Is the 2023 Lincoln Corsair a Good SUV? 4 Pros and 3 Cons

As an alternative to European competitors that offer sporty driving dynamics to go with their luxurious interiors and premium features, Lincoln takes a slightly different approach with luxury SUVs that include the compact Corsair. With a suspension tuned for a comfortable and compliant ride rather than athletic handling, the Corsair is designed more for quiet and relaxed travel than hustling through corners.

Related: 2023 Lincoln Corsair Review: Quiet Luxury, Laggy Tech

To its credit, the Corsair largely succeeds at its mission, with an opulent, hushed interior and lots of upscale features to go with its coddling ride. A 2023 refresh brings assorted updates, including additional tech features, a new multimedia system and various cosmetic tweaks. Together, the improvements add to the appeal of the SUV and help keep it competitive in a crowded field.

Detroit Bureau Chief Aaron Bragman recently spent some time getting to know the 2023 Corsair in the top Grand Touring trim with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, and he found that the updates add to the appeal of what was already a good SUV. Click the link above for Bragman’s complete expert review; for a quicker look, read on to learn four things we like about the 2023 Lincoln Corsair and three things we do not.

Things We Like

1. Pleasing Powertrain

Our test vehicle was equipped with the optional PHEV powertrain, which combines a four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor for a system total of 266 horsepower. The powertrain works well, providing lively acceleration with the ability to cruise around town in near silence on electric power. Smoothly and seamlessly transitioning from gas to electric power and back, the system in our experience delivers better fuel economy than the standard gas-only powertrain’s EPA ratings.

2. Welcoming Interior

Quality materials, tasteful design and relatively straightforward controls make for an opulent and welcoming interior. Lincoln has retained easy-to-use physical knobs and switches for many functions, and the front seats are comfortable and supportive with multiple adjustments. Rear passengers will find adequate room for a compact SUV, and there’s sufficient cargo room, as well.

3. Improved Hands-Free Driving

The 2023 update brings an improved version of Lincoln’s Active Glide 1.2 semi-autonomous driving system, which adds the ability to change lanes on the highway hands-free; just tap the turn signal and the Corsair finds an opening and does the rest. Other system improvements include better lane centering and the ability to slow when entering a corner.

4. Multimedia Enhancements

A new, larger 13.2-inch horizontally oriented touchscreen is also included with the freshened Corsair and runs the latest version of Ford’s Sync 4 system. The update brings a simpler menu structure to go with its bigger screen, making it easier to navigate and use.

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Things We Don’t Like

1. Unwilling EV

Unlike most plug-in hybrids, the Corsair doesn’t offer the option of staying on electric power in normal driving around town. Even when EV mode is selected and the battery is fully charged, the Corsair’s gasoline engine will routinely fire up, preventing the electric-only operation many PHEV drivers find appealing.

2. Touchscreen Troubles

In spite of the improvements to Sync 4, we experienced some glitches with the updated multimedia system in our test Corsair. The system proved slow to respond, with annoying delays between selecting a function and being able to use it. In fairness to Lincoln, this may have been a glitch limited to our early production test vehicle that can be fixed with an over-the-air software update — something Lincoln says can be done with Sync 4.

3. Careful With Those Options

With a starting price of around $40,000, lower Corsair trims offer a lot of luxury and features for a reasonable amount of bucks, and they’re well equipped enough for most buyers in the category. But be careful with the option list: Pile on the extras, and a Corsair can ring in at more than $67,000, putting it squarely in the range of traditional German brands.

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