Compare the2026 Audi Q5VS 2026 Lincoln Corsair

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Q5 and Corsair have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Q5 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Corsair’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The Q5 has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Corsair doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Audi Q5 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 Q5. But it costs extra on the Corsair.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Q5’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Corsair doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Earlier warning of stopped traffic, traffic signals, dangerous road conditions, weather, or accidents, can keep driver's safer and prevent crashes. The Q5 has Car-to-X Services, a system that seamlessly communicates important warnings to the driver about impending danger, if they're available. The Corsair doesn’t offer a system that can receive automated systems from infrastructure.

The Audi Q5 offers an optional Top View Camera System and it also offers an optional rear camera washer to make backing always safe, regardless of road dirt or grime, while the Lincoln Corsair doesn’t offer a camera washer, requiring manual cleaning.

Both the Q5 and the Corsair have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Audi Q5 is much safer than the Corsair:

	Q5	Corsair
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	81	391
Head Peak Forces	no contact	93 G’s
Neck Tension	290 lbs.	379 lbs.
Neck Compression	-22 lbs.	22 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	1.06 in	1.1 in
Shoulder Force	134 lbs.	223 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.94 in	1.77 in
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	892 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	139	168
Neck Tension	156 lbs.	201 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	45 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	223 lbs.	379 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.3 in	1.5 in
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	669 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Audi Q5 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 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, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Corsair is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

The Q5’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Corsair’s (12 vs. 5 years).

Audi pays for scheduled maintenance on the Q5 for 3 years and 30,000 miles. Audi will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 1 visits). Lincoln doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Corsair. (Lincoln offers free maintenance on some Corsair models.)

Reliability

The Audi Q5’s engine uses a cast iron block for durability, while the Corsair’s engines use an aluminum block. Aluminum engine blocks are much more prone to warp and crack at high temperatures than cast iron.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Audi vehicles are more reliable than Lincoln vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Audi 7 places higher in reliability than Lincoln.

Engine

The Q5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 18 more horsepower (268 vs. 250) and 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 275) than the Corsair’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Q5’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 2 more horsepower (268 vs. 266) than the Corsair Grand Touring’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Audi Q5 is faster than the Lincoln Corsair turbo 4 cyl.:

	Q5	Corsair
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	7.3 sec
Quarter Mile	14.4 sec	15.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	96.4 MPH	88.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Q5 gets better fuel mileage than the Corsair 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder AWD running its gasoline engine (21 city/29 hwy vs. 21 city/28 hwy).

The Q5 has 6.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Corsair Grand Touring’s standard fuel tank (17.2 vs. 11.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Transmission

The Q5 offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The Corsair doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

The Q5’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Corsair doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Q5’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Corsair:

	Q5	Corsair
Front Rotors	13.3 inches	12.1 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	11.9 inches

The Q5’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Corsair are solid, not vented.

The Q5 stops shorter than the Corsair:

	Q5	Corsair
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Q5 has larger standard tires than the Corsair (235/55R19 vs. 225/60R18). The Q5’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Corsair (255/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the Q5 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Corsair doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Q5 Prestige has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Q5’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Corsair doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Q5’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the Corsair (110.9 inches vs. 106.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Q5 is 1.2 inches wider in the front than the track on the Corsair.

The Q5 Prestige handles at .88 G’s, while the Corsair Premiere AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Q5 Prestige executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the Corsair Premiere AWD (26.6 seconds @ .69 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .67 average G’s).

Cargo Capacity

The Q5 has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Corsair with its rear seat folded (57.9 vs. 57.6 cubic feet).

Towing

The Q5’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Corsair’s (4400 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Q5 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Corsair. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Q5’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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Q5 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Corsair doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Q5 Premium Plus/Prestige has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The Corsair doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Q5 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Corsair doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Q5 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Corsair’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Audi Q5 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Lincoln charges extra for Homelink® on the Corsair.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Audi Q5 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Corsair.

The Q5’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Park Assist Plus will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Corsair’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Recommendations

The Audi Q5/SQ5 outsold the Lincoln Corsair by 74% during 2025.

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