2021 Volvo XC90 vs 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Volvo XC90 marked a significant shift in Volvo's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling. Introduced in 2016, the XC90 retained Volvo's recognizable boxy profile and blunt front end but added softer lines, more chrome, and distinctive LED headlights with "Thor’s Hammer" daytime running lights. The Inscription trim, with its extra chrome and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest, while the R-Design and Momentum trims offered sportier and more basic looks, respectively. The XC90's interior embraced "Swedish minimalism," featuring matte-finish wood trim and unique wool upholstery options, creating a refined yet understated cabin.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair, introduced as a replacement for the MKC, rode on the new C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape. This new platform allowed the Corsair to feel distinct from its Ford counterpart, unlike some other luxury brands. The Corsair's design was refined, with slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and straight belt- and rooflines, giving it a larger appearance. Inside, the Corsair featured a flowing dash, floating center touchscreen, and "Piano Key" shifter buttons. However, the fit and finish didn't quite match the more expensive Lincoln SUVs, with more hard-touch materials present. The Corsair's trims included Standard, Reserve, and the new Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, each offering various levels of luxury and technology.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains, all based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 engine added a supercharger, increasing output to 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid combined the T6 engine with electric assist, delivering a total of 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T5 came with front-wheel drive, while all-wheel drive was optional on the T5 and standard on the T6 and T8. Despite the impressive power figures, the XC90's small engine struggled with flexibility, and the plug-in hybrid's electric mode was limited to low speeds. The XC90 excelled in ride quality and quietness, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds for most models.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair's base engine was a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder, producing 250 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. An optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, providing strong acceleration. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the 2.0-liter available in front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and the 2.3-liter exclusively in all-wheel drive. The Corsair featured unique drive modes like "Conserve" and "Excite," with the latter providing a sportier driving experience. The Grand Touring trim added a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter engine with electric motors for a total of 266 hp and 28 miles of pure electric driving. The Corsair's suspension was designed for comfort, absorbing potholes well, but road noise was noticeable.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with headroom and legroom in all three rows being average for the segment. The third row was tight for adults, and the seats in the second and third rows lacked support. The XC90's upright roof profile and optional power moonroof gave the interior a spacious feel. The Inscription trim featured 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but the steering wheel was not power-adjustable. Cargo space was limited, with 11.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 34.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. A hands-free power tailgate was available.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered a spacious cabin with comfortable seats and ample storage space. However, the large 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 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, which emphasized simplicity and functionality. It came standard with a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system was easy to use, with a portrait-oriented touchscreen that allowed for intuitive swiping through menus. However, the text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving, and the wireless charging pad was too small for most phones. The XC90 also had a 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and a head-up display available.

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

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top scores in all crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. The NHTSA gave all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo's Pilot Assist driver aid.

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, which included 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 also an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus when equipped with high-feature headlights.