Priced at P 2,338,000, the Lynk & Co 01 isn’t cheap by any measure, but given that its Volvo platform twin is pegged at P 3,690,000, can this supposedly Swedish car by way of China provide the same sort of driving experience at roughly 40 percent less cost?

The Lynk & Co’s biggest advantage is its powertrain. Compared to the Volvo which is either available either as a mild-hybrid or full-electric, the 01’s plug-in hybrid or PHEV powertrain offers the best real-world experience. The formula combines a 180-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged 3-cylinder that routes the power either to the drive wheels or to charge the sizeable 17.6-kWh lithium-ion battery, and an adequately-powered 82-horsepower electric motor.

The outputs tell a lot regarding the 01’s on-road behavior. Unlike the BYD Sealion 6 DM-i, for example, which defaults to electric power for most applications, the Lynk & Co can only call upon its electric motor for low effort situations like puttering about city traffic or cruising on a highway. Even when the EV-preferred “Pure” mode’s engaged, a full throttle application will wake the combustion engine. This may sound like a downer, but in our experience, at least, it managed to outdo its as-advertised 69-kilometer EV range (we managed to do 75 kilometers).

On its default Hybrid mode, the 01 dynamically calculates when it’ll switch over from electric to hybrid mode depending on things like the amount of battery charge available. Your only clue as to the car’s intentions is a graphic in the gauge cluster showing the proportion of the battery (green) and gas (blue). When the traction battery’s completely drained, the 01 acts more like a traditional hybrid. In this case, it manages to just squeeze out 12.65 km/L. Clearly, it’s not as efficient in this guise, so it’s best to invest in a wall box and keep that battery topped up for short city jaunts.

It’s also worth noting that while Lynk & Co says the 01 makes a combined 262 horsepower, the on-road experience isn’t as potent as what its numbers suggest. Because there’s a noticeable pause whenever the 3-cylinder engine wakes up, it can affect its 0 to 100 km/h times. Barring that initially sluggish getaway, however, once the DCT gets to work (the electric motor is in line with the clutch pack), the responses can be quite snappy.

Under the sort of low-intensity duty the 01’s designed for, its road manners are impeccable. The Volvo-engineered platform is solid and keeps NVH intrusions to a bare minimum. The suspension tune, however, is on the soft side resulting in a pliant, but floaty feel. This is very evident when tackling sharp turns where it’ll show plenty of top-heavy body roll. That said, at least it never bottoms out even when going over sharp ruts or deep potholes. Plus, the steering is accurate and nicely weighted.

Lynk & Co could have used Volvo’s expertise on the 01’s driving assistance system. As it stands, it needs better tuning and refinement. On SLEX, it makes too many micro corrections. The lane-keeping system tugs on the steering wheel too much when you’re holding the wheel, but then allows itself to wander a bit when you relax your grip. It’s weird and tiring.

Like the rest of the Lynk & Co family, the 01 has a distinctive exterior look. It’s all very contemporary with the right number of curves and details. It’s friendly and approachable. A spattering of blue trim on the grille, roof rails, and a portion of the 20-inch wheel spokes shout out that it’s a hybrid.

Inside, the 01 is sure to please everyone with its high-quality design and finishes. The controls all operate with a solid, crisp feel, especially those that the driver encounters. In an eco-friendly decision, there’s no leather seating here, rather it uses Econyl Nylon. This sustainable material, made of plastic waste like fishing nets, manages to keep the cabin cool even when subjected to Manila’s noontime heat. However, the material is also susceptible to sweat stains, as evidenced by the condition of this test drive unit.

To the center, there’s a large 12.8-inch landscape screen. The display is clear, although the software, being Lynk & Co, isn’t quite as responsive. Navigating through them are easy enough, however, and at least Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both present here. The standard 360-watt 10-speaker Infinity sound system will also please audiophiles for its impressive clarity and richness.

On the other hand, the generous 12.3-inch all-digital driver’s display presents all the information in crisp and bright graphics. However, navigating the menu is an exercise of patience due to the persistent lag. Things aren’t helped by the fact that the steering wheel buttons recognizes both traditional presses and touch-sensitive taps. It’s infuriating.

As a family SUV, the 01 can fit up to five people comfortably. Those in front, naturally, will have no complaints whatsoever even with the presence of the panoramic sunroof. Those in the back will generally be fine with enough head and leg room, but the middle occupant will have to navigate a slight center tunnel bump. The cargo space is also quite sizeable at 466 liters, but because of the battery and related hardware, there’s no spare tire here. Still, at least the underfloor storage fits all the various accessories including the inflator, early warning device, and the Type 2 charging cable.

Branding-wise, Lynk & Co admittedly still doesn’t have a strong recall, but at least its products like the 01 comes across as something nice and competent. There’s plenty going for it like the nicely done interior, easy-to-like driving experience. Although it may be measured against other Chinese brands, this one passes muster even when applying the more critical European standards of quality. When Lynk & Co set out to make a more affordable version of the XC40 by way of China, we’d say they’ve done exactly that with the 01.