2020 Acura MDX vs 2021 Lincoln Corsair

The 2020 Acura MDX was a well-designed crossover SUV, though its styling was not particularly groundbreaking or attention-grabbing. It blended seamlessly into its surroundings, neither embarrassing nor overly impressing its driver. The MDX featured Acura's signature Jewel Eye LED headlights, which added a touch of sophistication to its front end. These headlights, with their five LED elements per side, flanked a trapezoidal grille that bore the prominent Acura logo, creating an expressive face. The MDX's sleek and low-slung profile, combined with its chiseled details and flawless paint and chrome, contributed to its overall appeal. Inside, the MDX boasted a modern and simple design, with a standout center stack featuring twin infotainment screens. The high-quality materials and superior fit and finish gave the MDX a solid and well-built feel, with knobs and switches that operated with authority.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair, introduced as a replacement for the Lincoln MKC, rode on the new C2 platform shared with the Ford Escape. Lincoln succeeded in differentiating the Corsair from its Ford counterpart, creating a refined and distinctive vehicle. The Corsair's design featured slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and straight belt- and rooflines, giving it a larger presence. Inside, the Corsair shared design elements with other Lincoln SUVs, such as the flowing dash and floating center touchscreen. However, it lacked the same level of fit and finish, with more hard-touch materials. The Corsair offered trims like Standard, Reserve, and the Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, each with varying features. The Reserve trim, which we tested, included amenities like a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 14-speaker Revel audio system, and a panoramic moonroof. The Corsair's Elements package added features like heated-and-ventilated front seats and a 360-degree camera.

The 2020 Acura MDX offered two powertrain options: a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and a Sport Hybrid version with a 3.0-liter V6 engine and three electric motors, delivering a combined 321 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. The gasoline-only model we tested featured Acura's Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, which provided excellent straight-line performance and nimble handling. The SH-AWD system's torque-vectoring technology enhanced cornering by directing power to the outside wheel, resulting in improved handling and a smooth driving experience. The MDX's four-wheel independent suspension absorbed road bumps, ensuring a comfortable ride.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came with a base 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. An optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine offered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, providing strong acceleration. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the 2.0-liter offering front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, while the 2.3-liter was exclusively all-wheel drive. The Corsair featured unique drive modes like "Conserve" and "Excite," with the latter akin to a sport mode. The 2.3-liter engine delivered brisk acceleration and confident cornering, though there was some body roll in turns. The suspension absorbed road imperfections well, though road noise was noticeable. The Grand Touring trim introduced a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a combined 266 horsepower, offering 28 miles of pure electric driving and impressive fuel efficiency.

The 2020 Acura MDX provided a spacious interior with sliding and reclining second-row seats, making access to the third row easier and allowing for flexible legroom distribution. It offered 15.8 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, expandable to 43.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 90.9 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The MDX featured various storage compartments, including a large glove box, a flexible center console, and door panel pockets. Tri-zone climate control ensured comfort for all passengers, making the MDX a stylish alternative to a minivan.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair boasted a spacious cabin with comfortable seats and ample storage space. However, the pronounced lip at the doorframe required caution when entering or exiting the vehicle. The Corsair's reclining and sliding rear seats provided impressive legroom, making it suitable for road trips. It offered 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 57.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Corsair came standard with a power liftgate and offered a hands-free power liftgate option.

The 2020 Acura MDX featured a simplified trim structure with technology-rich packages. The base model included Siri Eyes Free, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and an eight-speaker audio system. The Technology Package added features like rain-sensing wipers, navigation, and a premium audio system. The Advance Package included additional tech features, such as a surround-view camera and heated seats. The Entertainment Package offered a rear entertainment system with a large screen and wireless headphones.

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

The 2020 Acura MDX came equipped with AcuraWatch, a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. The Technology Package added blind-spot monitoring, while the Advance Package included a surround-view camera. The MDX's ACE Body Structure enhanced crash protection. It received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair featured standard safety equipment like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus suite added advanced driver aids, including adaptive LED headlights and a 360-degree camera. The Corsair earned the IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus designation with high-feature headlights.