Compare the2025 Lincoln CorsairVS 2024 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

The Lincoln Corsair has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Corsair offers optional Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The Corsair offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Corsair offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Corsair and the Niro Plug-In Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Corsair’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid runs out after 100,000 miles.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

The Corsair’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 70 more horsepower (250 vs. 180) and 80 lbs.-ft. more torque (275 vs. 195) than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Corsair Grand Touring’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 86 more horsepower (266 vs. 180) than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Lincoln Corsair turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

Both the Corsair and Niro Plug-In Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Corsair has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Corsair Grand Touring’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (11.1 vs. 9.8 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Corsair’s standard fuel tank has 6.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (16.2 vs. 9.8 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

An eight-speed automatic is standard on the Lincoln Corsair, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Corsair’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

The Corsair stops much shorter than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid:

For better traction, the Corsair has larger standard tires than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (225/60R18 vs. 205/60R16). The Corsair’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid (245/45R20 vs. 225/45R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Corsair Premiere has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX. The Corsair’s optional 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX.

The Corsair offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Corsair offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Corsair has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Corsair Reserve AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX pulls only .80 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX (27 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

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

The Corsair has 1.7 inches more front legroom, 2.3 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Corsair’s rear seats recline. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Corsair has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 19.4 cubic feet). The Corsair has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid with its rear seat folded (57.6 vs. 54.6 cubic feet).

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Corsair’s optional rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Corsair. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Corsair has a 2000 lbs. towing capacity. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid has no towing capacity.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid 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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Corsair’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Niro Plug-In Hybrid SX’s power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Corsair the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Niro Plug-In Hybrid can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Corsair’s standard Intelligent Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the vehicle, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Smart Key standard on the Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

The Corsair’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Niro Plug-In Hybrid EX’s standard projector halogen headlights and light instantly. LED lights also last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Corsair Reserve offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Corsair’s standard rear view mirror and optional side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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 Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

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