2020 Lincoln Corsair vs 2021 Buick Envision

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair never felt like a Ford despite sharing its chassis and some powertrains with the Escape. Every body panel and trim piece was unique to Lincoln, giving the Corsair a refined and elegant appearance. Its low hood line, restrained chrome grille, and teardrop headlights contributed to its sophisticated look. The J-shaped LED running lamps resembled those of a Jaguar, while the clamshell tailgate and thin taillights drew comparisons to the Audi Q5 and Porsche Cayenne, respectively. The Corsair's body sat low on optional 20-inch wheels, and the model name was integrated into the front doors, adding to its unique and elegant design.

Inside, the Corsair's dashboard was almost as captivating as the Mercedes-Benz GLC's. Rich materials and details, such as curved matte-finish wood and a thick strip of leather with contrast stitching, surrounded the cabin. The long, horizontal air vents and floating center stack with gear-selector buttons added to the luxurious feel. Chrome trim adorned various controls, and the two-tone steering wheel featured thumb joysticks for easy control of the stereo and digital instrument panel. Despite some hard plastic on the lower dash and a matte black center console, the Corsair felt like the expensive car it was, with fashion-forward color combinations.

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a redesign, making it lower and wider than its predecessor. This gave it a more planted appearance on the street, with a sculpted look that was more refined than the Cadillac XT4 but not as sleek as the Acura RDX. The Envision offered three trim levels: Preferred, Essence, and Avenir, with the Avenir trim adding premium exterior elements like a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille, body-color painted lowers, and 20-inch Avenir-specific wheels. The Avenir's interior featured unique trim patterns, leather-appointed seating, and a head-up display (HUD).

The Envision's redesign also included standard LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, along with a welcome lighting animation. It rode on 18- or 20-inch wheels, depending on the trim level, with all-season tires. Inside, the driver-centric design of the center stack angled the infotainment screen and climate controls toward the driver, creating a tighter feel in the front cabin. While some design choices were stylish, the abundance of piano black plastic on the dashboard and center console attracted dust, detracting from the overall premium feel.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair offered two turbocharged 4-cylinder engines paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The 2.0T trim featured a 2.0-liter engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive (FWD) standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. The 2.3T trim, available only with AWD, shared a 295-hp, 310 lb-ft, 2.3-liter engine with the Mustang. While the transmission occasionally hiccuped in lower gears, it generally provided a smooth driving experience. The Corsair's steering lacked road feel, but the body maintained total control, offering a steady and comfortable ride. Fuel economy for the 2.3T was EPA-estimated at 21 mpg city, 28 highway, and 24 combined, with the 2.0T AWD rated at 21/29/24 and the FWD model at 22/29/25.

The 2021 Buick Envision replaced its previous 2.5-liter four-cylinder base engine with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. However, the new engine produced 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, down from the previous 252 hp and 295 lb-ft. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision's performance remained competent but not particularly engaging. FWD was standard on all trims, with AWD available. The 2021 Envision's fuel economy improved, with the FWD model achieving an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined, while the AWD version managed 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined. The Envision's drivability was comfortable but not sporty, with noticeable engine and road noise during acceleration and deceleration.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair's interior was designed for comfort, with seat controls on the doors and a button for massage settings on the touchscreen. The Perfect Position seats offered 24 ways of adjustment, including separate extensions for each thigh. Rear passengers could slide the seat back and recline, with optional heated rear seats and a panoramic moonroof enhancing the experience. Cargo space was 28 cubic feet behind the seats and 58 cubic feet when folded. The Sync 3 infotainment system was user-friendly, though the engine auto stop-start control was hard to access. The center console was roomy, with a sliding storage bin and a wireless phone charger in the center armrest.

The 2021 Buick Envision's redesign resulted in less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, with rear-seat passengers losing two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. Despite these reductions, Buick claimed nearly identical passenger volumes for the 2020 and 2021 models. Cargo capacity also decreased, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the back seat folded. The driver-centric cockpit made it difficult for the front passenger to access the climate controls and infotainment screen. Small-item storage was typical for the segment, and the Envision offered standard heated front seats, eight-way power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel. Forward visibility was challenging for shorter drivers, requiring reliance on parking sensors.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair offered the option to use a smartphone as an ignition key through the Lincoln Way app, though this feature was deactivated in the test car. The hidden touchpad on the B-pillars allowed for keyless entry using a 5-digit code. The head-up display (HUD) was wide and information-rich, displaying outside temperature, turn signals, and directions. The Co-Pilot360 Plus advanced safety system provided semi-automated driving assistance, though it frequently warned the driver to steer. The instrument panel was minimalist, with limited customization options. Voice recognition and destination searches were fast and accurate, and in-car WiFi was available, though software updates required an external WiFi connection.

The 2021 Buick Envision's tech highlight was the standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The available 8.0-inch driver information display provided faster access to station and song title information than the infotainment screen. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, and wireless device charging.

The 2020 Lincoln Corsair had not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but received a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It scored well in all six crash tests and for its forward emergency braking system but lost the "+" designation due to poorer headlight scores. Standard safety features included Co-Pilot360 with forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, auto high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. Co-Pilot360 Plus added lane-keep assist, evasive steering assist, and rear emergency braking. Rear side airbags and knee airbags for both driver and passenger were standard.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS due to its new generation and significantly changed body structure. The Envision featured Buckle to Drive, ensuring the driver was latched in before shifting from park to drive. Standard safety features included a following distance indicator, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-seat alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models.