2024 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV - Luxury Meets Family Utility

Our recent road trip from Atlanta to Orlando for a volleyball tournament provided the perfect opportunity to test the 2024 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV. As a small luxury SUV, the Corsair promised a blend of comfort, performance, and practicality. Here's how it fared on our journey.

Interior Comfort and Space
For a compact SUV, the Corsair offers impressive interior space. My teenage daughter and fashionable wife packed multiple outfits for the five-day trip, and the Corsair easily accommodated all our luggage. The flexible cargo areas, including underfloor stowage and the EasyFold® second-row seat, also proved invaluable around town, especially for the big box store runs. With the press of a button, the seats folded flat, creating a vast cargo space that handled everything we threw at it, on and off the road — access to the cargo area. Access to the cargo area is convenient thanks to the reliable kick function for hands-free entry. Additionally, the hatch can be opened from a switch on the dash and the remote, providing multiple easy access options.

My daughter noted that the rear A/C vents' low placement between the front seats often gets blocked by her backpack and travel pillow. The Corsair could benefit from having the vents positioned on the B-pillar, as seen in some other SUVs.

The available Perfect Position front seats with Active Motion® Massage were a standout feature. With 24-way adjustability, heating, ventilation, and five massage settings, these seats transformed the driving experience. The massaging function was particularly appreciated on long highway stretches, keeping me relaxed and alert. Combined with the spacious and airy feel of the Panoramic Vista Roof®, the Corsair's interior exudes luxury and comfort.

Tech and Usability
The SYNC 4 system's 13.2-inch capacitive touchscreen offered a modern and visually appealing interface. However, we experienced several glitches and freezes while using the WAZE app through wireless Apple CarPlay. This minor tech hiccup was an annoyance, particularly when navigating unfamiliar routes.

On the plus side, the Corsair's advanced safety and driver-assist features, including Ford's BlueCruise 1.2 , provided peace of mind. The system's hands-free lane changes, in-lane repositioning, and intelligent adaptive cruise control were reliable and enhanced the overall driving experience.

Performance and Fuel Efficiency
The Corsair's powertrain, a combination of a 2.5L Atkinson-Cycle I-4 engine and hybrid technology, delivers 266 horsepower. The ride was smooth and compliant, yet the vehicle felt responsive and maneuverable at highway speeds and in tight parking lots. This balance between comfort and agility made for a pleasant driving experience.

However, the Corsair's PHEV capabilities left something to be desired. On our trip, the electric-only range was about 10 miles, significantly less than the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV we tested on a previous road trip, which offered a more substantial electric range. This limited EV range meant we relied more on the gasoline engine than anticipated.

Additionally, the 11.1-gallon fuel tank felt undersized for a family SUV. Frequent stops to refuel were reminiscent of our drives in the Acura MDX . However, the Corsair has the advantage of not requiring premium fuel, which is a cost-saving benefit.

Recommendations
Despite some shortcomings, the 2024 Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring PHEV is a compelling option for young families and empty nesters. Its luxurious interior, advanced features, and overall performance make it a standout in the compact luxury SUV segment. The massaging seats and Panoramic Vista Roof® add a touch of luxury, while the flexible cargo space and practical design cater to family needs.

If Lincoln addresses the limited EV range and increases the fuel tank capacity, the Corsair would become an even more attractive choice for those seeking an affordable luxury SUV for both daily commutes and extended family trips. For now, it remains a strong contender with a few areas for improvement.