Today we are testing Lynk & Co 08.This is the higher level out of the two equipment levels available. There are optional extras to be added except winter tires and tow hooks. This streamlines production, but limits customization options, and only the color of the appearance can be selected. The good news is that all available colors look fantastic with great depth and saturation. From the front, the headlight unit itself looks like an art piece with crystal-like inserts and a slightly off-balance image that looks great in the dark.The European model does not have a front LED strip that spans between the two headlights. That would have given 08 an even more recognizable face. The Lynk & Co 08 side profile is stately and does not try to hide the large dimensions of the model.
Not the biggest SUV on the market, but with its black underlined trim, flat surface, narrow windows and lifted rear end, the 08 is even bigger and stronger than it really is, arguably the most important reason behind this visual illusion is the wheels and tires and their huge size. More trims are equipped with 21-inch wheels that change the look, but inevitably take their toll on the ride and range. But even with their use, the side design remains restrained and somewhat lacks depth.We're usually not happy with cars with flash door handles, but 08 makes good use of them and jumps out of the body before you reach the car. They are easy enough to use and require no adjustements. The rear end of the Lynk &Co 08 has been suppressed to the point that it is common again, and the only important detail is the taillight LED version, which is divided into several small sectors that are individually lit.
The atmosphere inside Lynk &Co 08 is a great one and it is due to the ergonomic styling mixed with the wonderful materials used throughout the entire cabin, the materials used are faux leather and plastic (most of it recycled), yet every detail feels solid and premium. Ambient lighting is such a big theme that a lot of surfaces light up and you can choose several different colors at once or even make it even more impressive. Lynk&Co joins the trend of reinventing the steering wheel. And, as it often happens, what you get is no more comfortable than a traditional circle. But it helps with the display of the rectangle behind.The buttons on the wheels are large and intuitive to use. They look as if they are capacitive touch, but they are actually normal buttons and are easy to use while driving.
Behind the steering wheel is an indicator switch, which is one of the worst in the industry. The stem always returns to the neutral position and does not remain locked up or down at any time. This is not quite intuitive, and even BMW abandoned this integration after trying it in the early 2000s. Above the steering column is a face tracking sensor. It tracks your eye movements and alerts you when you sense fatigue. You can also scan your face and see if you have an existing account in the vehicle that can prove to be very useful for a family or company car. The center console is utilized in the most convenient way possible. In its deepest part, you get a padded radio telephone charger and a padded cell phone storage space.
Read More: The Kia EV4 Hatchback Long Range Delivers More Than Just Miles
Soon after, there is a sliding tray that hides the cup holder underneath. For further (and very well hidden) storage, push the cup holder aside and reveal another layer to hide items that no one wants to find The arm rest develops to reveal further storage above the front. The seat is comfortable and looks great with gold accents that very well complement the blue shades of leather. There are speakers attached to the headrest to ensure a better atmosphere. When you make a call via Bluetooth, only the headrest speaker works and the other speakers remain muted, so listening to what only the driver is told The speaker itself is a bit disappointing in terms of sound quality. Regardless of the trim level, the roof is a panorama with an opening, creating a wonderful sense of space, allowing passengers to better enjoy the ride on a sunny day, with few details in the rear.
There are no particularly interesting features outside the heated seat, which can not be controlled from the rear. Instead, passengers need to ask someone politely before turning on the heated seats in the rear. The same applies to the operation of the A/C on the back. Conversely, the space is quite generous with lots of headroom and kneeroom for our critics who stand at a high of 1.95m (6'4"). The seat position is normal and comfortable, unlike some pure EVs where the bottom of the seat is too close to the footrest due to the battery below. SUVs are rarely fun to drive and eager to be pushed to their limits. In fact, Lynk & Co wants in the exact opposite direction by emphasizing comfort and composure. This is a better approach to our eyes for such a big car and it is intended to go on a long journey to make it comfortable.
The steering is devoid of feedback in the usual settings, but it can be slightly reinforced. It still does not translate much of the road surface to the driver, but the wheels change more quickly in your desired direction. At high speeds in the corners, you immediately feel that the limit of 08 is not so high. The body tilts, and the tires squeal under the weight. This big Buy was not created to conquer the canyon, but to cruise through the canyon and get comfortable to distant destinations. No matter what mode you are in, the feedback you get from each powertrain is predictable and linear. At very high RPM the engine starts to make a lot of noise and causes some vibrations in the cabin, but in all other scenarios the cabin remains smooth and quiet.
Technological progress is the main topic of Lynk &Co 08, and it is true beyond the innovative powertrain. The large 15.4" center display handles most of the vehicle's technology. The main home screen offers quick access to multiple menus and lots of settings for an optimal user experience. It is well laid out and intuitive and takes you directly to most of the vehicle's most used features. Excellent features work just like a shortcut widget menu on your smartphone and allow quick access to more features de Some of them are unnecessarily complex like sunroof controls which are 6 separate buttons, but most of them are well laid out. It will be.
Read More: Mazda's Compact Gem: Why the 2026 CX-30 Turbo Premium Plus Still Stands Out
Sadly, the exterior lights are controlled via the display and are not a physical button like most other vehicles and are always just a few clicks away Thankfully, the auto light feature is enough to not require frequent changes, but if all the lighting settings were always at your disposal, it would be a good another not-so-large option. The integration relies solely on the display inputs to operate and the physical controls are air conditioning that is nowhere to be found. The exit direction is controlled on the screen, whereas the rear passenger has to ask the front ones to control a separate A/C zone for the rear because the rear has no control.
Braking is important for any car regardless of its purpose, but Lynk & Co ignores that aspect a bit. Taking 100m (0'40") at a stop from 131km/h is far from the best performer. The test conditions we had were optimal, but the factory's Gripmax winter tires certainly contribute to the undisputed show. On the contrary, stopping in normal conditions is a good thing, and you can hardly notice the switch from Regen braking to normal braking. The Regen feature isn't as crazy as most EVs, but you can still turn on the recovery and seldomly touch the brake pedal. Consumption is not as impressive as 60 liters / 100 km / h (39.9 mpg) at a tempo as gasoline goes. At 90km/h the consumption rises to 7.5 l/100km (31.4mpg), and finally at 130km/h it reaches 9.9 l/100km (23.8mpg) .As far as electricity consumption goes, Lynk & Co 08 performs surprisingly well because of its size.
Compared to its fully electric rivals, it stands on its ground and doesn't consume more than them, as is often the case with Phevs. It's not the best in that category, but certainly won't disappoint. While PHEV cars rarely have excellent DC charging capabilities, the Lynk & Co 08 offers a fairly fast charging time of 30-10% in about 80 minutes. Despite the very low ambient temperature and lack of heat pumps, the 08 is charged as advertised, allowing you to enjoy the game features while you wait. Refueling is as easy as any other ICE vehicle, as long as you find the opening tab hidden on the left side of the steering wheel and actually open the fuel door flap. Another option for Lynk & Co 08 is the Wey1, a sub-brand of the Great Wall Motors company and undoubtedly the first large battery PHEV model in Europe.
It has more power than the Lynk & Co and a real 9-speed transmission, but it also has a higher price tag and a slightly larger size. The 08's electrical components are good again, but Wey's engine is more capable and sophisticated, giving you the AWD option. In a world moving from ICE to EV, Lynk & Co decided to unite the two worlds and created a great combination. Lynk & Co 08 can easily cover 1,000 km in both battery and tank complete and thus provides greater versatility. 08 may not be excellent in any category, but it is very competent in many categories. jack of all trades? The Lynk & Co 08 is simply trying to fill another gap, so comparing it directly to both sides of the car is unwise. If you are on the market for such vehicles and want to combine the efficiency of EVs with the range of internal combustion engines, we strongly recommend booking a Lynk & Co 08 test drive.
Read More: 2026 Jeep Compass e FWD Review: Stylish Design, Smart Technology, and Everyday Practicality
Comments
Post a Comment