Lynk & Co 01 Test: Behind the Wheel of the Chinese Cousin of the Volvo XC40

When Geely bought Volvo in 2010, purists cried foul. They claimed to be frightened by the prospect that the new shareholder would distort the brand. But it was more a passionate reaction than a rational marketing consideration of such a transaction. Because what has always been Volvo’s strength is its difference, its Nordic positioning compared to German premium brands. Therefore, the continuity of its success depended on preserving its DNA. That’s what Geely did (rather well), while giving it more resources.

But where the Chinese manufacturer played its “card” well is by repositioning Volvo slightly upward. A maneuver that allowed it to find room for other brands internationally and to multiply different silhouettes on the same platform. First came Polestar, and now Lynk & Co, a brand born in 2016 whose 01 is its first model on the French market.

An XC40 cheaper but also less fancy

The 01 model is therefore a rebadged Volvo XC40, and it does not hide it. Nor did the Swede hide his Asian origins when launching it. Because although the XC40 is manufactured in Europe (Gand, Belgium), it is built on the basis of a Chinese model.

The Lynk & Co 01, equipped with a plug-in hybrid technology, shares the mechanical components of the XC40 T5. It features a three-cylinder turbo engine (180 hp), and an electric motor, allowing it to reach a combined power of 261 hp.

A pleasant interior

The Chinese cousin of the XC40 abandons Volvo’s Sensus system, and we won’t hold that against it. It replaces it with a large 12.7-inch central touchscreen, positioned horizontally, which is quite user-friendly. It also wisely does not control everything. For instance, ventilation commands are accessible via buttons, as are driving modes and some other features. These buttons are quite pleasant, although rather basic, aligning with the overall finish quality. Note also the relative slowness of the infotainment system, and the poor readability of GPS information. In this aspect, it’s true that you leave the world of premium. The instrument cluster, also digital, feels a bit cheap but doesn’t stand out notably. The fabric seats (no leather available) are crafted with a serious finish and offer a comfortable level of support.

Thanks to its 11 cm longer length compared to the XC40 (with 3 cm gained on the wheelbase), the Lynk & Co 01 offers more space in the rear seats, which are bathed in light thanks to the glass roof. Passengers on the side seats of the bench are almost better off than those in the front. However, forget about the central seat, with a somewhat soft cushion and a rounded backrest, not to mention the hefty transmission tunnel, which is less common in electric vehicles. The trunk benefits slightly from this increased length, offering a storage space under the floor and a flat load floor when the rear seats are folded down.

Driving pleasure on point

Let’s be clear: on the road, the 01 from China performs almost as well as its expensive Swedish cousin made in Belgium. In the “less good” category, we note slightly bumpier suspensions at low speed, and some vibrations caused by the 20-inch wheels. However, as soon as you go over 60 to 70 km/h, everything improves, and smoothness becomes dominant. On the road, some driver assistance features lack finesse, like lane keeping and centering, which can be frustrating due to their imprecision.

Generally speaking, the whole package struggles a bit at high speed — don’t forget it’s an electric SUV weighing over 1,800 kg — and the brake pedal doesn’t leave a memorable feeling. Nevertheless, steering is quite pleasant and provides good directional stability. Acceleration is brisk (8 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h), the dual-clutch gearbox is responsive (though it occasionally jerked during our test drive), and driving modes can be adjusted according to three settings: Pure, fully electric with up to 69 km of range (about 50 km real-world); Hybrid, which combines both engines, prioritizing electric as much as possible; Power, which delivers maximum performance without regard to fuel consumption.

To specify, the 01 has a 14.1 kWh auxiliary battery, compared to 10.7 kWh (and 52 km in zero emissions) for the Volvo XC40. So when the battery is empty, nothing surprising: the 01 consumes nearly 10 l/100 km, loses some acceleration performance, and reduces overall range. Its tank is also small: 42 liters versus 49 liters for the XC40.

Another stumbling block: the car has a built-in charger of only 3.3 kW, which extends the charging time (5 hours from 0 to 100%).

Verdict

Cheaper, more spacious, and offering greater autonomy than the Volvo XC40, the Lynk & Co 01 has much to seduce. Certainly, its finish is less refined, it’s slightly less comfortable at low speeds, and buying it involves stepping outside the traditional sales scheme. That’s also why it primarily appeals to a younger, less passionate clientele, for whom purchasing or leasing an unknown brand online isn’t an issue.

Technical sheet

Internal combustion engine

3-cylinder turbo, 1,477 cc
Power: 180 hp at 5,500 rpm
Torque: 265 Nm from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm

Electric motor

Power: 82 hp
Torque: 60 Nm

Total power: 261 hp

Transmission

Mode: front-wheel drive
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic

Chassis

Type: monocoque
Front braking: ventilated discs
Rear braking: discs
Front suspension: independent, pseudo-McPherson
Rear suspension: independent
Steering: electric

Dimensions

Length / Width / Height: 4.54 / 1.86 / 1.69 m
Wheelbase: 2.73 m
Front/Rear track: 1,601 / 1,626 mm
Tires: 235/45 R20
Boot volume: 466 to 1,213 liters

Performance

Top speed: 180 km/h
0 to 100 km/h: 8 sec
Fuel consumption (WLTP): 1.2 l/100 km
CO2 emissions (WLTP): 27 g/km
Battery capacity: 17.6 kWh, of which 14.1 is usable
WLTP range: 69 km
Charging time (from 0% to 100%): 5 hours on a 3.3 kW charger

Weight

Kerb weight: 1,879 kg

Price

Starting at €41,500
Bonus: €1,000