Electrified crossover battle: Lynk & Co 01 vs. Honda CR-V RS e:HEV

The Lynk & Co 01 has entered the market as a well-balanced option for car buyers looking for a stylish, fuel-efficient, and well-equipped ride. 

Additionally, the 01 is one of the newest competitors in the local plug-in hybrid (PHEV) segment. The said powertrain provides the 01 with several advantages, such as lower running costs and an electric-only drive mode. 

The question now is, how does the Lynk & Co 01 fare against the Honda CR-V RS e:HEV, a fellow five-seater crossover competitor in the P2 million and above price mark? Let’s find out by comparing the two model’s on-paper specifications. 

Tale of the tape

Size-wise, the Lynk & Co 01 is 4,541-millimeters (mm) long, 1,857-mm wide, and 1,694-mm in height. Its wheelbase spans 2,743-mm, and it has a ground clearance of 213-mm. 

Meanwhile, the CR-V RS e:HEV is 4,691-mm long, 1,866-mm wide, and 1,681-mm in height. It also has a wheelbase length of 2,701-mm, and a ground clearance of 198-mm. 

Based on the figures above, the CR-V is a longer and broader vehicle compared to the Lynk & Co PHEV unit. The 01, however, gets more ground clearance and a longer wheelbase compared to the Honda model. 

To note, keeping tabs on vehicle dimensions is crucial for buyers since it may provide a general idea of its interior space and whether or not it can fit one’s garage. 

Exterior

On the outside, the 01, as mentioned above, is a slick-looking crossover with plenty of unique design elements. 

Up front, it received Lynk & Co’s signature LED lighting designs, specifically the “Aurora Borealis” daytime running lamps and a pair of low-set automatic headlamps integrated with the vehicle’s mesh grille. Likewise positioned on the windshield of the 01 are rain-sensing wipers. 

If viewed from the side, one can see that the model also received black plastic claddings, a black-colored roof, roof rails, power-folding side mirrors, and a set of 20-inch wheels. The rear of the model, on the other hand, is host to a dual-tip exhaust setup, a power tailgate, roof-mounted spoilers, and a pair of “Energy Cube” LED taillights. 

Similarly, the CR-V RS was kitted out with full LED exterior lighting fixtures. It likewise boasts a good degree of visual appeal, thanks to its boxy silhouette enhanced by angular details, a set of 18-inch wheels, and plenty of black-colored exterior trim pieces. 

Like the Lynk & Co PHEV vehicle, the Honda crossover also has power-folding side mirrors, automatic headlamp functionality, a power tailgate, roof rails, a dual-tip exhaust, a roof-mounted spoiler, and rain-sensing wipers. 

The Honda model, however, does one up the Lynk & Co 01 with its sunroof. Also, its side portion lacks black plastic cladding, which does a lot to differentiate it from other crossovers in the market. 

Interior

When it comes to interiors, both crossover models heavily utilize soft-touch surfaces, polished decorative parts, and well-arranged control layouts. The two also feature sharp designs for their respective dashboards. 

For their drivers, both the Lynk & Co 01 and the Honda CR-V RS e:HEV features a push-to-start button, an electronic parking brake, tilt and telescopic leather-wrapped steering wheels, power-adjustable front seats, keyless entry, ambient lighting, and front center armrest. 

The Honda’s digital gauge cluster, however, is sized at 10.2 inches, which is a tad smaller compared to the huge 12.3-inch digital instrument display on the 01. 

Moving over to infotainment systems, the 01 features a 12.7-inch central display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 9-inch central screen on the CR-V is markedly smaller, but on the flip side, the CR-V gets more speakers from its 12-piece Bose audio system. The 01, meanwhile, was equipped with a 10-piece Harman Infinity speaker system. 

Other interior amenities found on both rides are leather upholstery, automatic climate controls with rear vents, a split-folding rear seat, a wireless smartphone charger, and plenty of USB charging ports. 

Safety

Concerning safety, both rides get what one would expect from a modern crossover. Both are kitted out with anti-lock braking, stability control, ISOFIX child seat anchors, hill-start assist, and a bunch of airbags, among others. 

The two models also feature a comprehensive suite of advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS). On the 01, it has adaptive cruise control with pedestrian detection, traffic jam assist, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and lane departure warning, among others. 

The Honda Sensing ADAS kit on the CR-V also has the features mentioned above, but it also adds a road departure mitigation system and lead car notifications. 

Powertrain

Under the hood of the Lynk & Co 01 is a PHEV system made up of a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine paired with an electric motor, a battery, and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. 

Altogether, the 01’s propulsion unit can churn out 258 horsepower (hp) and 265 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. It also boasts regenerative braking, a Type 2 AC charging port, and an electric-only mode with a range of 69 kilometers. 

Comparatively, the Honda’s power unit is comprised of a 2.0-liter mill, which works together with an electronic continuously variable transmission, an electric motor, a regenerative braking system, and a battery. In total, the said hybrid system can produce 204 hp and 335 Nm of torque. 

Based on the output numbers above, the 01 has a good amount of horses over the CR-V. The Honda, however, can definitely put out more in the way of torque. 

On one hand, the CR-V does not have a dedicated electric vehicle mode like the 01. Instead, its electric motors are automatically activated as one drives the vehicle. 

Price

Currently, the sole variant of the Lynk & Co 01 is priced at P2.338 million. The Honda CR-V, on the other hand, has three locally available trims, with the RS e:HEV sitting as the top-spec variant retailing at P2.59 million. 

Final thoughts

In terms of feature and styling, the Lynk & Co 01 and the Honda CR-V RS e:HEV are neck-and-neck with each other. The Honda, however, does have more horsepower, while the Lynk & Co model has a better set of digital displays. Many might also like the 01’s PHEV since it can mean more versability in day-to-day use. 

Moreover, the 01 is significantly cheaper than the CR-V. For reference, it has a sticker price that’s P252,000 compared to the Honda model. As such, it might be able to attract more adopters. 

For those serious about getting an electrified five-seater crossover, however, comparing specs alone just won’t do. Sure, it can be useful for initial research, but giving each ride a test drive can result in a more informed purchase in the end. 

Also read: 

Lynk & Co 01: pros and cons

Cabin check: What’s inside the Lynk & Co 01

Lynk & Co 01 vs. the competition