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The Ypsilon is powered by either a manual 95hp 1.3 MultiJet diesel, a manual 69hp 1.2 petrol or a manual 85hp twin-cylinder 0.9 TwinAir petrol with either manual or automated manual transmission. The driving experience of the turbocharged 875cc manual is little different from the similarly-powered Fiat 500 TwinAir with more than ample get-up-and-go, either around town or on the open road. Due to clever internal balancing the engine is impressively smooth, and it has a slightly gruff but characterful engine note. Being 45kgs heavier than a similarly-specced 500, the 5-dr Ypsilon’s 11.5 secs to 62mph acceleration time is half a second slower than the Fiat’s, but with a quoted 109mph top speed, its 1mph faster.

With underpinnings based on the Fiat 500/Panda’s but with “all-new” suspension, the Ypsilon holds no surprises and is effectively vice-free. With the small and lightweight TwinAir engine the Ypsilon enjoys good composure while on bumpy country lanes while also feeling surefooted on fast dual carriageways. The assisted steering is light but it steers responsively and has minimal body-roll with ample grip, and in common with pretty much every other small, front-wheel-drive car, there’s a safe and predictable understeer if you attack at tight turn with a little too much gusto.

Fiat’s breakthrough MultiAir technology has been reliably employed on other Fiat and Alfa models since early 2010, and the 2-cyl engine has now seen service in the 500 TwinAir for over a year without any undue problems. There’s no UK JD Power customer satisfaction data on Chrysler cars for 2011, but in the most recent survey the closely related Fiat 500 came 53rd equal (out of 108) with 79.9% scored against an industry average of 79.4% . Confusingly, the also closely related Panda fared less well coming 78th equal with 78.2%, but my first impressions of the Ypsilon are positive as the car feels solidly built with an attractive and well-finished interior that befits a luxury citycar.

There are no Euro NCAP findings for the current Lancia Ypsilon, but the current, 2007 Fiat 500 secured the full 5 stars in the pre-‘09 rating. According to Chrysler, while under development the Ypsilon was subjected to over 80 crash tests, with 100 tests on a sled and a further 100 on components and sub systems, so we can assume that corners haven’t been cut. Standard safety related equipment on the entry-level S model includes four airbags (front and curtain), ABS, EBD and traction control, anti-intrusion pedals, auto hazard warning activation and electric door locking with keyless entry. The SE adds front side airbags and vehicle dynamic control, while the top-level Limited version also has front fog lights and rain sensor detection.

A number of car makers (most notably Alfa, Honda and Lancia/Chrysler), still reckon that if a car’s rear door handles are concealed then it’ll look like a 2-door coupé. With the exception of the Mazda RX8 this is nonsense as, Ypsilon included, they all look like either saloons or 5-door hatches with concealed rear door handles. The consensus on the Ypsilon’s exterior styling ranges from ‘downright ugly’ to ‘aesthetically challenging’, but there’s no doubting that the car has an attractive dash and interior made from quality materials. It’s reasonably capacious with ample if not overly generous head and legroom in the rear, while boot space is quoted as 245 litres with the split/fold rear seats upright – not huge, but reasonable.

Ypsilon prices start at £10,695 OTR for the 1.2S and rise to a substantial £15,695 for the 0.9 TwinAir Auto in Limited spec. The manual TwinAir Limited tested here costs £14,495 and it comes with climate control, Fiat’s excellent Blue&Me infotainment platform, leather upholstery and rear electric windows. Auto Magic parking is also available, as is Bose hi-fi (add £350 for the latter). All engines feature Stop&Start and combined fuel consumption/CO2 is quoted as 57.6mpg/115g/km (1.2), 67.3mpg/99g/km (0.9 TwinAir) and 74.3mpg/99g/km (1.3 MultiJet). Whether the Ypsilon experiment works for Fiat/Chrysler remains to be seen, but in the meantime it’s a competent little car hampered only by relatively high pricing and uneasy styling.

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