Mazda CX-5 vs Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair was introduced as a replacement for the outdated Lincoln MKC. The MKC, which debuted in 2014, was based on the Ford Escape platform but lacked the athleticism of its counterpart. Despite a facelift in 2019, the MKC's cabin still felt dated. The Corsair, however, rode on the new C2 platform shared with the latest Escape, following the Lincoln-to-Ford model relationship seen in the Aviator/Explorer and Navigator/Expedition. Lincoln succeeded in differentiating the Corsair from its Ford counterpart, a feat General Motors struggled to achieve with its Cadillac XT4 and XT5. The Corsair's design, featuring slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and straight belt- and rooflines, gave it a refined and larger appearance. Inside, the Corsair's cabin shared design elements with more expensive Lincoln SUVs, though it had more hard-touch materials. The trims included Standard, Reserve, and the new Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, each offering various features and options.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 received subtle yet significant updates. New LED headlights and taillights provided distinctive illumination, while revised bumpers, grille, rear liftgate, and alloy wheel designs refreshed its exterior. The top-of-the-line Signature trim featured body-color lower exterior trim, emphasizing Mazda's premium aspirations. Inside, the CX-5 retained its luxurious feel with premium Nappa leather upholstery, real wood trim, and polished metallic accents. The new seats offered improved comfort and support, addressing previous complaints. Mazda also revamped its trim levels, introducing the CX-5 2.5 S and 2.5 Turbo, with the latter offering a turbocharged engine. Our test vehicle, the 2.5 Turbo, came with optional Soul Red paint, navigation system, rear bumper guard, and a package including roof rails and crossbars, totaling $39,445.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered two engine options. The base 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, providing adequate power. The optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, offering 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 akin to Sport mode. The 2.3-liter engine provided brisk acceleration and confident cornering, though there was some body roll. The suspension absorbed potholes well, though road noise was noticeable. The Grand Touring trim added a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with a CVT, battery power, and electric motors, producing 266 hp. It offered 28 miles of pure EV driving, 78 MPGe in electric mode, and 33 mpg combined in hybrid mode.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 2.5 S featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, competitive for a base engine. The revised six-speed automatic transmission provided more responsive performance, and AWD was standard. The EPA rated this powertrain at 26 mpg combined. The CX-5 2.5 Turbo, running on premium gas, produced 256 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque, or 227 hp and 310 lb-ft on regular gas. It also had the revised six-speed automatic and standard AWD, with an EPA rating of 24 mpg combined. Our test vehicle achieved 21.1 mpg in Southern California. The 2.5 Turbo trims and 2.5 S Premium and Premium Plus featured Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) with Normal, Sport, and Off-Road modes. The 2022 CX-5 offered improved driving dynamics, reduced noise, vibration, and harshness, and better ride and handling, making it feel more like a Mazda than a typical crossover SUV.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair had 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, posing a tripping hazard. The test model's reclining and sliding rear seats made the second row comfortable, with 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 seats folded, average for its class. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 addressed previous complaints about its ride and front seats with new, more comfortable furnishings. The new seats provided better support and a sportier driving position. Most trims included a height-adjustable front passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The back seat remained snug but featured heated outboard cushions and air conditioning vents. The control layout, particularly the Mazda Connect infotainment system, was a source of frustration due to the lack of a touchscreen display and natural voice recognition. Storage space was limited, with a small center armrest bin and adequate door storage. The CX-5 offered 30.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 59.3 cubic feet with the seats folded, favorable compared to entry-level luxury SUVs but less impressive against mainstream compact crossovers.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running SYNC 3. The screen was user-friendly, with a logical menu layout and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The steering wheel design allowed easy access to voice control. Our Reserve test model included optional wireless device charging, a 14-speaker Revel premium audio system, and a head-up display (HUD) with crisp graphics.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 retained its Mazda Connect infotainment system with a 10.25-inch display, which was not touch-sensitive. Mazda believed touchscreens caused driver distraction and did not include natural voice recognition. Users had to rely on center console and steering wheel controls. Over time, users could acclimate to this system, but it was less intuitive than competitors. The CX-5 included standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, E911 automatic emergency notification, and Mazda Connected Services with a three-year trial subscription. Starting with the 2.5 S Premium trim, a 10-speaker Bose premium sound system and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard.

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. Additional features included traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and a full array of airbags. Our test model featured Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus, adding a HUD, rain-sensing wipers, 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 an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus rating with the high-feature headlights in the Reserve II package.

The 2022 Mazda CX-5 included the standard i-Activsense package with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims added adaptive headlights, a surround-view camera system, front and rear parking sensors, automatic rear braking, and a driver monitoring system. The Signature trim included Traffic Jam Assist for low-speed adaptive cruise control and lane-centering. The i-Activsense system operated mostly in the background, with blind-spot warnings displayed on the head-up display. The CX-5 earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating, a distinction few rivals matched.