2023 Lincoln Corsair Luxury SUV: Minimum Makeover for Maximum Impact
Scotty Reiss
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Same sleek look on the outside, but lots of great new stuff inside.
We got a sneak peek at the 2023 Lincoln Corsair, Lincoln’s best selling SUV and one of the best small luxury SUVs on the road, to see what ’s new for 2023. And, there’s a lot.
Probably the biggest news is now buyers can configure a Corsair however they want.
Want basic luxury and top technology? You got it. Want all the luxe and none of the tech? You can have that too. And along with that you’ll get some nice new design details and options.
The 2023 model starts with a new front grille design that gives the Corsair a more modern look. The grille’s brushed aluminum sparkles just a bit, setting off the floating Lincoln badge. From there, buyers can opt for a Jet Appearance package that adds black details, from the grille to the wheels and trim for a sportier look (it looked really nice on the Pristine White Metallic model) and there is a new blue color, Whisper Blue Metallic, a soft, almost ceramic metallic color.
From there, buyers can choose a level of luxury: Standard, Reserve or Grand Touring.
Within that level of luxury, they can pick the tech they want, or not.
Related: Lincoln: Nautilus Versus Corsair, Take Your Pick
The center console now has more room and can hold a handbag. Photo: Scotty Reiss
What’s New for 2023? A Few Hidden Secrets
I really love the center console in Lincoln’s SUVs; they respect your need for places to put stuff while keeping a neat, minimalist look about them. But for 2022 the Corsair makes even better use of that nicely designed console. The control panel above it, which holds buttons for auto stop/start, traction control and more, is a bit smaller, opening the space even more. And then, the console is more useful: It now holds a cubby for charging a phone wirelessly. Just push back the retractable top to reveal a wireless phone charger. The cubby also has a lip along each side so you can place a small bag on the console and it won’t slide off while you’re driving. This is a wonderful thing.
Another wonderful new thing is the ambient lighting package, which in the top Grand Touring trim has a backlit dash panel that illuminates when the lighting is on. At night it’s like a star scape in your car.
You’ll also immediately notice the new 13” multimedia touch screen. It’s in the same place as it always was, just larger and with new functions. And that’s the other great new thing about the 2023 model: Lots of delicious new tech.
Related: 2022 Lincoln Navigator Review: This Big Boy Will Wow You
The new center console with a phone charge cubby. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Tech Treats for Everyone in the 2023 Lincoln Corsair
While I might start with the tech that’s front and center on the enlarged 13” touch screen, I won’t. That’s because the best seamless experience is from wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Just connect the first time and ever after, you’re connected. Then, drop your phone onto the wireless charger and away you go. Your projection phone screen will pop up on the multimedia screen as soon as you start the car. How’s that for service?
But if you want to use the features programmed into the Lincoln, you’ll have more of them in the new Sync 4 system.
“Hey Lincoln?” “How may I help you?” Isn’t that how your every need should be addresses? Well, that’s what you’ll get with Sync 4, as well as better built in navigation (which displays on the head up display in the head up display if you opt for that) and one of the best owners manuals in cars. Seriously. It has interactive graphics and videos so it’ll answer all your questions without ambiguity.
Related: 2020 Lincoln Aviator Review: The Innovative, Thoughtful Luxury 3-Row SUV That Considers How You Live
The view from the driver’s seat in the 2023 Lincoln Corsair. The small box on top of the steering wheel is the driver monitor for the Active Glide hands free driver assist system. Photo: Scotty Reiss
The Biggest Bonus: Active Glide
Lincoln rolled out Active Glide hands-free drive technology in the Navigator earlier this year and it’s a delight (though, really, don’t take your hands off the wheel, even if you can). Active Glide uses all the driver assist and safety systems in concert (so, adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist, blind spot assist and more) to allow you to relax behind the wheel on limited access highways, such as an interstate. It not only monitors the road and traffic around you, but a camera system on the top of the steering wheel watches you to make sure your eyes are on the road at all times. This way, you can relax your hands and posture and arrive a bit more relaxed than those drivers who white-knuckle their way down the highway. Sounds so civil, doesn’t it?
The new front grille on the 2023 Lincoln Corsair. Photo: Scotty Reiss
And Then, There’s All the Corsair Things We Love
Lincoln didn’t make a ton of changes to the Corsair, actually. Mostly, it’s been updated to include things customers asked for (“please, please, please add a button to turn off the auto start/stop system!”) and to add tech and design details that were rolled out recently in the Navigator. You’ll still have a choice of its beautiful interiors, which for 2023 include Eternal Red but sadly, do not include Flight Blue, one of our favorite leather interiors in a car these days.
You’ll also have sliding second row seats— this is one of the few 5-passenger SUVs with second rows that slide— push button folding rear seats and a panoramic sun roof. The cargo area is ample and yet the overall size is small, making this car agile and easy to drive.
The rear of the 2023 Lincoln Corsair in Whisper blue. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Corsair has a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Version but Sorry, Only for the Top of the Line Buyers
This detail hasn’t changed either: The PHEV with about 25 or so miles of all electric driving is only available on the top of the line Grand Touring model. It adds 16 horsepower to the Corsair’s standard 250 HP power, giving you even more confidence on the road as well as enough electric miles to run all your daily errands. But, you have to spring for the most luxe Corsair.
Interior with the pano sunroof. Photo: Scotty Reiss
Pricing and Availability? You’ll Have to Wait
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but will be shortly when the Lincoln Corsair goes on sale online later in September. The 2023 Corsair will be on display for the first time at the 2022 Detroit Auto Show and dealers should start to get it into their showrooms early next year. And we can’t wait to see the Corsair’s pretty new face tooling about town.
Disclosure: I was a guest of Lincoln for this sneak peek. All opinions are my own.
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