Compare the2025 BMW X1VS 2025 Lincoln Corsair

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X1. But it costs extra on the Corsair.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the X1’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Corsair doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the X1 and the Corsair have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 BMW X1 is much safer than the Corsair:

The BMW X1 achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Corsair is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

The X1’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Corsair’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X1 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Lincoln doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Corsair. (Lincoln offers free mainteance on some Corsair models.)

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Lincoln vehicles. With 18 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks BMW higher than Lincoln.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln With 61 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Lincoln.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 14 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

The X1 xDrive28i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 275) than the Corsair’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The X1 M35i xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 47 more horsepower (313 vs. 266) than the Corsair Grand Touring’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the X1 xDrive28i is faster than the Lincoln Corsair turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the X1 gets better mileage than the Corsair running its gasoline engine:

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the X1’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lincoln only offers a regenerative brake system on the Corsair Grand Touring.

The X1 has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corsair Grand Touring’s standard fuel tank (14.3 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The X1 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.

The X1 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 X1’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.

For better stopping power the X1’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Corsair:

The X1’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 X1 stops much shorter than the Corsair:

The X1’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 Premiere’s standard 60 series tires. The X1’s optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Corsair’s optional 45 series tires.

The X1 M35i xDrive handles at .88 G’s, while the Corsair Reserve AWD pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X1 M35i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.8 seconds quicker than the Corsair Premiere AWD (25.9 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

The X1 xDrive28i is 4.2 inches shorter than the Corsair, making the X1 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The X1 has 2.6 inches more front headroom and .6 inches more rear headroom than the Corsair.

The X1’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Corsair’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

The X1’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 X1 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 X1’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Corsair’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

When the X1 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.

The X1 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the X1 will retain 53.35% of its original price after five years, while the Corsair only retains 47.93% to 52.69%.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X1 and the Lincoln Corsair, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X1 second among small premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Corsair isn’t in the top three in its category.