Compare the2023 Audi Q5 SportbackVS 2023 Lincoln Corsair

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

Safety

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The Q5 Sportback’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Corsair doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the Q5 Sportback and Corsair have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q5 Sportback has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Corsair’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Q5 Sportback. But it costs extra on the Corsair.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q5 Sportback’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Corsair doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Q5 Sportback and the Corsair have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Audi Q5 Sportback is safer than the Lincoln Corsair:

	Q5 Sportback	Corsair
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22%	22.5%
Leg Forces (l/r)	80/49 lbs.	188/315 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	34%	36.3%
Neck Stress	134 lbs.	181 lbs.
Neck Compression	30 lbs.	58 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	90/55 lbs.	220/169 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 Audi Q5 Sportback is safer than the Lincoln Corsair:

	Q5 Sportback	Corsair
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	60	197
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	98 lbs.	191 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	219	344

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 standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Q5 Sportback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 128 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Corsair is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

The Q5 Sportback’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Corsair’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

The Audi Q5 Sportback’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Corsair’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 4 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

Engine

The Q5 Sportback’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 11 more horsepower (261 vs. 250) than the Corsair’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 Sportback gets better fuel mileage than the Corsair 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder AWD running its gasoline engine (22 city/29 hwy vs. 21 city/29 hwy).

The Q5 Sportback has 7.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corsair Grand Touring’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Q5 Sportback has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corsair’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 16.2 gallons).

The Q5 Sportback has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks 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.

Transmission

The Q5 Sportback offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Corsair doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5 Sportback’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Corsair doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q5 Sportback’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Corsair:

	Q5 Sportback	Corsair
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	12.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.9 inches

The Q5 Sportback’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Corsair are solid, not vented.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5 Sportback has larger standard tires than the Corsair (235/55R19 vs. 225/60R18). The Q5 Sportback’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corsair (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

The Q5 Sportback’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Corsair Standard’s standard 60 series tires. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Corsair’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Q5 Sportback has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Corsair Standard. The Q5 Sportback Premium Plus/Prestige’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Corsair.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5 Sportback’s wheelbase is 4.3 inches longer than on the Corsair (111 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

Passenger Space

The Q5 Sportback has .7 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front shoulder room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Corsair.

Towing

The Q5 Sportback’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Corsair’s (4400 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 Sportback is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Corsair. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Audi service is better than Lincoln. J.D. Power ranks Audi 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 11% lower rating, Lincoln is ranked 12th.

Ergonomics

The Q5 Sportback’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Corsair’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 Sportback 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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Q5 Sportback’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Corsair’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Sportback Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Corsair doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 Sportback to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Corsair doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Q5 Sportback with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Corsair’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Q5 Sportback owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Q5 Sportback with a number “5” insurance rate while the Corsair is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

The Q5 Sportback will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Q5 Sportback will retain 48.81% to 48.82% of its original price after five years, while the Corsair only retains 47.08% to 47.36%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Q5 Sportback is less expensive to operate than the Corsair because it costs $272 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Q5 Sportback than the Corsair, including $183 less for a timing belt/chain and $728 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Audi Q5 Sportback and the Lincoln Corsair, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Audi Q5 outsold the Lincoln Corsair by over two to one during 2022.