Making, or changing, impressions from a Link & Co 05 test drive
+2 
The Link & Co 05 All Wheel Drive Fastback SUV. Lots of words, but also lots of quick impressions from other people.
“It seems very design-oriented without being too pushy. Intuitive and ergonomic.” These comments were made by a young lady just going into regular driving but also very exposed to different cars and their technology.
She pointed out the interior design influences and choices, interesting shapes where there could be plain buttons, intuitive knobs rather than plain screens. Even color choices were younger without being too in-your-face flashy.
“This is from where?” A young man just heading out into the job market, also familiar with global car brands and experiences but not as familiar with the newer brands, particularly those assembled in China. From the back seat, he said the car felt more European in detail and quality.
“So Quiet. Electric?’ OK this one came from a guard at a hotel who was shooing away regular cars but let me stay and wait because he thought I wasn’t running an engine where people were waiting. Or had no engine. This is part of the appeal of the car, really, it is pretty quiet and isolated but without the feeling of detachment of many cars.
What did I think myself? Driving the car on a racetrack for a few laps, I could tell it was stable and well-sorted, but it was a week in traffic and on highway that really defined the car. It is quiet and stable but doesn’t keep you from feeling like you are driving a car that can handle.
We just had two cars prior, one was a very “modern” one with huge screens and lots of tech. Another was a more old-school handling car. The 05 is kind of in the middle. It is fun to drive quickly, but also wasn’t constantly telling you it was sport-oriented. It uses a turbocharged two-liter engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, so it allows a flexible choice of gears for the job whether that is eco mode or sports mode. It can feel a little notch at low speeds but is pretty smooth all over after a bit. All wheel makes it flexible.
The 05 is what they are calling a Fastback SUV, so it is a tall car with good ground clearance that looks kind of ‘coupe-ish.’ Surprised by the amount of space in the rear seats and the trunk. Really happy with the included sound system. The interior lighting can be made to use your choice of colors, I looked for as subtle as possible if not off.
What the 05, and what Link & Co, are telling you is that your choice of car now is becoming increasingly personal. At the different price levels, you have so many more choices (The website has the 05 starting at P2,748,000). You can go with the no-worry default choices or you can try something new that provides a bit of a different experience.
Because of the design influences and the ‘Volvo-esque’ attitude, the 05 isn’t going too deeply into “new world” mobility, but rather is still at its most basic, a very nicely designed car. It has a proper dial cluster, though it is all digital. It also has a large screen for other stuff. Controls are on the steering wheel and very easily identified by feel, but also you have knobs and switches.
It isn’t screaming new, it isn’t screaming tech. It actually isn’t screaming anything. It is just a nice interpretation of what the company feels the premium segment is really about. And it was actually the drive of choice among a sea of options.
