Compare the2026 Lincoln CorsairVS 2025 BMW X3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Economic Advantages

Safety

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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.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Corsair are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 X3 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.

Both the Corsair and X3 have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Corsair has 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.

The Corsair’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The X3 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

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, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, 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:

	Corsair	X3
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	32.2%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	262 lbs.
Neck Compression	23 lbs.	30 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	188/315 lbs.	546/448 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	119
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	36.3%	40.2%
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	71 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	495/536 lbs.

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:

	Corsair	X3
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	97	108
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	816 lbs.	866 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	11 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	32 G’s	37 G’s
Hip Force	462 lbs.	472 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

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 over 36 percent more Lincoln dealers than there are BMW dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Corsair’s warranty.

Reliability

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.

Engine

The Corsair Grand Touring’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 11 more horsepower (266 vs. 255) than the X3 30 xDrive’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Lincoln Corsair turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the X3 30 xDrive 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid:

	Corsair	X3
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	6.2 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	4.3 sec	4.4 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPGe
Corsair
	AWD	Grand Touring Electric Motor	83 city/69 hwy
X3
			MPG
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/30 hwy

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

			MPG
Corsair
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	34 city/32 hwy
X3
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl. Hybrid	27 city/33 hwy
		3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	25 city/30 hwy

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 M50 xDrive requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 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.

Transmission

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.

Suspension and Handling

The Corsair’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The X3 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Corsair’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the X3’s (37.1 feet vs. 40 feet).

Chassis

The Lincoln Corsair may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 50 to 500 pounds less than the BMW X3.

The Corsair is 5.8 inches shorter than the X3, making the Corsair easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Corsair uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The X3 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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.

Passenger Space

The Corsair has 3 inches more front legroom, .5 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear legroom and .6 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

Towing

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.

Ergonomics

The Corsair’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and 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.

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.

The Corsair has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the X3.

Model Availability

The Corsair is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The X3 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Lincoln Corsair retains 49.01% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 46.09% resale value of the 2025 BMW X3 after five years, which can save the Lincoln’s owner up to $7179.96289 in depreciation.

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