Lynk & Co 08 PHEV real life range test
Lynk & Co is a Geely subsidiary brand that is quickly gaining traction among European buyers. It leverages the expertise of sister brands Volvo and Geely, providing proven technology with added flair at an affordable price. The vehicle we're testing today is the Lynk & Co 08 PHEV.
Since its can be used both as a generator to charge the battery and for delivering power to the wheels it's not an EREV, but rather a PHEV.The 1.5 l turbocharged petrol engine can hook through the wheels through a complex 3-speed automatic gearbox.
Our range test now will focus on efficiency solely and a more extensive full-scale review will be coming very soon. The Lynk & Co 08 sends 345 hp and 428 lb-ft all to the front wheel. When moving solely under electric power the 08 offers 208 hp and 258 lb-ft.
As we’re used to testing only EV consumption, we'll have to add another category to our testing - petrol consumption when the battery is fully drained.
We drove our test routes, doing the same track both ways at constant speeds at the same place as with every other car we test. The ambient temperature while testing the Lynk & Co 08 was 45°F, which is colder than ideal. The Gripmax SureGrip Pro Winter tires also increase the consumption a bit.
At our lowest testing speed of 37 mph, the Lynk & Co 08 achieves a wonderful range figure. Even though it's down on the chart, its only competitors so far on our charts are pure EVs and therefore have larger batteries but no petrol engines to fall back to when those are depleted.
Range test results
- 37 mph
- 56 mph
- 81 mph
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Lynk & Co 08
Once we move on to the next speed of 56 mph, consumption rises to levels expected from full-size electric SUVs. The small 208 hp motor has to fight a weight of well over two tonnes.
At the highest testing speed of 81 mph, the 08 starts consuming amply. At such highway speeds the Lynk & Co can still cover 96 miles on pure electric power. Once you run out of electricity, the petrol engine kicks in and starts powering not only the wheels, but also charging the battery as you’re moving.
You can use the widget below to find out the Lynk & Co 08's electric range in every combination of speed and temperature you might need. We've used our real world tests and a complex model to provide an estimate that should be as close to the actual performance as possible.
Beyond that with a 2.12 ft³ tank capacity the 08 can safely cover the claimed 620 miles distance without refueling or recharging. We covered the same track we do for the EV range test, but this time starting with an empty battery and running only on the gasoline engine. And it's not a particularly efficient one, we found.
Lynk & Co 08 PHEV 2023 -
Modern ICE vehicles combine great efficiency with sufficient power in most cases and manufacturers often get over 200 hp from 1.5 l turbocharged engines. The 137 hp unit seems a little underpowered and yet it still consumes a lot of fuel. Obviously, its main purporse is to act as a generator and provide power only rarely and the compromises by this design are evident.
At 37 mph, the Lynk & Co 08 consumes 5.9l/100km (39.9 mpg), which is about average for the size of the 08. However, most direct ICE competitors feature much more powerful engines so the comparison isn’t as accurate.
Lynk & Co 08 Consumption:
| Speed | Consumption | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 37 mph | 5.9L/100km (39.9 mpg) | 632 miles |
| 56 mph | 7.5L/100km (31.4 mpg) | 497 miles |
| 81 mph | 9.9L/100km (23.8 mpg}} | 377 miles |
At 56 mph, the 08 consumes 7.5l/100km (31.4 mpg), which is okay for a midsize SUV, but nothing special.
At 81 mph, consumption reaches 9.9l/100km (23.8 mpg}}. With the 2.12 ft³ tank this enables 377 miles before need to refuel.
We have to note that when driven in charging mode, the engine can indeed be quite thirsty. Then again, this consumption can be offset later by moving purely under electric power and thus the overall consumption will be minimized.
The Lynk & Co 08 isn't the best EV, nor is it the best ICE vehicle, but its in-between positioning may find its audience. The 08 doesn’t aim for the traditional petrolhead, nor does it satisfy the needs of pure electric enjoyers. It rather aims for the regular folks who look at the car as a mode of transport to take them places far and near.
Range anxiety becomes obsolete the second you buy the Lynk & Co 08. Its large battery is enough to go on daily duties in the city and never need to use the engine but once you get out on the highway and aim for your holiday destination, you know you won’t need any kind of preparation whatsoever.
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