Lincoln Corsair (MKC)
Compact luxury SUV · 2015–present. 27,513 units sold in the US in 2024
How it began
It was created by The Lincoln Motor Company, Ford's luxury brand. The first model, the MKC, was championed by Jim Farley, then Ford's executive vice president in charge of Lincoln. Max Wolff led Lincoln Design, Soo Kang led interior design and Lisa Drake was chief engineer. The 2020 Corsair arrived with Joy Falotico as Lincoln president, David Woodhouse as design director and John Jraiche as chief engineer.
It was designed in the United States on the Ford Escape's underpinnings. From 2014 until December 2025 it was built for the U.S. at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Kentucky, alongside the Escape. China had its own production for that market. For the 2027 model, Lincoln announced that the U.S.-market Corsair would be imported from Lincoln's plant in Chongqing, China.
The MKC was shown as a concept at the Detroit auto show in January 2013, and the production version was unveiled on November 13, 2013, ahead of the Los Angeles auto show. Production began in 2014 and it was already on sale during the final weekend of May 2014 as a 2015 model. The Corsair was unveiled on April 17, 2019, at the New York auto show and was scheduled to reach dealers in fall 2019 as a 2020 model.
According to Ford, Corsair comes from the French corsaire, which in turn comes from the Latin cursus, meaning journey. It is not a new name in the family: Edsel had a Corsair in 1958–1959 and Ford used it in the United Kingdom in the 1960s. The earlier name, MKC, followed Lincoln's alphanumeric naming of that era.
Lincoln had no small SUV, and that was the fastest-growing corner of the luxury market: according to Lincoln, small premium SUVs grew 25 percent since 2012 and more than 200 percent since 2009. Many buyers were entering luxury for the first time or moving down from a larger vehicle. The MKC aimed to attract younger customers without losing the brand's loyal ones. The Corsair took on the same mission with more room, more technology and the styling of the new Navigator and Aviator.
Generation by generation
- Gen. 12015–2019
Lincoln MKC, Lincoln's first small SUV
Photo: HJUdall · CC0 What changed. Everything was new: Lincoln had nothing this size. It rode on the Ford Escape's platform with two turbocharged four-cylinder engines: a 2.0-liter EcoBoost (240 hp) and a 2.3-liter EcoBoost (275 hp and 300 lb-ft in Lincoln's preliminary figures), with front- or all-wheel drive. It had an 8-inch touchscreen, a hands-free wraparound liftgate, continuously controlled damping and lights that projected a welcome mat on the ground as you walked up. It got a styling update for the 2019 model year.
The innovation. The MKC debuted the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine. At first it was exclusive to Lincoln, and then the same engine went into the 2015 Ford Mustang. It was also the first Lincoln with always-on built-in connectivity.
If you buy one usedNHTSA lists recall 23V378 for 2015–2019 MKCs: the battery monitor sensor could short-circuit and overheat, with a risk of an engine-compartment fire, even while parked; Ford advises parking outside away from structures until the repair is completed. On 2015–2016 models with the 2.3-liter engine, the engine block heater could overheat while plugged in (16V183). On some 2015 models the push-button start next to the shifter could be pressed by accident and shut off the engine (15V006), and on some 2018 models the front brake hoses could chafe (18V104). Check by VIN that all of it was done. - Gen. 22020–present
Lincoln Corsair: a new name, Navigator styling
Photo: SsmIntrigue · CC BY-SA 4.0 What changed. The name changed and so did everything else: sculpted bodywork inspired by the Navigator and Aviator, a 2.0-liter (250 hp) and a 2.3-liter (295 hp and 310 lb-ft) engine with an 8-speed automatic, and a rear seat that slides up to 6 inches. The Co-Pilot360 suite with automatic emergency braking was standard. The Grand Touring plug-in hybrid was offered for the 2021 model year after its planned 2020 arrival was delayed, with a 2.5-liter engine, an EPA-rated 28 electric miles and an extra electric motor just for the rear wheels. The 2023 update brought a 13.2-inch screen and hands-free highway driving. For the 2027 model, Lincoln announced a hybrid-only range with 305 hp and Chinese assembly, with arrival planned for early 2027.
The innovation. Phone As A Key: with the Lincoln Way app, your phone unlocks, locks and starts the Corsair with no key, and it can store a profile that adjusts up to 80 settings. If the phone battery dies, you get in with a code on the exterior keypad. In 2023, Lincoln said the Corsair was the first vehicle in its segment with hands-free highway driving (ActiveGlide), up to 80 mph.
If you buy one usedFor the Grand Touring plug-in hybrid, 22V484 covers certain 2021–2022 vehicles and 23V380 covers 2021–2023: engine failure can release oil or fuel vapor near hot parts and cause a fire. The newer remedy is required even after 22V484 work. Battery-cell campaign 24V954 covers certain 2021–2024 PHEVs and originally instructed owners not to charge until its remedy. Check the later 25SC4 programs too: 25V789 covers certain 2021–2024 Corsair PHEVs and 26V091 certain 2023–2026 Corsair PHEVs. The later programs require applicable new work even after the earlier battery recall; Ford’s interim instructions limit charging to 80% and use to Auto EV mode until the applicable remedy. Ask Lincoln for current VIN-specific instructions and proof of final BECM/HPCM software work. Other selected campaigns concern 2020 rear springs (20V470), certain 2021 fuel delivery modules (21V625), 2020–2022 rearview-camera connectors (25V510), and 2024–2025 rear lamps (25V688).
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Lincoln Aviator2003–2005 and 2020–present
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