On September 30th, the pre-sale price of the Lynk&Co 09 EM-P Long-Range version was announced, with a price range of 358,000 to 378,000 yuan depending on the configuration. Compared with the pricing of the old Lynk&Co 09 PHEV, the increased price brings new hybrid systems, a 40.1 kWh battery pack, upgraded driver assistance systems, 8155 vehicle chipsets, and more. This is a reasonable pricing that largely meets our previous expectations.
So how do other competitors in this price range perform? Before writing this article, I asked my colleagues a question: what are the domestically produced mid-to-large-sized SUVs priced at around 300,000 yuan? The answers I got were the Ideal ONE, the WM Motor EX5, and the Lynk&Co 09.
As I believe you have noticed, compared with these newcomers, the Lynk&Co 09 is an unquestionable “senior” in this sub-segment market. It has the same excellence in driving comfort brought by the SPA architecture as the Volvo XC90; a graceful, luxurious appearance; and an excellent interior with good workmanship and quality. These factors drew widespread attention to the Lynk&Co 09 when it was first launched.
At the time, the advantages of the latecomers were clearly demonstrated in the Ideal ONE and the WM Motor EX5: updated electrification level, more modern configurations, and powertrain combinations that better met demand.
The actual sales performance of the Ideal ONE and the WM Motor EX5 confirmed the great market potential of large-battery hybrids and mid-to-large-sized SUVs. Consumers have recognized the advantages and product strength that products in this sub-segment should have. From this perspective, the new “Lynk&Co 09 EM-P Long-Range Version” launched this time can avoid many of the definition-related pitfalls that products in this sub-segment may encounter.
This time, the Lynk&Co 09 EM-P has become a “latecomer” with advantages. Regardless of body size or price range, Lynk&Co seems to want to compete with those young and trendy newcomers, which makes me curious about the competitiveness of this car.
So I came to the beautiful Thousand Island Lake to personally test drive and experience its performance in multiple scenarios.
Test drive review: capable of handling multiple scenariosCompared to the P0+P4 hybrid architecture designed on a gasoline engine basis for the old Lynk & Co 09 PHEV, the EM-P is a completely new system. The P1, P2, and P4 motors play their respective roles: the P1 motor is mainly used for power generation, and the P2 and P4 motors form the 4WD system. With the assistance of the 3-speed DHT transmission, it can enter the parallel mode of engine and motor drive when the speed is over 20 km/h, achieving a good balance between power and fuel economy.
In early September, I also had a deep experience with Lynk & Co 01 EM-P, which uses a similar powertrain. It can be said responsibly that Lynk & Co’s E-Motive hybrid system is in the first tier of domestic hybrid systems. Compared to the Lynk & Co 01 EM-P’s 1.5 T three-cylinder engine, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P, as the brand’s flagship product, is equipped with a Drive-E 2.0TD T5 engine.
With the assistance of the motor, the system has a maximum power of 519 horsepower and a maximum torque of 844 N·m. The official 0-100 km/h acceleration time is 5.9 seconds when fully charged and 6.1 seconds under discharge. Meanwhile, the official feed-in fuel consumption under the WLTC condition is 7.5 L/100 km. In terms of performance data, the acceleration and fuel consumption of the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P are both excellent, and its electric range is better than that of similar PHEV models.
More importantly, the newly launched Lynk & Co 09 EM-P Far Away version also adds a Ningde Times 40.1 kWh battery pack, which supports 70 kW fast charging and 6.4 kW power output. It has a pure electric range of 180 km according to the CLTC standard. Thanks to the CTP technology, this battery pack does not raise the chassis or create a hump on the rear floor, which demonstrates the thoughtfulness of the engineering design.
Overall, whether on power or pure electric range, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P has the capability to compete with its rivals:
Wonderful Acceleration Experience
Before the free test drive, we came to a professional test track to test the performance of the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P in extreme scenarios. In the test course, we will experience acceleration/braking performance, steep slope climbing, and moose test, etc. In the off-road course, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P will face tests such as bomb pit, big bumps, cross-axial road surfaces.
During the straight-line acceleration test, we tested the battery status with both charged and uncharged conditions. The performance of the EM-P hybrid system for the 09 model from Lynk & Co was given high priority during its design process. Therefore, unlike pure electric vehicles that accelerate only with a throttle, the 09 EM-P model is equipped with a launch mode.
When releasing the brake pedal on a straight road, the four-wheel drive system provides perfect traction. During the acceleration process, the power output of the vehicle occurs in separate stages: At the beginning, there is no strong sensation due to the electric motor, but once the engine intervenes beyond 20 km/h, the power surge can be felt. With help from the electric motor, the acceleration produced by this system feels extraordinary–it has both the powerful torque response of the electric motor and the auditory and tactile sensations of a gasoline engine.
The test vehicle had half its battery capacity left. According to the measurements obtained by the P-Box, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P achieved a 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 6.2 seconds, which is not far off from the official time of 5.9 seconds; and this test was not done on a fully charged battery.
However, during the discharge test that followed, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P achieved a time of only 7.4 seconds. There were multiple factors that contributed to this result: first, we were the last to test the battery discharge acceleration, and this test vehicle had gone through more than ten media outlets before us; also, the temperature on the test site that day exceeded 30 degrees Celsius, which had a negative impact on the acceleration performance.
Meanwhile, during the “moose test” segment, the Lynk & Co 09 based on the SPA architecture did not disappoint. The handling of the vehicle during turns was excellent with little body roll, and the suspension did not create a sense of disconnection. The transfer of weight between the left and right sides was instantaneous, giving the impression of driving a smaller SUV.
Taking light off-road terrain in stride.As a 7-seater city SUV, off-road scenes are not the main focus. But then again, since it has a range of over a thousand kilometers and a ground clearance of around 200mm, it’s essential to escape the city and experience nature during holidays. Therefore, it’s necessary to know the off-road performance of the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P.
After the off-road test, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P’s performance surprised me. In a continuous series of craters over a depth of more than ten centimeters, the suspension of the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P never touched the bottom harshly. When the wheels rolled over the large craters, the suspension compressed and rebounded quickly and linearly. Moreover, during the entire process, the suspension did not fail to hold up the body and create a cheap “floating feel.”
In the simulated cross-axle section, diagonal wheels leave the ground. At this moment, it can be felt that the rigidity of the body is excellent; there is no noise from the doors, interior, or the headliner. The four-wheel drive composed of front and rear motors is stable in this section. When the cross-axle appears, the opposite wheels still have enough grip to get the vehicle out of trouble. On a low-traction dirt slope, I deliberately stopped the vehicle and then stepped on the accelerator. At this time, it can be clearly felt that the four-wheel drive is working. After the wheels began to slip, the power was redistributed and regained traction in less than one second.
The Lynk & Co 09 EM-P has an “Off-Road Mode.” In this mode, the engine defaults to the start-up state, ready to handle large power requests at any time. In this mode, the initial response of the accelerator is slightly slowed down, making it extremely comfortable in scenarios that require delicate control of the power output.
This type of accelerator style also allows the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P to perform excellently in the 30-degree slope climbing section. The view inside the vehicle during the climbing process is quite frightening, with the front of the car high in the air, and the grip of the front wheels is much less than on flat ground. The four-wheel drive of the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P easily passed this test section.
And throughout the entire testing process, the Lynk & Co 09 carried four passengers, with a 40.1-degree large battery, without any chassis damage. Lynk & Co also prepared an ideal ONE as a comparison experience, which hit the chassis as soon as it entered the pothole from the beginning, and its poor approach angle caused it to brush against the front lip when going uphill. The Lynk & Co 09 EM-P has excellent mechanical qualities for off-road testing, with abundant absolute acceleration, stable elk test performance, and good off-road capabilities, making it suitable for city and non-paved road driving needs. It is worth mentioning that the SPA architecture and chassis tuning level of Lynk & Co are still first-class in the same class. I can’t wait to experience the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P’s driving freedom on the mountain road of Qiandao Lake.
Daily Driving: Impressive High-end Experience
Firstly, we set the kinetic energy recovery and driving mode to the “Intelligent Mode,” which has the highest frequency of daily use, with automatic air conditioning set to 22 degrees and five passengers on board. Throughout the entire road test, our driving style was very aggressive, basically speeding on mountain roads.
Let’s first talk about the power performance during daily driving. In the “Intelligent Mode,” the system will also predict and manage energy consumption on different road sections of the user’s entire journey based on navigation information: when the battery is sufficient, pure electric drive is preferred; when the battery is low, it charges in advance before congested road sections to maintain low-speed pure electric driving.
If the system judges that the driving style is not aggressive, pure electric drive will also be preferred. In this mode, the P2 and P4 motors provide smooth and quiet driving.
Through the energy flow on the instrument panel, I found that the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P’s work status was very positive during driving. Whether it is series, parallel, or hybrid, switching is very gentle and almost imperceptible, and even as a driver, I sometimes cannot accurately distinguish the engine’s intervention time. When there is no large throttle request, passengers can hardly hear or feel the engine intervention sound and vibration.
Compared to BYD’s DM-i, the priority of Lynk & Co 09 EM-P in terms of performance and fuel consumption is almost equally high, and the third gear of DHT direct drive also gives the engine more opportunities to perform. Therefore, in situations such as rapid acceleration and full load uphill, you can still feel that the engine is working. However, at this time, the level of noise and vibration is only at a “perceptible” level, which is much quieter than the same-priced gasoline cars.
Interestingly, in “sport mode”, the gearbox will delay the shift timing. In this state, the engine will use the increased speed to express its existence. During the road test drive, I noticed that the mid-range acceleration of this car is faster than the initial acceleration from stationary, which is consistent with my experience during the field test drive.
Due to the fact that the engine can only intervene at a speed of 20 km/h, the acceleration sensation brought by P2+P4 motors at the beginning of start-up is not as exciting as the parameters suggest. However, if it is in the speed range of 20-100 km/h, the engine will always be in a standby state. With full throttle, Lynk & Co 09 EM-P also has the Kick-Down button, which keeps the engine and motor in high-speed gear ratio and quickly coordinates power output, making the response very powerful and rapid.
The handling feel of daily driving of Lynk & Co 09 EM-P is also top-notch in the same class. On the winding roads of Qiandao Lake, the responsive and accurate steering gives people strong confidence in this over two-ton and over five-meter-long behemoth. The consistency between the front and rear axles of the whole vehicle is also very strong, and the rear-wheel-drive settings make the rear of the car very agile.
The suspension also reaches a very high level of texture. The structure of the front double-wishbone and rear multi-link + composite leaf spring is the same as the Volvo XC90, which brings excellent support. When driving over large road holes, there are only two thick “bangs” in the car, as if the body is cushioned by a thick latex pad. The use of double-layered glass and ANC active noise reduction technology in the front and rear cabins also makes the cabin quietness at a high level.
However, it is still a bit regrettable that Lynk & Co 09 EM-P can provide a decent isolation feeling on poor road surfaces, but small vibrations on flat road surfaces keep passing into the car, and at this time the road feel is a bit too obvious. I guess this may also be related to the characteristics of the rear composite leaf spring.Check the fuel consumption performance of driving performance: after driving a cumulative distance of 90 km, the remaining mileage decreased from 61 km to 16 km, with an average fuel consumption of 3.7 L / 100 km. However, this result is only for reference since we drove aggressively without turning on the “smart power-saving” mode. We will provide standardized test results for everyone if there is a chance in Shanghai.
Compared to most large SUVs that prioritize comfort, if you’re looking for a vehicle that balances comfort and driving pleasure at this price point, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P is almost the only choice. The years of power development and chassis tuning behind the Lynk & Co have demonstrated the maturity and composure that a veteran automaker should have.
Static experience: The flagship of the family
The appearance is still timeless
As the flagship product of the Lynk & Co brand, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P should have the charm of a flagship in its design. In terms of exterior dimensions, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P is between the Ideal L8 and the Wenshi M7:
In terms of exterior design, each of the three cars has its own style. Compared to the previous versions, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P version did not undergo significant changes. The previous design still looks stylish and enduring.
The large-scale chrome-plated scales on the front face create a sense of momentum, which the Lynk & Co officially calls the “linghtning combat armor front grille.” Beauty is in the beholder’s eyes. I think this element has personality and design aesthetics. It increases recognition without being mediocre.
The iconic split headlights of Lynk & Co have gone from being doubted to becoming a family feature. Personally, I think this design looks more harmonious on large cars. Moreover, you can judge the distance between the front of the car and the sides by sitting in the car with these headlights.
The LED headlights of the car can be darkened and visually connected with the grille to form a “T-shaped” area. The design of the car’s front includes air guide channels on both sides and brake cooling air ducts, which echo the black area of the intercooler position under the front face, and these elements, under the powerful lines, create a sense of sportiness.
I think the side view of the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P is the most beautiful angle. Looking at it as a whole, the designer has enough space to create the complex curves of the side of the car, the lines that extend from the fenders to the rear doors, the flaring lines at the back, the black decoration that runs through the bottom of the car, and the body color wheel arches. These elements make the mid-size SUV look slim, luxurious, and powerful.
The shark fin decoration on the side of the car is the finishing touch. The luxury feeling is the result of many excellent details, such as the “Flushdoor” process of the side windows, which makes the windows between the A and D pillars and the B, C pillars at the same level, and the round-cornered retractable door handles.
The Lynk & Co 09 EM-P’s tail adopts a family-style design, similar to Volvo, with a narrow upper and wider lower section, which lowers the visual center of gravity of the entire rear and makes it look thick and large. The hidden exhaust pipe also matches the identity of the new energy vehicle.
The vertical LED taillights, called “energy crystals,” look delicate when lit up, and the Lynk & Co logo in the lamp chamber also adds to the design.
The 20-inch wheels on this size of car appear not as stretched as they should be, but the Michelin UC6 275 mm tires are wide enough, providing positive help for handling and cornering limits.
Geely has always been one of the few domestic car companies with outstanding design sense, and the interior is no exception in addition to the exterior.
High quality interior
For the interior, the atmosphere of the Geely 09 EM-P cockpit still inherits the excellent sense of luxury from the old model. There are not too many changes in the overall layout. Geely officials stated that they received feedback from users, so the Geely 09 EM-P multifunctional steering wheel has been redesigned with physical buttons.
There are “Sky City” aluminum decorative panels on the co-pilot and door sides, which is really pleasing to the eye. The addition of this panel adds an artistic atmosphere to the interior of the car, giving the feeling of an art exhibition. Geely also stated that only two suppliers in the world can achieve this process.
The addition of the 8155 chip makes the 12-inch screen even smoother. Geely 09 EM-P also added 3D interactive function for car control settings. In the completed modeling central control interface, you can click on the area you want to control, and the interface will jump to the corresponding setting interface. However, this function is not polished very well: there is a lack of obvious indication points on the car model, and users will not know where to click. Although there are corresponding white point indicators for operation in the interior modeling diagram, the area is small and the operation is not very intuitive.
However, other interface controls have made significant progress. The logical separation of various functional partitions is clear, and sliding from top to bottom can quickly enter the quick operation menu bar. Moreover, the voice recognition rate of the Geely 09 EM-P is very high, and the four-tone area microphone can recognize commands from passengers in different seats.
Under the 12-inch display, there is a 6-inch small screen for controlling air conditioning temperature, air volume, and air direction. The rotary knob on this screen also has a delicate LCD display, and it can slide left and right to control multiple functions. The operation logic is similar to that of a smartwatch.
At this level, there is no need to worry about the interior material of the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P. Most of the places you can touch in the car are covered with leather, and the metal cover on the BOSE sound system adds a touch of sophistication.
The gear shift knob of the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P feels very similar to that of the Volvo XC40. The touch of the multifunction key, the feeling of the rotary knob “clicking”, and the soft touch of the steering wheel are all subtle and create a feeling of luxury.
A very interesting feature: the car system of the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P can actually connect and control DJI drones. By connecting the remote control to the interface in the armrest with a data cable, you can control the takeoff and landing of the drone on the car control interface. At the same time, you can also choose the “follow mode”, which is a good helper for self-driving tour shooting.
However, compared with the design of the drone in the previous Polestar O2 concept car that can take off and land directly at the rear, in the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P, you still need to park the car for takeoff and landing, and precise operation still needs to be controlled by the remote control. But it is exciting to see similar ideas in a mass-produced car.
### In terms of riding experience, LYNK&CO 09 EM-P adopts NAPPA leather seats with a new stitching design. Similar to Volvo, the seating experience of this set of seats is on the hard side, but your spine is well supported by the seat, and your thighs are perfectly supported with excellent ergonomic design.
People are most concerned about the riding experience of the second and third rows. In terms of seat comfort, the rear row is softer than the front row. The shoulder area is also specially designed with thick wrapping, and the back and hips are perforated. The retractable cup holder is painted with piano lacquer, and the area touched by the elbow is also wrapped in thick leather.
My height is 175 cm and my weight is 70 kg. The second-row seats are adjusted to the rearmost position, and there is a distance of three fists in legroom and 4 fingers in headroom. Compared with most pure electric models now, the leg support of the second row of LYNK&CO 09 EM-P is sufficient. Most importantly, the CTP battery pack makes the second-row floor completely flat.
Because the test drive model today is a 7-seater, entering and exiting the third row is not as convenient as the 6-seater. Due to the high ground clearance, the posture of entering and exiting the third row is very awkward, so it is better not to let the elderly in your family sit in this position.
With the second-row seats adjusted to the rearmost position, the third row is in a completely unusable state. If the second-row seats are moved forward, there are still 4 fingers of legroom in the second row and nearly 1 fist of space in the third row. The three-row seats are relatively thin, and the leg support is inferior to that of the second row. This is an unsolvable problem for SUV models with three rows of space, which can be understood.
However, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P still tried its best to improve the comfort of the third-row passengers. USB charging interfaces, air conditioning vents, and audio speakers are all available, and there is no problem for short-distance rides. The trunk of Lynk & Co 09 EM-P can support folding down the second and third rows to expand the space, and the space formed after folding down is close to flat.
Lynk & Co also launched related camping peripherals. Lynk & Co 09 EM-P with a 40-degree large battery and 6.4 kWh discharge capacity can also realize the use of air conditioning and projectors when the engine is off.
In terms of interior design, Lynk & Co 09 EM-P obviously achieved a more advanced level of detail than luxury cars. The use of materials, the workmanship of details, and the design details with a sense of design make the cabin atmosphere feel even more upscale. Compared with the tech atmosphere of new power brand’s interior design, Lynk & Co 09 EM-P presents a different luxury style for traditional brands.
Final Thoughts
The auxiliary driving function of this test drive model is still being tested, so we did not experience it in depth. However, we have previously experienced the Lynk & Co 01 EM-P using the same system, and the LCC lane keeping performance of the system is good, but the performance of following and accelerating still needs further refinement.
Undoubtedly, Lynk & Co 09 EM-P has spared no effort in using the brand’s best design level, technology level, and tuning level. Admittedly, compared with the excellent self-developed auxiliary driving system performance and voice intelligence level of new power brands, Lynk & Co still has room for improvement, but honestly, the performance of this car in terms of intelligence can already stand out among traditional brands.
Moreover, it needs to be recognized that traditional car companies’ accumulation in mechanical sense also needs years of effort for new power brands to catch up. And don’t forget that, in the same segment, Lynk & Co 09 EM-P is not inferior in terms of power, space, or pure electric endurance.Therefore, what I hope is that consumers can have a more mature and rational perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of these vehicle models. It is also recommended that you carefully consider your own needs and not blindly praise or criticize. When your driving needs match the product features of the vehicle itself, the sense of happiness derived from using it will be the highest.
Therefore, if you need a mid-size SUV that can still provide driving pleasure from the driver’s seat and prefer this “orthodox” luxury atmosphere, the Lynk & Co 09 EM-P is indeed a good choice.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.