Mazda CX-30 vs Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair was introduced as a replacement for the Lincoln MKC, which had been around since 2014. The Corsair, built on the new C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape, offered a distinct feel from its Ford counterpart, unlike some other brand pairings. Its design was refined, with slab sides and blacked-out rear pillars, giving it a larger appearance. Inside, the Corsair shared design elements with other Lincoln SUVs, featuring a flowing dash and a 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 was available in Standard, Reserve, and Grand Touring trims, with the Reserve trim offering additional features like a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 14-speaker Revel audio system.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 had the styling of a downsized CX-5, with an upright grille and smooth fenders. It was built on the same platform as the Mazda3, resembling a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's cabin was comfortable and quiet, with a well-designed interior that blended conventional and digital displays. However, the infotainment system, controlled by a rotary dial, had a steep learning curve. The CX-30 was available in multiple trims, including the 2.5 S, 2.5 S Select, and Turbo Premium Plus. The Turbo Premium Plus trim added features like front-and-rear parking sensors and advanced driver assistance systems.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered a base 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. An optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine provided 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, delivering strong acceleration. 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 enhancing performance. The suspension was designed to absorb potholes, though road noise was noticeable. The Grand Touring trim introduced a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a combined 266 hp and an efficiency rating of 78 MPGe in electric mode.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. The upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine delivered 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on 87 octane fuel, or 250 hp and 320 lb-ft on 93 octane. Power was routed through a six-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. The turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, with a Sport mode enhancing throttle response. The CX-30's steering was well-weighted, and it handled corners with minimal body roll. However, the ride was rough over potholes, though it performed decently on dirt and gravel roads.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered a spacious cabin with comfortable seats and ample storage. However, the large lip when entering or exiting the vehicle was a notable downside. The rear seats were reclining and sliding, providing impressive legroom for a compact SUV. The Corsair had 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 57.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. It came standard with a power liftgate, with a hands-free option available.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 provided up to 45.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 20.2 cubic feet with the seats in use. The Turbo Premium Plus model featured a power rear liftgate. The front seats had a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck when the rear seats were folded. The front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. Rear seats offered solid headroom, suitable for short-to-medium trips, though longer drives might be tight.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running SYNC 3, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Reserve trim added wireless device charging, a 14-speaker Revel audio system, and a head-up display with crisp graphics.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30's infotainment system was controlled by a rotary dial, with no touch functionality. Inspired by luxury systems like BMW's iDrive, it was criticized for poor usability. Navigating Apple CarPlay was cumbersome, though entering it from the Mazda home screen was straightforward. The system remained challenging even after setup, potentially distracting for new users.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair included standard safety features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. The Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus suite added features like adaptive LED headlights, surround-view cameras, and adaptive cruise control. The Corsair was an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus with high-feature headlights.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with standard driver-assistance features, including forward collision avoidance and lane-keeping assist. The Turbo Premium Plus model added blind-spot monitoring, traffic-sign recognition, and reverse automatic emergency braking. It also had adaptive front headlights and a 360-degree parking camera. The CX-30 earned five stars from NHTSA and was an IIHS Top Safety Pick+.