The 2020 Lincoln Corsair, a luxury compact SUV, marked its debut as a replacement for the Lincoln MKC and shares its platform with the redesigned Ford Escape of the same year. For prospective buyers prioritizing safety, understanding vehicle crash test performance is paramount. This detailed analysis, based on evaluations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), delves into the Lincoln Corsair 2020’s safety ratings across various crash scenarios and safety feature assessments.
Decoding IIHS Safety Evaluations
The IIHS is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing deaths, injuries and property damage from vehicle crashes. They conduct rigorous, objective crash tests and rate vehicles’ safety performance. Their ratings are crucial for consumers in making informed decisions. The IIHS uses a four-point scale for safety ratings:
- Good (G): The highest rating, indicating excellent performance in the test.
- Acceptable (A): Indicates that the vehicle provides adequate protection.
- Marginal (M): Suggests a less than adequate level of protection.
- Poor (P): The lowest rating, signifying inadequate safety performance.
Let’s explore the Lincoln Corsair 2020’s performance in each IIHS test category.
Lincoln Corsair 2020 Crashworthiness: A Detailed Breakdown
The IIHS evaluates crashworthiness through several tests simulating different real-world crash scenarios. Here’s how the Lincoln Corsair 2020 fared:
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
This test replicates a collision where just the front corner of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or a rigid object. It’s a demanding test that focuses stress on the outer edges of the vehicle structure. The 2020 Ford Escape SE 4-door 4wd, which shares a platform with the Corsair, was tested, and the rating applies to the Lincoln Corsair 2020-25 models.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Driver Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
Action shot during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test. This test, performed on the Ford Escape, is indicative of the Lincoln Corsair 2020’s performance due to shared vehicle architecture.
The results indicate a Good overall rating. Key observations from the test include:
- Structure: The structure and safety cage of the vehicle held up well, earning a “Good” rating.
- Dummy Kinematics: The dummy’s position after the crash demonstrated that the driver’s survival space was effectively maintained.
- Airbag Performance: Frontal and side curtain airbags functioned correctly, preventing the head from hitting жесткие structures or external objects.
- Lower Extremity Protection: Risk of injuries to the legs and feet was low, indicating good protection in this area.
Post-crash dummy position, showing excellent maintenance of driver survival space in a crash test relevant to the Lincoln Corsair 2020.
Effective frontal and side curtain airbag deployment ensured the head was protected from hard structures during the crash test, a positive safety feature of the Lincoln Corsair 2020.
The driver’s space remained intact, minimizing the risk of leg and foot injuries, highlighting a key safety aspect of the Lincoln Corsair 2020.
Technical measurements further support the “Good” rating, with minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment and low injury measures for the driver dummy.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
This test is the passenger-side counterpart to the driver-side small overlap test. It evaluates the protection offered to the front passenger in a similar frontal offset crash. Again, the rating is based on tests conducted by Ford and assigned by the IIHS.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Acceptable |
| Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Passenger Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/Thigh | Good |
| Lower Leg/Foot | Good |
| Driver Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
The Lincoln Corsair 2020 achieved a Good overall rating in the passenger-side small overlap test. While the structure and safety cage received an “Acceptable” rating, all injury measures for both passenger and driver were “Good.” This suggests a robust level of protection for occupants in this type of crash.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front test simulates a crash where a significant portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts another vehicle or object. This is a more traditional frontal crash test.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Left | Good |
| Leg/Foot, Right | Good |
| Driver Restraints & Kinematics | Good |
The Lincoln Corsair 2020 earned a Good rating in the moderate overlap front crash test. All aspects of the evaluation, including structure, safety cage, and driver injury measures, were rated “Good.” This indicates excellent frontal crash protection in a moderate overlap scenario.
Side Crash Test: Original Test
The original side crash test represents a common type of collision, such as at an intersection. A moving barrier strikes the side of the vehicle, evaluating side impact protection.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Good |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Driver Head Protection | Good |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/Leg | Good |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good |
In the original side crash test, the Lincoln Corsair 2020 achieved a Good overall rating. Both driver and rear passenger injury measures, as well as head protection for both, were rated “Good.” The vehicle demonstrated excellent side impact protection in this test.
Side Crash Test: Updated Test
The IIHS updated its side crash test to be more demanding, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to better simulate a severe side impact. This updated test is more challenging for vehicles.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Marginal |
| Structure and Safety Cage | Acceptable |
| Driver Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Marginal |
| Pelvis | Marginal |
| Driver Head Protection | Marginal |
| Driver Head Protection Details: | |
| Dummy head moved past airbag, struck sill | |
| Rear Passenger Injury Measures | |
| Head/Neck | Good |
| Torso | Acceptable |
| Pelvis | Acceptable |
| Rear Passenger Head Protection | Good |
Post-crash view of the vehicle in the updated side crash test. This test, while performed on a Ford Escape, gives insights into the structural performance expected from the Lincoln Corsair 2020 in similar scenarios.
View of the occupant compartment damage after the updated side crash test, revealing how the side airbags performed in a test relevant to Lincoln Corsair 2020 safety.
Greasepaint on the window sill indicates where the driver dummy’s head contacted the vehicle structure, highlighting a potential weakness in head protection for the Lincoln Corsair 2020 in updated side impacts.
Greasepaint evidence showing the rear passenger dummy’s head was well-protected by side airbags in the updated test, indicating good rear passenger safety in the Lincoln Corsair 2020.
In the updated side crash test, the Lincoln Corsair 2020 received an Marginal overall rating. While the structure was “Acceptable” and head/neck protection remained “Good,” the torso, pelvis, and driver head protection were rated “Marginal.” The IIHS noted that the driver’s head moved past the side curtain airbag and struck the window sill, indicating inadequate head protection in this more severe side impact scenario. Rear passenger protection was better, with “Good” and “Acceptable” ratings.
This “Marginal” rating in the updated side test is an area of concern and potential improvement for the Lincoln Corsair.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test evaluates the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Curb Weight | 3,480 lbs |
| Peak Force | 19,700 lbs |
| Strength-to-Weight Ratio | 5.66 |
The Lincoln Corsair 2020 achieved a Good rating in roof strength. The strength-to-weight ratio of 5.66 indicates that the roof is more than five times stronger than the vehicle’s weight, providing excellent protection in rollover situations.
Head Restraints & Seats
This evaluation assesses the geometry and dynamic performance of the front seat head restraints in preventing whiplash injuries in rear-end collisions.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good |
| Dynamic Rating | Good |
| Seat/Head Restraint Geometry | Good |
The Lincoln Corsair 2020 earned a Good rating for head restraints and seats. Both dynamic performance and geometry were rated “Good,” indicating effective whiplash protection in rear impacts.
Lincoln Corsair 2020 Headlight Ratings
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime safety. The IIHS evaluates headlight effectiveness and glare. The Lincoln Corsair 2020 has different headlight options depending on trim level, resulting in varying ratings.
Headlight Rating: Reserve Trim with Reserve II Package (LED Projector)
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-Beam Headlight Type | LED Projector |
| High-Beam Headlight Type | LED Projector |
| Curve-Adaptive? | Yes |
| High-Beam Assist? | Yes |
| Overall Rating | Acceptable |
The LED projector headlights on the Reserve trim with the Reserve II package received an Acceptable overall rating. Low beams provided good visibility on straightaways and curves, but created some glare. High beams also offered good visibility and high-beam assist compensated for some low-beam limitations on curves.
Headlight Rating: Standard and Reserve Trims (LED Reflector)
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-Beam Headlight Type | LED Reflector |
| High-Beam Headlight Type | LED Reflector |
| Curve-Adaptive? | No |
| High-Beam Assist? | Yes |
| Overall Rating | Poor |
The LED reflector headlights on the standard and Reserve trims received a Poor overall rating. Low beams provided good straightaway and curve visibility, but produced excessive glare. High beams were good on straightaways (right side only) and fair to good on curves. High-beam assist helped compensate for low-beam shortcomings on certain curves.
The headlight ratings highlight a significant difference in performance based on trim level. The optional LED projector headlights are rated “Acceptable,” while the standard LED reflector headlights are rated “Poor.” Buyers should consider this difference when choosing a trim level, prioritizing the Reserve II package for better headlight performance.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Pedestrian
Crash prevention systems are increasingly important safety features. The IIHS evaluates front crash prevention systems for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios.
Vehicle-to-Vehicle Front Crash Prevention
The Lincoln Corsair 2020 offers two front crash prevention systems:
- Standard Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking: Rated Superior.
- Optional Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (Lincoln Co-Pilot360+): Rated Superior.
Both standard and optional systems earned a Superior rating. Both systems meet forward collision warning requirements and avoided collisions in both 12 mph and 25 mph vehicle-to-vehicle tests.
Pedestrian Front Crash Prevention (Day)
The Lincoln Corsair 2020 also offers two pedestrian front crash prevention systems:
- Standard Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking: Rated Superior.
- Optional Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (Lincoln Co-Pilot360+): Rated Advanced.
The standard system achieved a Superior rating, avoiding collisions or significantly reducing speed in various pedestrian scenarios (crossing child, crossing adult, parallel adult). The optional system received an Advanced rating, also performing well but with slightly less speed reduction in some scenarios.
Both systems demonstrate effective pedestrian front crash prevention capabilities, with the standard system performing exceptionally well.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
The LATCH system (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) makes child seat installation easier and safer. The IIHS evaluates the usability of LATCH systems.
| Evaluation Criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Evaluation | Good + Extra LATCH Positions |
| Vehicle Trim | Reserve |
| Seat Type | Leather |
The Lincoln Corsair 2020 received a Good + Extra LATCH positions rating for its LATCH system. It has two rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware and an additional position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors. This provides flexibility and ease of use for installing child seats.
Conclusion: Lincoln Corsair 2020 Safety Performance
The 2020 Lincoln Corsair demonstrates strong safety performance in most IIHS crash tests, earning “Good” ratings in small overlap front (driver and passenger side), moderate overlap front, original side, roof strength, and head restraints & seats evaluations. Front crash prevention systems are also rated “Superior” or “Advanced.”
However, the Marginal rating in the updated side crash test and the Poor rating for standard headlights are areas of concern. Specifically, the driver head protection issue in the updated side test and the excessive glare from standard headlights should be noted by potential buyers. Choosing the Reserve trim with the Reserve II package improves headlight performance to “Acceptable.”
Overall, the Lincoln Corsair 2020 provides a good level of safety for its occupants, with standout performance in many crash tests and crash prevention features. However, prospective buyers should be aware of the updated side crash test result and headlight ratings, especially when considering different trim levels. Prioritizing trims with the upgraded headlights is recommended for enhanced nighttime safety.
