Compare the2026 Mazda CX-5 VS 2026 Lincoln Corsair

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Mazda CX-5 achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Lincoln Corsair has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-5. But it costs extra on the Corsair.

Both the CX-5 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, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 4189-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Mazda CX-5 is much safer than the Corsair:

	CX-5	Corsair
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	86	391
Head Peak Forces	no contact	93 G’s
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Torso Max Deflection	1.38 in	1.77 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	781 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	67	168
Neck Tension	89 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.87 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.79 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	5 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	759 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Mazda CX-5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Corsair is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

There are over 26 percent more Mazda dealers than there are Lincoln dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the CX-5’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the CX-5’s reliability 14 points higher than the Corsair.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda third in reliability, above the industry average. With 60 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lincoln is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Mazda 6 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

On the EPA test cycle the CX-5 gets better mileage than the Corsair running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
CX-5
	AWD	2.5 DOHC 4-cyl.	24 city/30 hwy
Corsair
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/30 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Mazda CX-5 uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Corsair with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The CX-5 has 4.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corsair Grand Touring’s standard fuel tank (15.3 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the CX-5’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Corsair:

	CX-5	Corsair
Front Rotors	12.9 inches	12.1 inches

The CX-5 stops shorter than the Corsair:

	CX-5	Corsair
70 to 0 MPH	173 feet	179 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-5’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the Corsair (110.7 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

The CX-5 has 4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Corsair (106.5 vs. 102.5).

The CX-5 has .2 inches more front headroom, .5 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.6 inches more rear hip room than the Corsair.

The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Corsair with its rear seat up (33.7 vs. 27.6 cubic feet). The CX-5 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Corsair with its rear seat folded (66.5 vs. 57.6 cubic feet).

The CX-5’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.

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 CX-5’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Corsair’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

When the CX-5 Preferred/Premium is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Corsair’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Mazda CX-5 retains 57.6% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 49.01% resale value of the 2026 Lincoln Corsair after five years, which can save the Mazda’s owner up to $8061 in depreciation.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Mazda CX-5 and the Lincoln Corsair, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Mazda CX-5 outsold the Lincoln Corsair by over five to one during 2025.