Compare the2023 Kia SportageVS 2023 Lincoln Corsair

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Sportage are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Corsair doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Sportage’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Corsair doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

Both the Sportage and Corsair have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Sportage with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning also has Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Corsair’s Cross-Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sportage and the Corsair have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Corsair’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 4 years and 30,000 miles longer than Lincoln covers the Corsair. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Corsair ends after only 6 years or 70,000 miles.

There are over 13 percent more Kia dealers than there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sportage’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 11 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 10th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 35 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 13th.

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

On the EPA test cycle the Sportage gets better mileage than the Corsair running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Kia Sportage uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Corsair with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Sportage has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corsair Grand Touring’s standard fuel tank (14.3 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Sportage has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Corsair. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

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

For better traction, the Sportage has larger tires than the Corsair (235/65R17 vs. 225/60R18).

The Sportage has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Corsair Grand Touring suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Corsair (108.5 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 1.1 inches wider in the front and .6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Corsair.

The Sportage X-Pro Prestige handles at .84 G’s, while the Corsair Reserve AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kia Sportage may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 550 pounds less than the Lincoln Corsair.

The Sportage has .1 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear headroom, 2.7 inches more rear legroom and 2.6 inches more rear hip room than the Corsair.

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Corsair with its rear seat up (39.6 vs. 27.6 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Corsair with its rear seat folded (74.1 vs. 57.6 cubic feet).

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Corsair’s (2500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage (except LX/EX/X-Line) to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Corsair doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

When the Sportage SX/Prestige/X-Pro is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Corsair’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $325 less than the Corsair over a five-year period.

The Sportage will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sportage will retain 49.33% to 51.02% of its original price after five years, while the Corsair only retains 47.08% to 47.36%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Sportage will be $7938 to $9206 less than for the Lincoln Corsair.

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

The Kia Sportage outsold the Lincoln Corsair by almost five to one during 2022.