Volvo XC90 vs Lincoln Corsair

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair, introduced as a replacement for the Lincoln MKC, rode on the new C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape. Unlike its predecessor, the Corsair succeeded in differentiating itself from its Ford counterpart, offering a refined design with slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and straight belt- and rooflines. These design cues, shared with the Aviator and Navigator, made the Corsair appear larger than it was. 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 more expensive Lincoln SUVs. The cabin had more hard-touch materials, and the black leather with dark wood seemed geared towards older buyers, while younger buyers might prefer lighter palettes with tan leather.

The 2022 Volvo XC90, a far cry from Volvo's boxy cars of the past, embodied the brand's upscale, family-friendly, and safety-oriented image. Riding on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, the XC90 had a great stance and sleek profile, with pronounced wheel arches and a snub nose reminiscent of classic Volvo designs. The interior was described in terms like "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featuring natural wood and metal trim, a sliding wood tambor cover on the center console, and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo's commitment to going leather-free by 2030 was evident, though Nappa leather was still available for those who wanted ventilated front seats. The non-leather "tailored wool blend" upholstery was another option, promising durability and ease of care.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered two engine options: a base 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 hp and 310 lb-ft 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 akin to Sport mode. The 2.3-liter engine provided brisk acceleration and confident cornering, though there was some body roll and light steering. The suspension was designed to absorb deeper potholes at higher speeds, though road noise was noticeable. The Grand Touring trim added a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a combined 266 hp, 28 miles of pure EV driving, and an efficiency rating of 78 MPGe in electric mode and 33 mpg combined in hybrid mode.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains: the T5 with a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder producing 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, the T6 with a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine producing 316 hp and 295 lb-ft, and the T8 plug-in hybrid with a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 models were available in FWD or AWD, while the T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The T5 FWD models achieved 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, while the T5 AWD models achieved 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. The T6 AWD models were rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range, while the extended range variant had a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, 66 MPGe, and up to 36 miles of EV range. The XC90 handled like a smaller SUV, with minimal body roll and spirited acceleration, especially in the T8 Inscription extended range model.

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, as the floor sank below the doorframe, posing a tripping hazard. 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 power liftgate available.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 came in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with easy access to the third row via a one-handed slide and fold of the second row. The third row was suitable for kids but lacked legroom and thigh support for adults. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The XC90 could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration. The interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and a spacious cabin, enhanced by the standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, providing a cool sanctuary from the weather.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running the SYNC 3 interface, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The screen was easy to use, with a logical menu layout and a dock of buttons at the bottom. The steering wheel was well-designed, with the voice control button positioned for easy access. The 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 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, with a nine-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen interface. The system supported familiar smartphone gestures but was occasionally glitchy and slow to respond. Apple CarPlay worked better, though Android Auto was also available. The XC90 had a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, and the $1,650 Advanced package added a HUD, 360-degree surround view camera system, and advanced air cleaner. The standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound could be upgraded to a $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins system, known for its surround sound staging. The XC90 included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app with remote vehicle controls.

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 an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus when equipped with the high-feature headlights in the Reserve II package.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's legacy of safety with features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. Volvo's Pilot Assist system combined several safety features to keep the car in its lane and at a set speed with minimal driver intervention. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.