Compare the2024 Subaru CrosstrekVS 2024 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 Crosstrek 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.

The Crosstrek has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Corsair doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

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

Both the Crosstrek and the Corsair have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Subaru Crosstrek is safer than the Corsair:

There are over 19 percent more Subaru dealers than there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Crosstrek’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Crosstrek’s reliability 54 points higher than the Corsair.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 23 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 17 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Crosstrek lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Corsair doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Crosstrek 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 Crosstrek has 5.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corsair Grand Touring’s standard fuel tank (16.6 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Crosstrek has a standard locking fuel door. 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 Crosstrek’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Corsair:

The Crosstrek’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.

The Crosstrek stops shorter than the Corsair:

The Crosstrek handles at .81 G’s, while the Corsair Premiere AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Crosstrek Wilderness’ turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the Corsair’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.1 feet). The Crosstrek’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Corsair’s (35.4 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

The Subaru Crosstrek may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 1100 pounds less than the Lincoln Corsair.

The Crosstrek is 5 inches shorter than the Corsair, making the Crosstrek easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Crosstrek has .3 inches more front headroom and 4.4 inches more rear hip room than the Corsair.

Maximum trailer towing in the Lincoln Corsair is limited to 3000 pounds. The Crosstrek offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

The engine in the Crosstrek 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.

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 Crosstrek’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Corsair’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Crosstrek as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Crosstrek outsold the Lincoln Corsair by almost seven to one during 2023.