A few weeks ago, I drove the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric crossover. I liked its style, size, luxuries, adaptive suspension, and ability to run daily from a plug. However, like many of your, I’m not quite sure I’m ready to forgo gasoline forever. I mean, I may want to drive across Montana or somewhere. Turns out, Ford’s luxury division has an excellent alternative: The 2025 Lincoln Corsair PHEV Grand Touring.
PHEV means it’s a plug-in hybrid that can travel a claimed 27 miles per charge before the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine fires up to continue on. In full PHEV mode, Ford claims 76-MPGe or a frugal 33-MPG running as a regular hybrid. It’s efficient, but also quick given total system output of 266 horsepower and all-wheel-drive. Drive modes make the accelerator more or less sensitive depending on the setting.
But, it’s also a Lincoln – a brand that offers some really nice vehicles that range from the compact Corsair through the larger Nautilus, Aviator, and flagship Navigator. Town Cars and Continentals are in the past, but their quiet luxury remains.
Style cribs the larger Navigator and even a little Range Rover, especially with the Grand Touring edition’s floating black roof, sleek glass, and black 20” alloy wheels. Further distinguishing the model are a large black grille, mirrors, and roof rails. It looks expensive, but also American. Small definitely doesn’t equal cheap.
But, if we dug a little deeper, we might see the same basic architecture that underpins the Ford Escape and Ford Maverick pickup. Don’t cringe; if I hadn’t told you, you’d never figure it out because the Corsair PHEV seems greater than the sum of its parts.
There’s little trace of Escape inside where 24-way heated and ventilated seats, panoramic roof, and stitched coverings continue the ritzy vibe. It’s also uniquely Lincoln with the piano keys gear selector, flatscreen gauges, touchscreen proud of the dash, and bopping Revel audio system. I’d prefer a proper tuning knob, but devices connect wirelessly via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Charge wirelessly in the console.
Check the wide head-up display that hovers over the hood.
Like the Mustang Mach-E, this Corsair comes with BlueCruise, Ford’s hands-off system that allows drivers to rest arms or drink a cup of coffee on approved roads. There’s a steering column sensor to confirm eyes remain on the road. The system can be a little fidgety in changing lanes, but automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, and rear cross path detection stand guard.
On-road, the adaptive suspension strikes the right balance between soaking up rough pavement, wafting down the highway, or taking the long way just for fun. It’s the right size to weave through parking garages, but large enough to feel safe on long trips. Despite claims, I never saw over 20 miles range, but that was enough to plug in at home and drive round-trip to the office plus run weekend errands. Step gently to stay in EV mode.
If you’re not quite ready to go fully electric, the Lincoln Corsair PHEV is an excellent option that offers technology, luxury, and performance on-par with competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3, BMW X2 and Lexus NX. I especially like that it wears its American luxury heritage proudly.
Corsairs start at $38,990, but came to $67,325 for our Grand Touring PHEV – or about the same as the Mustang Mach-E Rally.
Storm Forward!
Send comments to Casey at [email protected]; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.