Corsair 2023

I was sceptical about a Chinese brand, but the 2023 Lincoln Corsair genuinely surprised me. The fit and finish is excellent, the tech is class-leading, and the value for money is extraordinary. European rivals should be worried.

Excited at purchase, reality more subdued. Positives: generous space, good economy. Negatives: touchscreen occasionally freezes, rear wiper smears in light rain, lane-keeping is too aggressive. Not bad but needs polish.

Factory fit-and-finish issues right off the lot — a door seal that whistles at speed, dashboard rattle took three dealer visits to fix. Disappointing for this price. Should have been right first time.

Competent, reliable, comfortable. But 'competent' isn't what you want when spending this much. A few hard plastic panels at this price point, engine note is unpleasant when pushed. Test the competition before committing.