Insurance Group: 21
MPG: 55.4
CO2: 135
0-62 Mph: 8.5 secs
BHP: 165 BHP
Range: 695 miles
PROS: Impressive top speed, good looks, strong diesel engine, good interior
CONS: Poor ride, some cheap interior plastics, not as good as its rivals
With a maximum power output of 165 bhp at 4000 rpm with torque figures of 266 lb-ft at 1750 rpm this 2.0 litre engine delivers more power than the high-performance 1.4-litre Delta and raises the top speed to an impressive 133 mph. Acceleration is fairly rapid as well and the car is capable of reaching 0-62 mph in just 8.5 seconds, shaving 1.3 seconds off the 1.4 Delta’s time.
Despite the good power output the car feels jiggly on the road and is only really comfortable on straight, even road surfaces. The poor suspension struggles with potholes and road imperfections whilst bends and corners result in a fair amount of body roll from the chassis.
Noise disruption is also high, especially within this diesel model. This makes the cabin a somewhat uncomfortable and noisy place to be, especially compared to its super quiet rivals, the Focus and the Astra.
The Delta 2.0 M-JET is a good looking car - far more eye-catching than the ubiquitous Focus or Astra. Fiat now owns Chrysler and the Delta is badged as a Lancia in some markets so you're getting a bit of Italian flair with an American badge.
In terms of equipment, the Delta 2.0 M-JET comes with a vast range of standard kit. Standard features include power steering, central locking, electric front windows, stability control, air conditioning, electric door mirrors and an MP3 compatible CD player. Alloy wheels, climate control, a metallic paint finish on the exterior, cruise control, rear parking sensors, leather seats, a built-in sat nav system and Bluetooth connectivity are also fitted as standard.
The Delta 2.0 M-JET is fairly spacious, making it ideal for family use. The rear seats slide backwards and forwards to adjust the distribution of space within the cabin. Leg room is ample and this means passengers will not feel overcrowded or cramped whatever the length of the journey.
A boot capacity of 380 litres is offered with the seats in place and 1,190 litres available when rear seats are folded down. This is more than sufficient for family needs but the high lip on the boot means that loading and unloading can be a little difficult.
Reliability should be strong as the engine is a tried and tested Fiat MultiJet unit. The interior feels well screwed together so there should be no issues on this front.
The car scored a five star rating for overall safety in the NCAP crash tests and comes fitted with driver, passenger and front side airbags as standard features. An alarm and immobiliser are also fitted to offer protection from theft.
Priced at £25,695 the Delta 2.0 M-JET is expensive and offers little to no advantage over its more conventional cousins, namely the Focus, the Astra and the Golf.
In terms of running costs, the 2.0 litre Delta falls into a relatively high insurance bracket (21) whilst road tax falls under band E due to reasonable carbon emissions of 135g/km. Fuel consumption is good at 55.4 mpg but a Vauxhall Astra 2.0 CDTi ecoFLEX manages over 60mpg.
The Delta 2.0 M-JET is a competent vehicle which offers high performance and strong power credentials but is simply not cheap enough to worry its rivals from Ford, Vauxhall and VW. The Focus, Astra and Golf are all much better cars and cost about the same.
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