Our Thoughts Exactly: 2025 Lincoln Corsair

Whenever we encounter a Lincoln, at least one of us remember what they are truly like. 

Once upon a time, they were a luxury brand that carried a considerable amount of weight. Even when Cadillac ruled the luxury car world, Lincoln was not far behind. 

Today, the first thing we think of when it comes to Ford’s luxury car brand is the large-and-in-charge Navigator. It is today’s equivalent to a Town Car or a pre-1980 Continental. 

On the other side of the brand’s spectrum is the compact-sized Corsair. When we reviewed it a couple of years, we concluded that it was a “nice place to be.” 

Since then, a new Nautilus and Navigator joined the Corsair and Aviator to the all-SUV lineup. The emphasis here is on the smallest Lincoln and seeking relevance in an ever-changing luxury vehicle market – especially in its most competitive segment. 

First off, you can’t get any more opposite from a Navigator than the Corsair. It may be small, but it stays true to its Lincoln-ness. Yet, we are reminded that this luxury SUV is on the same platform as the Ford Escape – a vehicle it shares production facility space with over in Louisville, Kentucky. 

We must make this clear that this is not a fancified Escape. Not with that exterior design. It is as Lincoln as you can get – large grille area, the Lincoln Star up front, LED headlamps, larger glass area, horizontal taillight units, and exquisite Lincoln badging. 

This Grand Touring tester adds the Jet Appearance Package. This is Lincoln’s “blacked out” look that is seen on the grille, some of the trim, and the 20-inch alloy wheels. One thing I will give Lincoln credit is not blacking out the Star and the badge on the liftgate.

The one feature we appreciate on the Corsair is that liftgate. It opens wide and high. You can operate it electrically from the key fob or on the liftgate itself. 

Another thing we appreciate in the Corsair is the normal dashboard layout. There is not the 48-inch-wide screen that dominates the bulkhead against the windshield as in the Nautilus and Navigator. Just a simple housing for the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a wide head-up display, a tablet-like 13.2-inch infotainment screen, the “piano key” transmission actuator tucked onto a “shelf” housing the climate controls and the ignition button. Let’s not forget about the cleanly designed center console and tactile controls. 

What gets us is that the infotainment touchscreen is where most of the controls reside. That means going into the menus to get the right one. Luckily, it does a good job in smartphone mirroring either wirelessly or through a USB-C cord. A 14-speaker Revel Audio System entertained us quite nicely. 

The front pair of Perfect Position offers a lot of adjustments, along with heating, cooling, and a massage feature. What is missing is actual comfort. It can be firm, but you would have to go into the infotainment screen to fine tune your position and level of support. The bolsters do adjust, but inward rather than outward. Luckily, the bolsters do “read” your body and give a bit for you to become comfortable. 

Rear seat room is fine for two adults or three children. Cargo space starts with a 27.0 cubic feet area behind the rear seats. When you fold down the rear seatbacks, it expands to 56.2 cubic feet. Non-PHEV models have a slightly larger cargo hold. 

The words “Grand Touring” is Lincoln-speak for a plug-in hybrid driveline. In the Corsair, that powertrain includes a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, a continuously variable transmission, and all-wheel drive. Put them altogether and you have 266 net combined horsepower to roll around town in.

Feeding the electric motor is a 14.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack that can be recharged up through a J1772 receptacle. Level 2 charging is possible, but at lower rates. Once you charge up, there is 27 miles of petroleum-free driving. However, there is always some juice in the battery as it also assists in power takeoff with the electric motor in play before the internal combustion engine kicks in. Believe me, you can audibly tell the difference between the two power sources. 

On the road, the Corsair Grand Touring drove quite well. Acceleration and cruising were fine. BlueCruise is available on compatible sections of highway. With everything under consideration, we observed a fuel consumption average of 40.4 MPG. 

A sign of a Lincoln is the way it drives. The Corsair was not meant to be “floaty” like a 1970s Continental or Mark series. It is a smooth riding compact SUV that has a modern feel. Although, we did find a tinge of “floatiness” at the rear, due to its Integral Bush independent rear suspension set-up. Bumps and cracks were managed quite well. The way it handles also met expectations found in a modern Lincoln. 

The turning radius on the Corsair’s electric power-assisted steering was quite good. So was on-center feel. However, response to the front wheels were slightly vague. While the brake pedal feel was a bit soft, it yielded a solid response to the wheels. In turn, it stopped just fine in both normal and panic situations.

There are now six trim levels available on the 2025 Lincoln Corsair. Pricing starts at $39,735. Our Grand Touring tester with the Jet Appearance Package came with a sticker price of $68,820. 

How does 2025 Lincoln Corsair compete in the compact luxury SUV segment? First off, by being distinctive. A luxury vehicle must have its own design language, execution, and performance. No one should be copying each other to achieve market leadership.  With that, Lincoln offers a unique take in the segment with specific design, luxury elements, as well as its own take on vehicle electrification. 

However, this Lincoln competes in a hotly contested segment. Each entrant offers something different along a similar theme. If you’re looking for some consumer advice, please choose your compact luxury SUV wisely. Do your homework. But, drive the ones you want to see yourself in. 

The 2025 Corsair is one way to stay loyal to the Lincoln brand. You probably would consider one, because your family had them. That is perhaps good enough towards owning one. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by the Ford Motor Company – our opinions are of our own.

All photos by Randy Stern