Compare the2024 Lincoln CorsairVS 2024 BMW X3

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Lincoln Corsair are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Corsair and X3 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Corsair offers optional Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The X3’s Cross Traffic Warning doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Corsair and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and 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 Lincoln Corsair is safer than the BMW X3:

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 BMW X3:

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 BMW covers the X3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 2 times as many Lincoln dealers as there are BMW 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 X3 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

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 BMW 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, BMW is rated lower.

The Corsair’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 2 more horsepower (250 vs. 248) and 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (275 vs. 258) than the X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Lincoln Corsair turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Corsair running on electricity gets better mileage than the X3:

On the EPA test cycle the Corsair running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the X3:

The Corsair Grand Touring can travel with zero emissions for 27 miles. The X3 can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Lincoln Corsair uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine for maximum performance). The X3 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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 X3 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 BMW X3 (5 to 7). This means the Corsair produces up to 13.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X3 every 15,000 miles.

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 X3 doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Corsair stops much shorter than the X3:

The Corsair Reserve AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the X3 xDrive30i pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Corsair Reserve AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the X3 xDrive30i (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .63 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Corsair’s turning circle is 2.3 feet tighter than the X3’s (37.1 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

The Lincoln Corsair may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 400 pounds less than the BMW X3.

The Corsair is 4.5 inches shorter than the X3, making the Corsair easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Corsair uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Corsair has 2.9 inches more front legroom, .2 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

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 X3 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 X3 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 X3 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 X3 doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its BMW Assist eCall can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

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 X3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Corsair’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 X3.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Corsair is less expensive to operate than the X3 because typical repairs cost much less on the Corsair than the X3, including $369 less for a water pump, $484 less for a muffler, $330 less for a starter, $157 less for fuel injection, $10 less for a fuel pump, $238 less for front struts, $114 less for a timing belt/chain and $330 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Lincoln Corsair will be $10848 to $12757 less than for the BMW X3.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Lincoln Corsair and the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance.