Lancia Ypsilon

According to the specifications, the new Ypsilon doesn't make a good start. The car is the same size as the Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208 and that is no coincidence: the Ypsilon shares the platform and all the technology with those everyday models. To still make the Ypsilon an exclusive car, the exterior was completely changed. However, this had to be done within the constraints of the existing models and within a reasonable budget.

As far as Autozine is concerned, Lancia has succeeded in its mission with flying colours. The Ypsilon makes it clear that Lancia is not stuck in the past and is embracing the future. Thanks to an unmistakably Italian look, the Ypsilon stands out well from Stellantis' existing compact hatchbacks. During testing, the car did turn out to have an odd design flaw: the rear lights reflect the markings of the road surface and therefore, to traffic behind it, it appears as if the Ypsilon is indicating direction at random moments!

Space

The interior is even more pronounced than the exterior. Although several parts are copied directly from the Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208, a proprietary layout along with different colours and materials still creates its own look. However, the quality of the materials could be better. In particular, the hard plastic on the dashboard and doors detracts from the promised "premium" quality.

As in the Corsa and 208, space in the front is good and moderate in the rear. However, the Ypsilon shines with seats that look great and are at least as comfortable. Stablemate Citroën speaks highly of so-called "Advance Comfort" seats that are soft yet snug thanks to a combination of materials. However, it looks like Lancia has taken that recipe and then improved on it! The velour upholstery provides a classy look and is nice and smooth.

The dashboard is sleekly designed, with Lancia striking a good balance between traditional switches and modern displays. To evoke the atmosphere of a living room on wheels, the centre console features a small table. This provides more than just a quirky element, as during the test drive it was used for the mobile phone.

Equipment

On the dashboard, the showpiece is a circular pillar surrounded by a pulsing illuminated ring. This is part of "SALA". That is the Italian word for "living room" and in the Ypsilon it stands for "Sound Air Light Augmentation", or the smart assistant to control many functions of the car. In the pro version of the infotainment system, it really is a smart assistant because if the built-in computer cannot handle the request, it is passed on to ChatGPT which knows almost everything. Unfortunately, no high-end audio system is available, but fortunately the standard system sounds far from bad.

The mandatory driver-assistants are not perceived as a nuisance thanks to the leeway and modest sound signals. Moreover, the various functions can be easily switched off.

Electric car

Lancia not only wants to distinguish itself with luxury and "premium" quality, it also presents itself as a 100% electric brand. However, for the Ypsilon, this is interpreted broadly and speaks of "100% electrified". In fact, against initial promises, the Ypsilon comes as a fully electric car as well as with mild-hybrid petrol engine. Both engines are taken directly from the Opel Corsa and the Peugeot 208, even the software has not been modified.

Though Lancia promises that the Ypsilon is more economical! This is thanks to the lowered suspension and improved aerodynamics. In doing so, Lancia uses only the strongest variants of the existing engines. The electric Ypsilon has a 156 hp / 240 Nm electric motor, making it lively and viciously fast, as befits an electric car. Unfortunately, the Ypsilon has only one mode of regeneration and it is so weak that it recovers very little energy.

Despite this, test consumption on a demanding course under favourable weather conditions came to an exemplary 14.2 kW per 100 km. That equates to an actual range of almost 400 km (51 kWh battery).

Driving characteristics

To keep the price down, the chassis has also been adopted from the Opel Corsa and Peugeot 208. However, thanks to minor modifications, the driving characteristics differ. For instance, the track width has been increased (24 mm wider than the Peugeot 208, 36 mm wider than the Opel Corsa), the suspension has been lowered and the power steering software has been changed. The result is a lively and playful car.

At the same time, comfort is good. Small bumps, which make driving tiring, are effectively filtered out. Greatly improved sound insulation makes the Ypsilon much quieter than its stablemates, adding to its high-quality character.

Conclusion

Is the new Ypsilon a true Lancia? And does the new Lancia have a chance of survival? Yes and yes! Being part of a very strong parent company, Lancia could easily use existing parts of proven quality. That also means limitations, but within the limited possibilities of the budget, the Ypsilon is surprisingly different. This applies not only to the design, but also to the driving characteristics. In fact, the Ypsilon is among the rare cars with which the test drive could not last long enough!

The Ypsilon therefore not only stands out from similar models from the same parent company, but also really adds something to the existing range. In short, the Ypsilon is exclusive and unique in its kind, and that makes it a true Lancia!