Compare the2023 Lincoln CorsairVS 2022 Buick Encore

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Corsair has standard Automatic Emergency Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Encore offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Corsair has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Encore doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Corsair has standard Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Encore doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Corsair’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Encore.

The Corsair offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Encore only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Corsair has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Encore.

The Corsair’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Encore doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Corsair and the Encore have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Lincoln Corsair is safer than the Buick Encore:

	Corsair	Encore
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	26%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	298 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	363/313 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	102	207
Neck Injury Risk	36.3%	38%
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	104 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	249/289 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Lincoln Corsair is safer than the Buick Encore:

	Corsair	Encore
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	240 lbs.	388 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	100
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	14 inches
HIC	344	382
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	46 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	707 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Corsair the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 175 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Encore last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2016.

Warranty

The Corsair comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Encore’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Corsair 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Encore. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Encore ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The Corsair’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Reliability

The Corsair has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Encore doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Lincoln 1 place higher in reliability than Buick.

Engine

The Corsair’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 95 more horsepower (250 vs. 155) and 98 lbs.-ft. more torque (275 vs. 177) than the Encore’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder. The Corsair Grand Touring’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 111 more horsepower (266 vs. 155) than the Encore’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Corsair turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Buick Encore:

	Corsair	Encore
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	10.7 sec
Quarter Mile	15.6 sec	17.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	88.4 MPH	77.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Corsair running on electricity gets better mileage than the Encore:

			MPGe
Corsair
	AWD	Grand Touring Electric Motor	83 city/72 hwy
Encore
			MPG
	FWD	1.4 turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy
	AWD	1.4 turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the Corsair Grand Touring running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Encore AWD (34 city/32 hwy vs. 23 city/30 hwy).

The Corsair Grand Touring can travel with zero emissions for 28 miles. The Encore can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Corsair Grand Touring’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Encore doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Corsair’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Encore doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The Corsair’s standard fuel tank has 2.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore (16.2 vs. 14 gallons).

Transmission

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Corsair, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Encore.

The Corsair Grand Touring has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Encore doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Corsair’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore:

	Corsair	Encore
Front Rotors	12.1 inches	11.8 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	10.6 inches

The Corsair stops much shorter than the Encore:

	Corsair	Encore
70 to 0 MPH	165 feet	175 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	118 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Corsair has larger standard tires than the Encore (225/60R18 vs. 215/55R18). The Corsair’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore (245/45R20 vs. 215/55R18).

The Corsair’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Encore’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corsair offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Encore’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Lincoln Corsair has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Encore has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The Corsair has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Corsair flat and controlled during cornering. The Encore’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Corsair offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Encore’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Corsair’s wheelbase is 6.1 inches longer than on the Encore (106.7 inches vs. 100.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Corsair is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than on the Encore.

The Corsair Reserve AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Encore pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Corsair Reserve AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.3 seconds quicker than the Encore AWD (27.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The front grille of the Corsair uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Encore doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Corsair has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore (102.5 vs. 92.8).

The Corsair has 2.4 inches more front legroom, 3.9 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room and 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Corsair’s rear seats recline. The Encore’s rear seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

The Corsair has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 18.8 cubic feet). The Corsair has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore with its rear seat folded (57.6 vs. 48.4 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Corsair’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Encore doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Corsair. The Encore doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Corsair has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Encore doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

Towing

The Corsair has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Encore has no towing capacity.

The Corsair Grand Touring can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Corsair can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Encore can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Corsair uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Encore doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The Corsair uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Encore uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

When three different drivers share the Corsair, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for all three. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Encore doesn’t offer a memory system.

The Corsair’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Encore doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Corsair offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, warning, turn signal and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Encore doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Corsair’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Encore has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The Corsair’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Encore’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Corsair the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Encore can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Corsair’s exterior PIN entry system. The Encore doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Corsair’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Encore’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Corsair’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Encore’s halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

Consumer Reports rated the Corsair’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Encore’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the Corsair detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Encore doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Corsair Reserve offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Encore doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Corsair’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Encore doesn’t offer the luxury of automatic dimming mirrors.

The Corsair has standard heated front and optional heated rear seats extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Encore.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Corsair keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Encore doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the Corsair’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Encore doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Corsair Reserve/Grand Touring offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Encore.

The Corsair’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Encore doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

The Corsair’s standard automatic temperature control maintains the temperature you set, automatically controlling fan speed, vents and temperature to maintain a consistent, comfortable environment. The Encore doesn’t offer automatic air conditioning.

Both the Corsair and the Encore offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Corsair has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Encore doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Corsair has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Encore doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Lincoln Corsair offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Encore doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Corsair’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Encore doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Corsair will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Corsair will retain 47.08% to 47.36% of its original price after five years, while the Encore only retains 46.78%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corsair is less expensive to operate than the Encore because typical repairs cost less on the Corsair than the Encore, including $81 less for front brake pads.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lincoln Corsair and the Buick Encore, based on reliability, safety and performance.