2022 Acura MDX vs 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair and the 2022 Acura MDX both boasted striking visual designs that aimed to captivate potential buyers in the fiercely competitive luxury SUV market.

The Corsair was introduced in the previous year as a replacement for the Lincoln MKC, offering a breath of fresh air compared to the aging MKC model. The design differences between the Corsair and its Ford counterpart, the Escape, were noticeable, with Lincoln striving to forge a unique identity for the Corsair. This was a significant accomplishment, especially considering how other manufacturers, like General Motors, struggled with differentiation in models such as the Cadillac XT4 and XT5. The Corsair stood out with design elements such as slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and belt- and rooflines that stretched to the rear, giving it a more prominent and refined appearance. The interior featured a flowing dash, a floating center touchscreen, and Piano Key shifter buttons, mirroring the aesthetics of Lincoln's more expensive SUVs, albeit with slightly less premium materials.

Trim levels for the Corsair included Standard, Reserve, and Grand Touring plug-in hybrid. Each trim offered various luxuries, ranging from standard 18-inch alloy wheels and synthetic leather upholstery to the Reserve trim's genuine leather, panoramic moonroof, and 14-speaker Revel sound system. The Grand Touring added a plug-in hybrid powertrain and many of the optional features as standard.

The 2022 Acura MDX, a pioneer in the three-row luxury crossover SUV market, presented a more assertive and modern design with its new dedicated platform. The revised proportions, longer wheelbase, wider body, and enhanced dash-to-axle distance imbued the MDX with a sense of elegance and athleticism. The vehicle featured Jewel Eye LED headlights, expressive linear LED daytime running lights, and larger wheels (starting at 19 inches and moving up to 20 inches on higher trims) that contributed to its modern, sporty look. Built with high craftsmanship in East Liberty, Ohio, the MDX exuded a quality feel inside and out.

The interior of the MDX was equally impressive, with a layered dashboard design that emphasized cabin width. It utilized authentic materials like natural wood and genuine aluminum, supplemented by high-quality plastics. The layout featured a unique gear selector resembling a fighter jet's controls, a rotary drive mode selector, and a landscape-oriented 12.3-inch infotainment screen positioned for optimal driver access but not as a touchscreen for safety reasons. The front row offered plenty of comfort with wide-adjustment seats, and the overall cockpit was described as ergonomic and driver-focused.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered two engine choices. The base engine was a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder, delivering 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, sufficient for everyday driving needs. However, the highlight was the optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder with 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, providing more robust acceleration and a smoother ride. Both engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the 2.0-liter capable of FWD or AWD and the 2.3-liter exclusively offering AWD. Unique drive modes like "Conserve" and "Excite" helped tailor the driving experience to different preferences, with the latter enhancing performance feel.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Acura MDX came with a single engine option at launch: a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. It produced 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. Depending on the trim, the MDX could have FWD or the advanced SH-AWD system, which provided torque vectoring to improve handling. The SH-AWD system could send up to 70% of torque to the rear wheels and 100% to either side during turns, significantly enhancing cornering capability and overall driving control. The MDX also featured a reworked double-wishbone front suspension and revised rear multi-link suspension for better ride quality and handling, complemented by larger, more capable brakes. Drive modes included Snow, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Individual, allowing precise control over the vehicle's dynamics.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered a spacious cabin with comfortable seating, notably benefiting from reclining and sliding rear seats. Both rows provided ample head and legroom, making long trips comfortable for occupants. Cargo capacity stood at 27.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 57.6 cubic feet with the seats folded down, which was average for the compact luxury SUV segment. The vehicle also featured a power liftgate and the option for a hands-free power liftgate, enhancing utility.

In contrast, the 2022 Acura MDX excelled in versatility as a three-row SUV. The MDX featured well-appointed front seats and an innovative removable center section in the second row, allowing easy access to the third row. The second row reclined up to 12 degrees and slid to balance legroom between rows. While the third row was snug for taller adults, it sufficed for children and shorter individuals on moderate journeys. Cargo space varied from 16.3 to 18.1 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to between 71.4 and 95 cubic feet with all rear seats folded down, offering significant flexibility for load carrying. The standard power tailgate included advanced features like "Grab 'N Go" and hands-free opening, and customizable interior lighting added an element of luxury.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen running the SYNC 3 infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's intuitive menu layout made it easy to use. Our Reserve test model also featured wireless device charging, a 14-speaker Revel premium audio system, and a useful head-up display (HUD) that projected crisp, easy-to-read graphics.

The 2022 Acura MDX dazzled with its technological advancements, particularly the available ELS Studio 3D Premium Audio System with 16 speakers and 710 watts of power, delivering superior sound quality. The standard 12.3-inch landscape infotainment screen and Acura Precision Cockpit digital instrument panel were configurable and packed with functionality. Alexa integration, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Qi-compatible wireless charging were standard. Higher trims featured a head-up display, surround-view camera system, and CabinTalk for internal PA system-style communication. The ability for OTA updates ensured the MDX's tech features would remain current.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came well-equipped with standard safety features such as 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 suite of additional driver aids available in the Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus package further enhanced safety with 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 the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus rating when equipped with the high-feature headlights in the Reserve II package.

For the 2022 Acura MDX, official crash-test ratings from IIHS and NHTSA were pending, but the previous model had strong ratings, and the new model targeted even better safety scores. The high-strength steel structure and advanced crash protection features enhanced occupant safety. The MDX's design incorporated improved pedestrian safety elements, a low-speed braking control system, and collision mitigation throttle control. The standard AcuraWatch suite included collision mitigation braking, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, traffic sign recognition, driver attention monitor, pedestrian detection, and traffic-jam assist, making the MDX a robust choice for safety-conscious buyers.