Lincoln has been on its SUV game latelygood thing, too, because increasingly, it's their only game, with the MKZ sedan's looming death leaving the Continental as the brand's only car offering. The Corsair serves as the entry point to Lincoln's ever-growing sports-utility lineup, and it competes in the tough compact luxury crossover segment, which is dominated by Audi's Q5, Mercedes-Benz's GLC-Class, and the stalwart BMW X3 . To see how the Lincoln stacks up, we pitted it against that last luxe staple, the X3. BMW X3 VS Lincoln Corsair: Powertrain Details The Lincoln Corsair is available with two turbocharged four-cylinder engine options, a 2.0-liter making a respectable 250 horsepower and 285 lb-ft of torque, and a step-up 2.3-liter with 295 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Both engines power the Corsair's front wheels as standard, but can be hitched to Lincolns Intelligent All Wheel Drive system for extra money. BMW lays out the X3 differently, with the standard drive configuration sending engine torque to the rear wheels, with xDrive all-wheel drive optional. The smallest and least powerful engine on offer also is a 2.0-liter turbo four, in this case making 248 horses and 258 lb-ft of torque. Step up to the X3 M40i model, and youll get a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six that makes a healthy 355 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The M40i is only available with xDrive all-wheel drive, however. The X3's other two engine options occupy opposite ends of the power spectrum. The X3 XDrive 30e plug-in hybrid is powered by the same four-banger we mentioned before, but with an integrated electric motor for a little extra oomph and efficiency. (Lincoln recently announced a plug-in hybrid version of the Corsair that will hit dealer lots soon, but for now, you only have the two gas engines to pick from.) The electrified engine makes 288 horsepower and BMW says it should do up to 60 MPGe. The X3 M and X3 M Competition have no equal on the Lincoln side, and are high-performance models powered by BMW's newest twin-turbocharged inline-six that makes up to a whopping 503 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. BMW X3 VS Lincoln Corsair: Cargo Space The BMW is the slightly larger machine of the two, and as a result, it also has slightly more cargo capacity. The BMW has 28.7 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, and 62.7 cubes to play with when theyre folded down. The Lincoln, on the other hand, offers 25.2 cubic feet of space with the rear seats up. That number jumps to 53.1 when the rear bench is folded down. Even though this seems like an outright win for the Bimmer, some clever packaging on the Lincolns part means it actually features more room for its second-row passengers. The Lincoln gives two more inches or legroom in the back and slightly more shoulder room, too. That means that, if youre hauling people more often than youre hauling gear, the Lincoln might be the right choice here. BMW X3 VS Lincoln Corsair: The Luxury Factor BMW and Lincoln are both luxury brands. That means that when buying one of either, you can expect a level of luxury missing in something like a Volkswagen or a Ford. So, what do these two offer in terms of luxury that lesser competitors might not, and how does their fanciness stand up to one another? The Lincoln offers a panoramic roof that stretches the length of the car. The panel is huge, and comes with a sunshade to ensure the cabin doesnt get too hot. It showers the interior with light, making the Lincoln's stylish cabin design pop. While there are some clearly Ford-derived bits here and thereremember, Lincoln is owned by Ford Motor Company, and the Corsair is related to that brand's Escape crossoverLincoln has made big strides of late to differentiate its products from those of the Blue Oval. And the Corsair has an extensive roster of standard and available niceties, including Lincolns Co-Pilot 360 Plus, a fully suite of safety features that includes a 360 degree camera, traffic jam assist, automatic lane centering, and a number of other driving aids to make your journeys much more stress free. You can even buy front seats with 24-way(!) power adjustment, so anyone can find a comfortable perch. Compared to the Lincoln's more flamboyant, laid-back style, the BMW offers a more somber, serious experience inside. That's not to say it's lacking in luxuryonly that BMW's traditional no-nonsense interior design reigns. Some may find this purposefulness in keeping with BMW's sporty nature, or just good-old-fashioned Germanic stoicism. Either way, the X3 offersBMWs Live Cockpit Pro, a fully digital and customizable digital gauge cluster that can be changed to suit your liking. That can be paired with a head-up display that puts all the pertinent driving information directly in the drivers line of sight. It also offers dynamic suspension for a firm ride when you want it and a cushy ride if you arent feeling so sporty, as well as a similar suite of active safety features. BMW X3 VS Lincoln Corsair: What About Price? This is where things get a little difficult for the BMW. The Lincoln starts at $37,585, but a base X3 is a fair bit more expensive than that, coming in at $42,945. They both go up from there, but if you add up all the options, the BMW, with the base engine and rear-wheel-drive, can be pushed north of $57,000only slightly shy of the Corsair's price ceiling just over $60,000 (for a loaded all-wheel-drive, 2.3-liter Reserve model). It's difficult to push a front-drive Corsair much higher than $50,000. On the upper end of the pricing spectrum, the Lincoln's MSRP can't be run up to match the BMW's, but remember, the former doesn't offer pricier models that match the latter's high-performance X3 M variants (which start at $70,895), let alone its mid-grade X3 M40i (which opens at $56,895 and tops out around $65,000). So, which represents the best value? It really depends on what you're looking for in a compact luxury crossover. If you're into a quiet, comfortable experience, the Lincoln is probably your best bet. Those seeking a little more edge in their small luxo SUV will gravitate toward the more athletic BMW. The post 2020 BMW X3 vs. Lincoln Corsair: Which Compact Luxury Crossover Is For You? appeared first on MotorTrend .