Compare the2024 Lincoln CorsairVS 2024 Audi A4 Allroad

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Corsair offers optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Corsair has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the A4 Allroad’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Corsair has standard Cross-Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Audi charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Assist on the A4 Allroad.

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Corsair and the A4 Allroad have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 Audi A4 Allroad:

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

Lincoln’s powertrain warranty covers the Corsair 2 years and 20,000 miles longer than Audi covers the A4 Allroad. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the A4 Allroad ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 2 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are Audi dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Corsair’s warranty.

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are better in initial quality than Audi vehicles. With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Lincoln higher than Audi.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Lincoln vehicles are more reliable than Audi vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lincoln above average in long-term dependability. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Audi is rated below average.

The Corsair Grand Touring’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 5 more horsepower (266 vs. 261) than the A4 Allroad’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the Corsair Grand Touring running on electricity gets better mileage than the A4 Allroad (86 city/69 hwy MPGe vs. 23 city/30 hwy).

On the EPA test cycle the Corsair Grand Touring running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the A4 Allroad (34 city/32 hwy vs. 23 city/30 hwy).

The Corsair Grand Touring can travel with zero emissions for 27 miles. The A4 Allroad can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Corsair’s standard fuel tank has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the A4 Allroad (16.2 vs. 15.3 gallons).

The Corsair has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Lincoln Corsair higher (7 to 8 out of 10) than the Audi A4 Allroad (5). This means the Corsair produces up to 13.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the A4 Allroad every 15,000 miles.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Corsair, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the A4 Allroad.

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Corsair stops shorter than the A4 Allroad:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corsair offers optional 20-inch wheels. The A4 Allroad’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Corsair is .5 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than on the A4 Allroad.

The Corsair Reserve AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the A4 Allroad Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Corsair’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the A4 Allroad’s (37.1 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Corsair is 6.1 inches shorter than the A4 Allroad, making the Corsair easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Corsair uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Corsair has 10.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the A4 Allroad (102.5 vs. 92).

The Corsair has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.9 inches more rear legroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the A4 Allroad.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Corsair’s rear seats recline. The A4 Allroad’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Corsair has a much larger cargo volume than the A4 Allroad with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 24.2 cubic feet).

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 A4 Allroad 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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 A4 Allroad doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Corsair has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the A4 Allroad only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The A4 Allroad’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Corsair Reserve’s optional adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

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 A4 Allroad.

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 A4 Allroad Prestige’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The Corsair is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The A4 Allroad doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Corsair owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Corsair will cost $3046 less than the A4 Allroad over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lincoln Corsair will be $8050 to $12303 less than for the Audi A4 Allroad.

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

The Lincoln Corsair outsold the Audi A4/S4 by 80% during 2023.