2021 Lincoln Corsair vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair was introduced as a refined replacement for the Lincoln MKC, which had been based on the Ford Escape platform since 2014. Despite a facelift in 2019, the MKC's cabin felt outdated. The Corsair, however, rode on the new C2 platform, shared with the latest Ford Escape, but Lincoln managed to differentiate it significantly from its Ford counterpart. This differentiation was something that other manufacturers, like General Motors, struggled to achieve with their models. The Corsair's design was refreshingly refined, featuring slab sides, blacked-out rear pillars, and straight belt- and rooflines, giving it a larger presence. Inside, the Corsair shared design cues with the Aviator and Navigator, such as a flowing dash and floating center touchscreen, though it lacked the same level of fit and finish, with more hard-touch materials present.

In contrast, the 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold reinterpretation of its design, which could polarize opinions. The grille, with its flat, faceless look, was particularly divisive. The Telluride's personality changed significantly with different colors and trims, with body-colored vertical strakes that could appear jarring in lighter shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile was bold, with angular fender sculpting and unusual black plastic tabs atop each wheel well. The rear view adopted a different style, with rounded corners and vertical taillights reminiscent of a Range Rover. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on some buttons was difficult to read.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered a base 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided adequate power, but the optional 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, delivered stronger acceleration. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the 2.0-liter available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), while the 2.3-liter was exclusively AWD. The Corsair featured unique drive modes like "Conserve" and "Excite," with the latter akin to a Sport mode. The 2.3-liter engine offered brisk acceleration and confident cornering, though there was some body roll in turns. The suspension was designed to absorb deeper potholes at higher speeds, though road noise was noticeable. The Grand Touring trim introduced a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine with electric motors, producing a combined 266 hp and offering 28 miles of pure EV driving.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid was powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard on the base LX trim and AWD available on midrange trims and above. The Telluride Hybrid added electric motors and a 1.65-kWh battery pack, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque, mated to a six-speed transmission. The Hybrid was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims but was offered in the X-Line trim. The Telluride Hybrid provided ample power and a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas modes. Both Telluride models were tuned for comfort, delivering a smooth ride, with the X-Pro Prestige trim offering surprising comfort despite its off-road suspension. The Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride with its 20-inch wheels, but the suspension managed to absorb bumps effectively. The Telluride was composed on winding roads, with a soft brake pedal effort that required some adjustment.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair offered a spacious cabin with comfortable seats and ample storage space. However, the large lip when stepping in or out of the vehicle was a notable downside, as the floor sank below the doorframe, posing a tripping hazard. The test model featured reclining and sliding rear seats, providing impressive legroom for a compact SUV. The Corsair offered 27.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 57.6 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was average for the segment. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers due to low-mounted seat cushions. The Hybrid SX Prestige test vehicle featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, offering comfort comparable to business-class airline seats. The middle-row seats had significant travel fore and aft, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride offered 22.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 48.7 cubic feet with the seats folded, and up to 89.3 cubic feet with the second-row seatbacks folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid. The interior featured ample storage for personal items, with a large center bin, deployable cupholders, and additional storage in the second and third rows.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running the SYNC 3 interface, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with a logical menu layout and a dock of buttons at the bottom of the screen. The Reserve trim added wireless device charging, a 14-speaker Revel premium audio system, and a head-up display (HUD) with crisp graphics.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system included native navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and dual wireless phone chargers. The system was generally easy to use, though there were occasional delays and the climate control screen was difficult to view while driving. The Telluride offered customizable infotainment themes and a 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system on the SX trim and above, delivering powerful and clear sound.

The 2021 Lincoln Corsair came standard with advanced safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Lincoln CoPilot360 Plus suite added features like adaptive LED headlights, a surround-view camera system, and adaptive cruise control. The Corsair was an IIHS Top Safety Pick Plus when equipped with high-feature headlights.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid included standard safety features such as frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and parking proximity sensors. Higher trims added a surround-view camera system, blind-spot cameras, and automatic reverse braking. The Telluride also featured a driver attention monitor, though it occasionally triggered false alerts at night. The highway driving assist was particularly effective on long trips.