2021 Honda Odyssey vs 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Honda Odyssey had a familiar look that was subtly updated for the new model year. It featured a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation across all trims, and a new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching the width of the taillights. New wheel designs debuted for the top three trim levels, modernizing the Odyssey by reducing brightwork. Buyers could choose from five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with base prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820. The test vehicle, a Lunar Silver Metallic Elite trim, was priced at $48,940, including the destination charge. The Elite trim added perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome new 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces, giving the Odyssey a more upscale look and feel.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair, introduced as a replacement for the Lincoln MKC, rode on the new C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape. This platform allowed Lincoln to differentiate the Corsair from its Ford counterpart, unlike General Motors' Cadillac XT4 and XT5. The Corsair featured refined design cues such as slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and straight belt- and rooflines, making it appear larger than it was. Inside, the Corsair shared design elements with the Aviator and Navigator, including a flowing dash, floating center touchscreen, and "Piano Key" shifter buttons. However, it had more hard-touch materials compared to its more expensive siblings. The Corsair offered three trims: Standard, Reserve, and the new Grand Touring plug-in hybrid. The Reserve trim, tested, added 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, and a 14-speaker Revel premium stereo system, among other features.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, producing 280 horsepower. This drivetrain, identical to the previous year's model, included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, as well as paddle shifters. The V6 engine featured variable cylinder management for fuel efficiency, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg combined. During testing, it averaged 21.8 mpg. The Odyssey lacked all-wheel drive (AWD), putting it at a disadvantage in snowy regions. However, it had a new electronic brake booster for improved brake pedal feel and response. The Odyssey's ride and handling were enjoyable, with firm but comfortable suspension and well-managed body motions. The brakes, though, struggled under heavy use, heating up and fading during a mountain descent.

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 2.0-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 strong acceleration and confident cornering, though with some body roll and light steering. The suspension absorbed potholes well, though road noise was noticeable. The new Grand Touring trim added a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with a CVT, battery power, and electric motors for a combined 266 horsepower and 28 miles of pure EV driving.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a well-designed interior with legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, standard in all but the base LX trim, was comfortable, with inboard adjustable armrests. The Elite trim added a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row Magic Slide seats provided versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space was generous, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 144.9 cubic feet. However, the second-row seats needed to be physically removed to access the maximum cargo volume, which was inconvenient.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair had a spacious cabin with comfortable seats and ample storage. 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, both average for the segment. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, starting with the EX trim, featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. The Touring trim added navigation, HondaLink subscription services, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk PA system. The Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system, available on Touring and Elite trims, included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray player, wireless headphones, and streaming apps, though it was not a touchscreen.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running SYNC 3, with 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). The HUD provided crisp, easy-to-read graphics, enhancing the driving experience.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with standard Honda Sensing on all trims, including the base LX. Honda Sensing added low-speed follow capability to adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, road-sign recognition, and a new menu button for easy access to ADAS settings. However, blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic warning required upgrading to the EX trim. The Odyssey's ADAS worked accurately but could be smoother. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance.

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 test model featured Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus, adding 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 earned a Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the IIHS when equipped with high-feature headlights.