Mercedes-Benz GLE vs Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair was introduced as a replacement for the Lincoln MKC, which had been based on the Ford Escape platform since its 2014 debut. Despite a 2019 facelift, the MKC's cabin felt dated and lacked the athleticism of the Escape. The Corsair, riding on the new C2 platform shared with the latest Escape, marked a significant improvement. Lincoln succeeded in differentiating the Corsair from its Ford counterpart, a feat General Motors struggled to achieve with its Cadillac XT4 and XT5 crossovers. The Corsair's refined design, with slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and straight belt- and rooflines, gave it a larger presence. Inside, the Corsair featured a flowing dash, floating center touchscreen, and "Piano Key" shifter buttons, though it didn't match the fit and finish of Lincoln's more expensive SUVs.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 Coupe, despite initial skepticism about its SUV coupe styling, managed to look appealing with its Selenite Gray paint, 22-inch forged aluminum wheels, and polished brightwork. The AMG GLE 63 S Coupe variant, with its 603-horsepower V8, was shelved for 2022, leaving the AMG GLE 53 Coupe with a base price of $77,800. Inside, the GLE 53 Coupe was luxurious, featuring Nappa premium leather, a Dinamica simulated suede headliner, and brushed aluminum trim. The dual-screen instrumentation and infotainment design added a high-tech touch, while ambient lighting enhanced the driving experience at night. However, the lack of traditional controls and markings made it initially challenging to use the vehicle's technology.

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 providing a sportier driving experience. The 2.3-liter engine delivered strong acceleration and confident cornering, though there was some body roll and light steering. The suspension absorbed potholes well, though road noise was noticeable. The Grand Touring trim added a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a combined 266 horsepower, 28 miles of pure EV driving, and 78 MPGe in electric mode.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE 53 Coupe was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine producing 429 horsepower and 384 pound-feet of torque, supplemented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system called EQ Boost. The EPA estimated 19 mpg in combined driving, with our test vehicle achieving 18.5 mpg. The GLE 53 Coupe featured a SpeedShift nine-speed automatic transmission and an AMG Performance 4Matic+ AWD system with fully variable torque distribution. The AMG Dynamic Select system offered multiple driving modes, including Comfort, Sport, Sport+, Slippery, Individual, and Off-road. The AMG Active Ride Control suspension and AMG Performance brakes enhanced performance. The GLE Coupe's speed-sensitive variable-ratio power steering made urban driving easy, though the optional AMG Performance braking system was difficult to modulate. The suspension handled speed humps well but was less forgiving on rough pavement. In Sport+ mode, the GLE 53 Coupe excelled on winding roads, though its size and weight were noticeable.

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 provided impressive legroom, making it suitable for road trips. The Corsair offered 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 57.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, both average for the segment. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe technically seated five, though it was more comfortable for four adults. The front seats offered numerous power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and massage functions, providing comfort on highways and support on winding roads. Forward visibility was good, but rear visibility was challenging, necessitating the use of available cameras. The back seat provided ample legroom, and the cargo hold offered 27.5 cubic feet of space, expanding to 63.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Comfort upgrades included a four-zone climate control system, heated armrests, rapid-heating front seats, and an in-cabin fragrance system.

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

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe featured the Mercedes Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with dual 12.3-inch screens, including a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen. Standard features included navigation, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging. The Burmester surround-sound audio system was also standard. MBUX was user-friendly, with natural voice recognition technology and multiple interaction methods. Optional features included gesture recognition, augmented video for navigation, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera system.

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 Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus suite added 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 an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus when equipped with high-feature headlights.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and Pre Safe Sound. The Driver Assistance Package added 15 additional systems, including Traffic Jam Assist, Active Lane Change Assist, and Active Emergency Stop Assist. The lane-keeping assistance technology was particularly effective. The adaptive cruise control's route-based speed adaptation function could be turned off. Crash-test results for the GLE Coupe were unavailable, but the standard GLE received top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.