Despite the success of the Lynk & Co 01 in Europe, the model’s first attempt in Israel resulted in underwhelming performance, with only 900 deliveries since operations began at the end of 2022. The main reason was the brand’s high positioning, which led to an expensive price starting at NIS 230,000 and later rising to NIS 243,000.
Since then, the 01 has undergone a facelift - the fourth for the long-running model sold in China since 2017, but only available in Europe and Israel since 2022 and after the third facelift. Now it arrives after Geely, the owner of Lynk & Co as well as Smart, Volvo, Zeekr, and others, recalculated its strategy and positioned the Lynk & Co brand below Zeekr. This repositioning led to a pricing change, with the refreshed model arriving in Israel priced at NIS 180,000 and NIS 199,000 depending on the trim - a reduction of over NIS 60,000. To avoid penalizing customers who purchased the 01 before the model update and repositioning, the importer offers a trade-in option at the original price. So, will it this time manage to charm more Israeli customers?
Design: You can skip this section because the visible changes are minor, limited to a different grille, a different rear light signature, removal of the blue touches that characterized the previous model, and, for the Israeli specification, 19-inch wheels instead of 20-inch previously. That’s it. If the two models are not side by side, you wouldn’t notice the difference. There are advantages to keeping the design largely unchanged, especially when the original look is attractive and solid, but in today’s reality, which prioritizes design above almost everything, the 01 starts at a disadvantage.
Interior: The facelift included slight changes in screen dimensions, with the central display enlarged to 15.4 inches (previously 12.7) and the instrument cluster reduced to 10.2 inches (previously 12.7). This did not significantly change the interior’s look, which remains clean and pleasant. As before, the materials are not top-tier but are good enough, soft, and quality on their own, and well assembled. Under the surface, the operating system received updates, including new Qualcomm chips. Operation remains somewhat cumbersome, requiring navigating through too many menus to reach the desired function. Additionally, as before, the gear selector requires two presses for each shift (like Volvo models), the touch buttons on the steering wheel lack feedback making their function unclear, and each start resets systems to their default settings.
The 01 uses Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), also used for models like the XC40 and Polestar 2, offering generous dimensions compared to competitors, with a 2.73 m wheelbase and 4.54 m length. This provides ample interior space both front and rear. The seats look great, are very comfortable over time, and visibility outside is excellent. Only the driver’s seat is electrically adjustable, and both front seats offer heating.
In the rear, seats are slightly low, and two adults and a half or two children will fit comfortably. A third adult may be less enthusiastic due to the large central drivetrain tunnel and a less soft seat.
As part of the facelift, the trunk grew to 509 liters (previously 466 liters). The opening is wide, there is a 12V socket, and beneath the floor is a compartment for the charging cable. However, small hooks and anchors are missing, and there is no spare wheel.
Equipment: The 01 will be offered in Israel in two trims. The PRO trim includes 19-inch wheels, a 15.4-inch multimedia display, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, synthetic leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control with rear vents, keyless entry, a V2L function to power electrical devices from the car, a dedicated app, and more.
The Halo trim adds a panoramic roof, seat upholstery made from fishing nets, electrically adjustable driver seat, power tailgate, Infinity sound system with 10 speakers, wireless phone charging, 360-degree camera, heated steering wheel, and more.
Safety: There are differences between trims. The PRO trim includes autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with speed sign recognition, sign recognition, driver alert, and more. The Halo trim adds rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive lighting, and door-opening warning.
Euro NCAP tested the crossover in 2021 and awarded it 5 stars, with high scores of 96% for adult protection and 87% for child protection.
Engine and Performance: As before, the 01 is offered with a 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder, front-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid engine, but this is an entirely different unit. The gasoline engine is weaker, delivering 139 hp and 23.5 kg·m compared to 179 hp and 27 kg·m previously. The electric motor is significantly stronger at 145 hp and 34.5 kg·m compared to 81 hp and 16 kg·m previously. Overall, combined output has improved to 280 hp and 54.6 kg·m from 261 hp and 43.3 kg·m. The transmission is also changed to a planetary type with 3 gears and a clutch, compared to a 7-speed dual-clutch previously. These changes improve 0-100 km/h acceleration to 7.7 seconds (previously 8 seconds), though the lack of high gears reduces top speed to 200 km/h (previously 210 km/h).
Battery changes include similar capacity at 17.7 kWh (previously 17.6 kWh), and the declared electric range remains 75 km.
Starting always uses electric power, and thanks to the stronger electric motor, longer distances can be covered on electricity before the gasoline engine engages. The combination of electric motor, gasoline engine, and transmission is smooth, pleasant, and transparent to the driver, with excellent insulation minimizing noise. This is a fairly successful attempt to give a plug-in car an almost electric feel.
During strong acceleration from a standstill, there is some delay before the car moves. Again, initial movement is purely electric, with the gasoline engine joining at 30 km/h and providing power according to pedal depth. Only during strong acceleration is gear shifting noticeable, and despite being a planetary gearbox, there is a hesitation typical of single-clutch automated gearboxes. This was also characteristic of the outgoing model with its entirely different transmission.
For electric range verification, testing will be conducted in Israel. Meanwhile, average fuel consumption was 14.9 km/l in combined gasoline and electric driving, with an electric range of 64 km remaining.
Comfort and Handling: With 20-inch wheels, poorly paved roads were unforgiving, and the 01 struggled with asphalt holes. A combination of stiff initial suspension, large wheels with little tire, and various potholes caused noticeable bouncing at all speeds. For Israel, 19-inch wheels with more tire will be used to absorb bumps better, so ride comfort is expected to improve. Engine noise insulation is excellent, tire noise is reasonable, and wind noise is slightly noticeable, though not dramatic.
As a car built on a Volvo platform with meticulous Swedish tuning, good road manners, moderate wheel angles, responsive steering, and high grip come as no surprise.
Bottom Line: Since the beginning of the year, Israel’s plug-in car market share has doubled to 10%, making the refreshed 01 timely. It is now offered at a significantly lower price, positioning it as an alternative for families worried about range who do not want or cannot afford a fully electric vehicle but care about fuel efficiency.
The Lynk & Co 01 does not try to impress with groundbreaking design or astonishing power figures but focuses on family practicality: Generous space, rich equipment, good fuel efficiency, and especially a quiet, pleasant daily driving experience similar to an electric car. These features will suit some buyers perfectly.
The reporter was a guest of Lynk & Co.
Lynk & Co 01
Price: NIS 180,000 and NIS 199,000
Competitors: JAC 7, BYD Sealion 5, MG HS
Liked: Interior space, equipment, performance, road behavior
Disliked: Ergonomics, ride comfort
Facelift – Technical Overview
Engines: 1.5L turbo petrol, 139 hp, electric motor 145 hp
Combined output: 280 hp
Transmission: 3-speed planetary automatic, FWD
Electric:
Battery (kWh): 17.7
AC slow charging (kW): 6.6
Dimensions:
Length (m): 4.545
Width (m): 1.86
Height (m): 1.69
Wheelbase: 2.73
Trunk volume (liters): 509
Performance (Manufacturer):
0-100 km/h (sec): 7.7
Top speed (km/h): 200
Electric range (km): 75
Fuel consumption (km/l): 15.6
Safety:
Euro NCAP crash rating: 5/5 stars
Active safety: PRO trim includes autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with speed sign
recognition, sign recognition, driver alert, and more. Halo trim adds rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive lighting, and door-opening warning.
Warranty:
5 years or 150,000 km for the car, 8 years or 200,000 km for the battery, electric motor, and inverter.