2021 Lincoln Corsair vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's resurgence from its past struggles. Once a brand known for its grandeur, Buick had faced a decline during the Malaise Era, but the Enclave helped restore its reputation. As the largest SUV in Buick's lineup, the Enclave offered a blend of American-made luxury and modern SUV appeal. Its design was both impressive and elegant, especially in the Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille, brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist yet upscale interior with soft leather and polished accents, though the wood trim was not genuine. The electronic transmission shifter was initially fussy, but users quickly adapted to it.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair, introduced as a replacement for the MKC, marked a significant improvement over its predecessor. Built on the new C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape, the Corsair distinguished itself with a refined design and a departure from Lincoln's previous lettered naming convention. Its exterior featured slab sides and straight belt- and rooflines, giving it a larger presence. Inside, the Corsair shared design elements with its larger Lincoln siblings, such as a flowing dash and floating center touchscreen. However, it had more hard-touch materials, and the black leather with dark wood trim seemed to target older buyers. The Corsair's trims included Standard, Reserve, and the Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, each offering a range of features and options.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, offered a choice between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The Enclave's V6 delivered strong acceleration, and its maximum tow rating was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The SUV's ride was smooth, thanks to the premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping, especially with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg combined, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered two engine options: a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder with 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder with 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the 2.3-liter exclusively available with all-wheel drive. The Corsair's drive modes, such as "Conserve" and "Excite," provided a unique driving experience. The Grand Touring trim introduced a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with electric motors for a total of 266 horsepower. It offered 28 miles of pure electric driving and a combined fuel economy of 33 mpg in hybrid mode.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering spacious and comfortable seating for up to seven passengers. Its cabin was designed for serenity, with features like Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim included luxurious touches such as 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions and heated, ventilated leather seats. The Enclave's third-row seat was notably roomy, and its cargo space was impressive, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair provided a spacious cabin with comfortable seating and ample storage space. However, the pronounced lip at the doorframe required caution when entering or exiting. The Corsair's rear seats were reclining and sliding, offering impressive legroom for a compact SUV. Cargo space was average for its class, with 27.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 57.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Corsair came standard with a power liftgate and offered a hands-free option.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, with features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, its 8-inch touchscreen was smaller than competitors, and it lacked smart home assistant integration. The Avenir trim offered upgrades like a premium sound system and a rear camera mirror, but Buick's short trial periods for connected services were a drawback.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair featured an 8-inch touchscreen with the SYNC 3 infotainment system, offering a logical menu layout and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Reserve trim added wireless device charging, a 14-speaker Revel audio system, and a head-up display. The steering wheel design improved accessibility to voice controls.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were limited to higher trims, with essential systems like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available only on the Essence trim and above. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and parking sensors. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but had a four-star frontal-impact rating.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The CoPilot360 Plus package added advanced features like adaptive cruise control, reverse automatic braking, and a 360-degree camera. The Corsair earned a Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the IIHS when equipped with high-feature headlights.