2021 Lincoln Corsair vs 2020 Volvo XC90

The 2020 Volvo XC90 showcased a pinnacle of modern Volvo design, proving that a large SUV could be as aesthetically pleasing as a sleek sedan. The R-Design trim featured blacked-out, honeycomb grille treatments, black window surrounds, mirrors, and a more aggressive chin spoiler, all complemented by 22-inch rims. The "Thor's hammer" LED headlights and tall, thin, curving LED taillights were distinctive Volvo elements. The Thunder Grey Metallic paint with a blue hue contrasted beautifully with the beige-leather and aluminum interior, emphasizing Volvo's commitment to subtlety and craftsmanship.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair, introduced as a replacement for the MKC, rode on the new C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape. Lincoln succeeded in differentiating the Corsair from its Ford counterpart, with a refined design featuring slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and straight belt- and rooflines. The interior mirrored the design language of more expensive Lincoln SUVs, with a flowing dash, floating center touchscreen, and "Piano Key" shifter buttons. However, the fit and finish did not match the higher-end models, with more hard-touch materials present.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains with a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The T5 model produced 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, which felt insufficient for the vehicle's size. The T6, with a supercharger added, delivered 316 hp and 295 lb-ft, providing better performance. The Polestar tune boosted the T6 to 330 hp and 325 lb-ft. However, the XC90's acceleration was not linear, and the engine noise was unrefined. Fuel economy was unimpressive, with the T6 AWD rated at 18 mpg city, 26 highway, and 21 combined. The T8 plug-in hybrid offered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft but did not significantly improve speed or fuel economy.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair's base engine was a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder with 250 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine provided 295 hp and 310 lb-ft, offering strong acceleration. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the 2.0-liter available in FWD or AWD and the 2.3-liter exclusively in AWD. The Corsair featured unique drive modes like "Conserve" and "Excite," with the latter akin to Sport mode. The 2.3-liter engine provided brisk acceleration and confident cornering, though there was some body roll. The Grand Touring trim added a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a combined 266 hp and an efficiency rating of 78 MPGe in electric mode.

The 2020 Volvo XC90's Sensus infotainment system was faster and more responsive than previous models, though it placed all climate controls within the touchscreen. The cabin layout was stellar, with seven seats standard and an optional integrated booster cushion for young children. The six-seat configuration was available on T6 and T8 powertrains but not on the R-Design model. The first and second rows offered generous legroom and comfort, while the third row was tight and suitable for small children. Cargo space was up to 85.7 cubic feet with the last two rows folded.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair had a spacious cabin with comfortable seats and ample storage space. However, the pronounced lip when stepping in or out of the vehicle was a notable downside. The test model featured reclining and sliding rear seats, providing impressive legroom for a compact SUV. The Corsair offered 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 57.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was average for its class. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 came standard with Volvo Pilot Assist, a semi-automated driving system combining adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. The R-Design trim featured a Bowers & Wilkins stereo with 19 speakers and 1,400 watts of power. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was high-resolution and easy to navigate, though onboard apps were slow to load. The instrument panel could be reskinned but lacked major reconfiguration options.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair's standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system ran the SYNC 3 system with a logical menu layout and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Reserve trim added wireless device charging, a 14-speaker Revel premium audio system, and a head-up display (HUD) with crisp graphics. The steering wheel design allowed easy access to voice control.

The 2020 Volvo XC90 received top safety scores from the NHTSA and IIHS, though the headlight test lowered its rating to a Top Safety Pick. Standard safety features included forward emergency braking, pedestrian detection, a driver-attention monitor, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic-sign recognition. Volvo's commitment to safety was evident in its use of high-strength steels and advanced airbag systems.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus suite added adaptive LED headlights, surround-view parking cameras, front parking sensors, speed-limit sign recognition, stop-and-go adaptive cruise control, reverse automatic braking, and automatic parking assist. The Corsair was an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus when equipped with high-feature headlights.