and chrome trim, adorned the cabin. The center stack appeared to float, and the two-tone steering wheel featured thumb joysticks for controlling the stereo and digital instrument panel. Despite some hard plastic on the lower dash and a matte black center console, the Corsair felt like an expensive car with fashion-forward color combinations.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator, which carried over from the 2020 model, nailed its styling with crisp lines and heavy use of chrome. It was based on the same platform as the Ford Explorer but differentiated itself with a sharp exterior and a comfortable, warm interior. The cabin featured soft-touch materials, a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen, and a piano button shifter. The Aviator's soothing chimes for alerts added to its air of class and luxury.

Trims for the Aviator included Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring. The Standard trim offered synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, and a power liftgate. The Reserve trim added upgraded leather upholstery, four-zone climate control, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Grand Touring trim featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain, adaptive headlights, and Multi-Contour Seats with a massaging function. The Black Label trim included Convenience and Luxury packages, while the Grand Touring Black Label added a Dynamic Handling Package and nearly every optional feature as standard equipment.

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 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The 2.3T trim, with a 2.3-liter engine producing 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, came with all-wheel drive only. The Corsair's suspension provided steady composure at high speeds, and adaptive dampers were standard with the 2.3T trim. Fuel economy for the 2.3T was EPA-estimated at 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine in its Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims, producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard and all-wheel drive optional. The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims had a plug-in hybrid configuration, increasing output to 494 horsepower and 630 pound-feet of torque, with a 21-mile electric range. The Aviator's drive mode selector included "Excite" and "Conserve" modes, and it was well-suited for highways and cul-de-sacs but struggled in city driving.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair's interior was comfortable, with seat controls on the doors and five massage settings on the touchscreen. The Perfect Position seats offered 24 ways of adjustment, and rear passengers could slide and recline their seats. Cargo space was 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 58 cubic feet when folded. The Sync 3 infotainment system was easy to use, but the engine auto stop-start control was hard to access.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 77.7 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The second row featured captain's chairs, a center console, and a digital control panel. The Aviator's power-button door releases were a potential functional issue, but the overall interior space and features were impressive.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair offered the option to use a smartphone as an ignition key through the Lincoln Way app, but this feature was deactivated in the test model. The head-up display (HUD) was wide and info-rich, and the Co-Pilot360 Plus advanced safety system provided semi-automated driving. The instrument panel could have offered more customization, but voice recognition and destination searches were fast and accurate.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the Sync 3 infotainment system, which was easy to use and had a sensible layout. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were presented well on the screen, and the fully digital instrument panel and optional HUD featured large, crisp graphics. The Aviator's technology was user-friendly and well-integrated.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair had not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but was rated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, 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 Lincoln Aviator came with the standard Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, which included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The Co-Pilot 360 Plus package added reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. The Aviator earned top marks from both the NHTSA and IIHS, including a Top Safety Pick accolade.