Chrysler’s new small family hatchback is attractively styled and although it appears to be only a 3-door is in-fact a 5-door hatchback. The available engines are a 1.2 litre or 0.9 litre Twinair petrol option, or a 1.3 litre diesel. Although these engines don’t offer breathtaking pace, they are suitable for the lightweight Ypsilon both about town and for motorway driving. The Ypsilon is quite a tall car, and although the high seating position offers decent visibility, it does lead to some body roll. This will also be due to the soft suspension set up, which has soaking up potholes and bumps in mind, rather than sporty handling.
Insurance Groups: 3 - 12
MPG Range: 54 - 74
Latest Chrysler Ypsilon Car Reviews:
Whilst the economic and environmental benefits of this car are clear the small 1.2 litre engine may be insufficient for those after high performance. However for those after a competent and respect...
The Chrysler Ypsilon is designed to compete with the Fiat 500, VW Polo and Ford Fiesta. Despite its handsome exterior and seemingly stylish interior, the Ypsilon falls short of its rivals behind th...
A fun little car to drive with a bit more class than many of its competitors, the Ypsilon 0.9 TwinAir SE is a pretty unique and distinctive offering from Chrysler. It is a zippy car for driving aro...
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Chrysler Ypsilon Overview
The Ypsilon is very closely based on the Fiat 500, and although it is still small, at only 3.8 metres long, due to its tall stance and slightly extended wheelbase, it offers decent space inside. Head and legroom upfront is plentiful in the front, with some restrictions to headroom for taller passengers travelling in the rear because of the sloping roofline that gives it the coupe like appearance. The bucket seats offer great support, with a good level of adjustment but unfortunately the steering wheel has reach adjustment.
The quality of the interior materials is as expected from how this car is positioned. It does feature some flimsy-looking hard plastics that would not be seen on the class leaders; however the overall appearance of the interior is quite classy. The dash layout is sensible and easy to use, with the central instrument cluster being particularly attractive. Standard kit on the lowest trim level is not particularly good, missing out on air-con and alloys, but can be added as an option.
Background
The Ypsilon is actually made by Lancia, and sold as a Lancia in the rest of Europe, however for the UK and Irish market Fiat (who own both Lancia and Chrysler) decided to market it as a Chrysler. There have previously been two generations of the Ypsilon, which first went into production in 1996 as a replacement to the Y10. After receiving a facelift in 2000, the second generation was released in 2003 and continued production until 2011.
The third generation of the Ypsilon is the first iteration of the model that has been made available in the UK and Ireland, and was marketed as a Chrysler rather than a Lancia. It debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, and takes styling cues from the new Lancia Delta. It went into production the same year and is built on the Fiat Mini Platform, which it shares with the Fiat 500 and the Ford KA.
Summary
The Ypsilon is a stylish small family car that is so far a rarity in the UK. It has a choice of decent engines, and is attractively styled both inside and out so may be worth a look for anyone one who wants a small family car that is a step away from the norm.
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