2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2021 Volvo XC40

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair was a standout in the luxury SUV market, boasting a design that never felt like a Ford despite sharing some components with the Escape. Unique body panels and trim pieces set it apart, with a low hood line, restrained chrome grille, and teardrop headlights that exuded refinement. The Corsair's 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 elegant appearance. The interior was equally impressive, with rich materials, curved matte-finish wood, and chrome trim adorning various elements, creating a luxurious and sophisticated cabin.

In contrast, the 2021 Volvo XC40 featured more traditional SUV styling with a tall, flat roof and upright rear hatch. It fit well within the Volvo lineup, showcasing familial styling cues like "Thor's Hammer" LED headlights and a simple oval grille. The XC40 Recharge variant distinguished itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery. The design was coherent, with every element melding together seamlessly, providing a high-quality feel.

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, shared a 295-hp, 310 lb-ft, 2.3-liter engine with the Mustang. Despite some noise during downshifts, the Corsair provided a smooth and comfortable ride, 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, while the 2.0T AWD was rated at 21/29/24, and the FWD model at 22/29/25.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The base FWD T4 had a 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the AWD T5 had 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model featured a dual-motor setup with 402 hp and 486 lb-ft, powered by a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack. The Recharge could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds, while the T5 and T4 took 6.1 and 8.1 seconds, respectively. The XC40 emphasized quiet and comfort, with excellent ride quality even on rough roads, and the Recharge model offered one-pedal driving for most deceleration.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair provided a comfortable and adjustable interior, with seat controls on the doors and a touchscreen for massage settings. 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 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 Volvo XC40 Recharge had no difference in passenger or cargo space compared to gasoline models, but it was less spacious than competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. Clever storage solutions included a removable trash bin in the center console, a bag hook in the glovebox door, and extra-large door bins. The storage cubby ahead of the shifter was well-shaped for a phone, with an optional wireless charging pad and a standard USB-C port. However, second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

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 car. The hidden touchpad on the B-pillars allowed for keyless entry. The head-up display (HUD) was wide and information-rich, displaying outside temperature, turn signals, and directions. The Co-Pilot360 Plus system provided semi-automated driving assistance, though it sometimes warned to steer too often. Voice recognition and destination searches were fast and accurate, and in-car WiFi was available, though software updates required an external WiFi connection.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, with Google Assistant and Google Maps built-in. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth connectivity, with a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The Recharge model also had OTA update capability for both the infotainment system and other vehicle functions. It lacked a start button, instead allowing the driver to shift out of park with the key fob present. Future updates could include a Digital Key feature, allowing smartphone use in place of the key fob.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair had not been tested by the NHTSA but received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, 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. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, auto high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. The Co-Pilot360 Plus package 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 gasoline 2021 Volvo XC40 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. The electric XC40 Recharge had not been tested, but Volvo expected it to perform well due to a safety cage around the battery and a redesigned front crash structure. Standard safety features included lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, rear parking sensors, hill-start assist, and hill-descent control. Optional features included traffic-sign recognition, reverse automatic emergency braking, a driver-alertness monitor, run-off road mitigation, oncoming lane mitigation, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver-assistance system. The Recharge model also had a scalable sensor suite for future advanced driver aids.