Introducing new car models each year allows automakers to do various upgrades, including adding new features likely to be a hit with consumers, enhancing already popular ones, and eliminating too costly, problematic, or unpopular features.

However, sometimes automakers don’t always get it right, and you lose features preferred in the latest model. Some 2023 Lincoln Corsair owners might feel this way, as the latest and last year’s models differ in some key respects. What did Ford Motor Company change about the 2023 Corsair, and are these changes worth the price?

A look at the 2022 Lincoln Corsair

Before looking at what’s new for 2023, let’s start with the 2022 Lincoln Corsair. The Corsair uses the same platform as the Ford Escape, but it’s a more high-end option. Outside of its sleek exterior, the Lincoln offers respectable performance from its powertrain options. According to Car and Driver, the Corsair is available with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that offers 250 hp and acceleration to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. Or you can buy it with a 280-hp 2.3L engine that can get you up to highway speed in just 6 seconds.

There’s also a plug-in hybrid version available for those who opt for the Grand Touring trim. This version combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor system that helps the Corsair hit 60 mph in 7.0 seconds. It’s the most economically efficient in terms of fuel consumption, getting 34 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. Driving with the electric system only will get drivers 28 miles of range.

FWD is standard, but AWD is available with the 2.0-liter option and standard with the 2.3L version. Both provide similar fuel economy numbers, with 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway for the FWD 2.0-liter version and 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway for the AWD version. Whether in the city or on the highway, the Corsair offers a spacious cabin insulating passengers from feeling jolts from a rough road.

What’s new and gone in the 2023 Lincoln Corsair?

Car Scoops notes that the 2023 Lincoln Corsair has undergone striking exterior styling changes. Buyers will see the new model sports a brand-new waterfall-like grille, as well as daytime running lights that are shaped like wings. There are also new accent packages, wheel design options, and paint colors available no matter which trim you select.

There’s also a new hands-free driving system called the Lincoln Active Glide 1.2, making the Corsair the first in its class with one. While this system should not be considered autonomous driving, it offers drivers the option of taking their hands off the wheel on only 130,000 miles of pre-mapped road. But you must remain alert and ready to regain control quickly if necessary. It is designed to monitor driver attentiveness. But Active Glide can make for a more enjoyable driving experience if you know what to expect and use it properly.

Unfortunately, for Corsair owners who preferred the more powerful engine option in 2022 and older models, the 2023 model does away with the 2.3-liter option. According to Ford Authority, and fortunately for eco-conscious drivers, you can still buy a plug-in hybrid version of the Corsair. In fact, demand for this version is so high that Lincoln has been behind schedule in manufacturing them.

What else should you know about the 2023 Lincoln Corsair?

Not only has the demand for the 2023 Lincoln Corsair been high, but the Corsair has helped Lincoln capture more and more market share in the segment. According to Car and Driver, the Corsair is not especially expensive for a premium vehicle, with a starting MSRP of $39,885. Although, when you begin to outfit it with Lincoln’s multiple options, that figure can quickly rise.

Lincoln provides an 8.0-inch touchscreen and a 10-speaker sound system standard. For upcharges, you can add a 12.3-inch head-up display, 14-speaker sound system, navigation, 24-way power adjustable seating, adjustable ambient lighting, and remote locking and unlocking features.

The Corsair also comes with Co-Pilot360, Lincoln’s standard suite of advanced driver safety features. These include automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot monitoring, auto high beams, and a rearview camera. Additional features like adaptive cruise control are available as part of the Co-Pilot Assist+ package, which is available for an upcharge.