Lynk & Co 01 is the inaugural production model from the Lynk & Co brand. Positioned as a compact C-segment SUV, it is built on the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) jointly developed by Geely and Volvo, and made its official market debut in November 2017. Serving as the brand’s pioneer, Lynk & Co 01 was tasked with establishing both the brand’s identity and its engineering foundation. With a Volvo-derived powertrain, European sports-oriented chassis tuning, and the avant-garde "Mega-city Contrast" design language, it stands as a landmark model in Chinese automotive upmarket expansion. As of 2026, the model has entered its refreshed facelift guise, refocusing on the high-value family SUV segment with a significantly reduced price tag.
Lynk & Co 01 is positioned as a compact family SUV, with core selling points centred on Volvo-derived shared technology, a potent 2.0T engine standard across the range, and exceptional value for money, mainly appealing to young families seeking solid driving dynamics and advanced tech features. In March 2026, the refreshed Lynk & Co 01 was officially launched in three variants, carrying an official retail price range of RM149,800 to RM181,800, with launch promotional pricing further lowered to RM118,800 to RM150,800. The manufacturer also offered incentives including a RM10,000 cash rebate and a RM5,000 insurance subsidy. In the RM120,000 to RM180,000 compact SUV segment, Lynk & Co 01 delivers a formidable price-to-performance proposition with its standard 2.0T + 8-speed automatic pairing.
Lynk & Co 01 carries over the brand’s signature "Mega-city Contrast" design philosophy. The front fascia features the iconic split-headlight setup—comprising Aurora Borealis LED daytime running lights on top and main LED headlamp units nestled below—paired with a full-width grille that delivers strong road presence. The refreshed model retains this styling while introducing a new matte-finish Night Shadow Blue exterior shade, complemented by blacked-out side mirror caps, door handles, and roof rails. In terms of dimensions, the SUV measures 4,549 mm long, 1,860 mm wide, and 1,689 mm tall, with a 2,734 mm wheelbase. At the rear, the Energy Crystal LED taillight cluster mirrors the distinctive styling of the front DRLs.
Inside, the refreshed cabin receives substantial updates: the embedded infotainment display makes way for a 15.4-inch floating touchscreen, physical rotary dials have been eliminated, and the air vents have been restyled. The cockpit adopts a wraparound layout angled subtly towards the driver, accented by 7-colour customisable ambient lighting to deliver a modern, tech-forward ambience. Dual wireless smartphone charging pads are integrated ahead of the centre console, accompanied by integrated front bucket seats and a panoramic glass sunroof. Material-wise, soft-touch slush-moulded surfaces and leather upholstery dominate the dashboard, while the seats feature dual-tone suede-finish upholstery for enhanced lateral support and sporty aesthetics.
The entire Lynk & Co 01 lineup is powered by the Volvo-derived Drive-E 2.0TD T5 high-output turbocharged four-cylinder engine (engine code JLH-4G20TDC). The unit produces 187 kW (254 PS) and a peak torque of 350 Nm, with maximum torque available between 1,800 rpm and 4,800 rpm for responsive low-end pick-up. The official 0-100 km/h sprint is completed in 6.8 seconds, on to a top speed of 210 km/h.
Power is channelled through a standard Aisin 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission (8AT)—a proven gearbox widely adopted across premium brands—delivering slick and decisive gear changes while balancing smooth delivery with shift speed. It requires RON 95 petrol and comes with a 54-litre fuel tank. On the WLTC combined cycle, fuel consumption is rated at roughly 7.8 L/100 km for the front-wheel-drive variant and around 8.4 L/100 km for the all-wheel-drive variant, with relatively high real-world fuel consumption noted as a common drawback among owners.
Underpinned by the CMA platform, Lynk & Co 01 features a high-strength steel composition of 73.2% and a torsional stiffness of 29,000 Nm/deg, providing a robust structural foundation for both handling agility and passive safety. Suspension consists of a front MacPherson strut and rear multi-link independent setup co-tuned by Volvo engineers. The chassis setup leans noticeably towards the sporty side, offering precise road feedback, solid roll control in corners, and composed high-speed lane-change stability; however, this firmer damping setup makes road imperfections and speed bumps more acutely felt, particularly by rear occupants.
In terms of drivetrain configurations, the 2WD model adopts a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout, whereas the AWD model features a BorgWarner 6th-generation intelligent on-demand all-wheel-drive system with Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Off-road driving modes, automatically distributing torque between the axles as conditions dictate. The electric power steering (EPS) is light and effortless at parking speeds while weighting up progressively at highway speeds, offering sharp and accurate turn-in.
Lynk & Co 01 comes in a standard 5-door, 5-seater configuration. Rear legroom is on par with the segment average, though the prominent transmission tunnel hump encroaches somewhat on the middle passenger's footwell. Luggage capacity stands at 509 litres in standard configuration; while the rear seats feature a split-folding mechanism, they do not fold completely flat, leaving a slight incline.
On the digital front, the refreshed cabin is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 automotive cockpit chipset, paired with an upgraded 16 GB RAM (up from 12 GB) and running the LYNK OS N 1.4 operating system with full-vehicle over-the-air (OTA) update capability. The 15.4-inch floating centre screen delivers crisp visuals and markedly smoother response times compared to its predecessor. The system introduces Carlink smartphone mirroring while retaining wireless Apple CarPlay integration. In terms of creature comforts, heated and ventilated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a premium Harman-branded sound system on mid-to-high spec variants are included. Furthermore, the companion smartphone app provides remote engine start, climate pre-conditioning, and vehicle status monitoring for added daily convenience.
Lynk & Co 01 inherits Volvo's uncompromising approach to vehicle safety. Passive safety is bolstered by an extensive mix of hot-stamped steel, high-strength steel, and aluminium alloys. Additionally, over 95% of the interior materials adhere to the "Three Zeros" standard (zero bitumen, zero recycled scrap cotton, zero harmful solvents) to curb volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions at the source. The airbag suite is extensive, covering dual front, front side, and full-length curtain airbags. In China Insurance Automotive Safety Index (C-IASI) crash tests, Lynk & Co 01 scored top "Good" ratings across occupant safety, pedestrian protection, and active safety assist categories.
On the active safety front, all variants come standard with the Lynk Co-Pilot Level 2 ADAS suite, comprising 27 advanced driver assistance features including Full-Speed Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD), and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA). The full-speed ACC operates smoothly in stop-and-go jams as well as open highway cruising, while the AEB system demonstrates quick, reliable pedestrian and vehicle detection at urban speeds. A 360-degree surround-view camera with parking sensors is also standard fitment, featuring higher display resolution than before.
As the pioneer of the Lynk & Co marque, Lynk & Co 01 swiftly made a name for itself in the premium domestic SUV space upon introduction, capitalising on its Volvo engineering heritage and distinctive styling. However, with the rapid expansion of the brand's lineup (including the Lynk & Co 03, 05, and 08) alongside the aggressive rise of new energy vehicles (NEVs), sales of the 01 have tapered off significantly from their peak. Industry data indicates that total sales for Lynk & Co 01 stood at around 9,500 units in 2025; a seasonal pre-festive surge pushed January 2026 figures to 1,282 units, but sales slumped sharply to 135 units by March, marking an 82.5% year-on-year drop.
Several factors account for this sales contraction: firstly, internal product overlap siphoned off prospective buyers towards models like Lynk & Co 03 and Lynk & Co 08; secondly, the rapid influx of electrified rivals in the compact SUV segment has steadily squeezed ICE market share; thirdly, a prolonged model lifecycle meant that price cuts on the refreshed variant, while lowering entry barriers, have struggled to reverse overall sales momentum. On the ownership side, positive feedback highlights the punchy 254 PS 2.0T + 8AT powertrain, taut chassis, excellent cornering composure, premium cabin build, and comprehensive Level 2 ADAS suite. Common gripes, meanwhile, point towards a firm ride over poor surfaces, a bulky rear transmission tunnel, elevated high-speed NVH levels, and higher fuel consumption.
In summary, as Lynk & Co’s technical benchmark and stylistic starting point, Lynk & Co 01 retains formidable product fundamentals—delivering a standard 2.0T+8AT combo, CMA architecture, Level 2 ADAS, and robust cabin build quality that offer stellar value within its RM110,000 to RM150,000 transaction bracket. Nonetheless, amidst accelerated NEV adoption and shifting market tides, this former pioneer of Chinese premium SUVs faces the uphill task of transitioning from a brand halo into a volume player, with its long-term market trajectory remaining one to watch.
© 2024 Bitauto.com. All Rights Reserved.
Bitauto (www.yiche.com and www.bitauto.com) is one of the most visited automotive websites in China. We provide detailed info on Chinese car brands available in your area. Please note that the information provided on this website is based on publicly available data and is for reference only. It may not be fully updated or accurate at all times.
Help us improve our website
