‘I expected him to be more sedate’
It should happen next year. After a long period of absence, Lancia returns to the European market. It is still unclear exactly which model this will happen with, but the new logo and a first study model have already been presented. In this article we look back at the Delta based on user reviews. How good was one of the last volume models and what do riders expect from the brand?
The last generation Lancia Delta was on the market between 2008 and 2015. The first cars can already claim the title of Youngtimer. And while the model – and this is subjective – still looks quite fresh with its LED daytime running lights. The technology is shared with the Fiat Bravo, a car that has previously appeared in this section. However, the Lancia is about 18 centimeters longer compared to that model, of which 10 centimeters benefit the wheelbase.
Space, comfort and ease of use
Let’s immediately look at the effect of this extended wheelbase. “Legroom is very good for this class. Tall people can easily sit in the back,” says the owner of a Delta 2.0 MultiJet 165. Apparently, this extra space mainly benefits the passengers and not luggage. “Door pockets are on the tight side and the trunk is sufficient for us, but not very spacious. First test with strollers or holiday items to see if it works for you,” adds this driver.
A used car buyer is pleased with the experience in the Delta. “The interior is beautiful and spacious with beautiful leather/Alcantara upholstery for this segment. Nice chairs. The gray plastic on the dashboard is no longer up to date, perhaps have it painted black. No traces of use except for the chrome moldings in the doors.” This driver is also a lot more positive about the space available. “The space is very good, during the winter sports trip a passenger with luggage suddenly arrived and with some sliding of the rear seat, both passengers and luggage had a place without having to remove the parcel shelf. Really downright spacious. You can also throw the stroller in straight away and the high chair fits in comfortably, while you can hardly manage this in a Golf.”
In addition, the Delta even has MPV features, according to the owner of a Delta MomoDesign. “The sliding rear seat is a solution: on holiday we slide the bench forward a little so that the suitcases and bags fit exactly and the children still sit comfortably.”
Not every version has such a sliding rear seat, including the Platinum edition. In addition to an advantage, it also has a disadvantage, as the driver of such a car points out. “My Platinum edition has a curved back seat. It is really excellent, even regal (everyone prefers to sit in the back rather than in the front), but if you fold the rear seat down, the backrests remain at about 40 degrees… This is not entirely desirable, of course.”
Seating comfort
Anyone who wants passengers to have maximum comfort should choose a Delta Platinum. Opinions are divided about the seating comfort in the front. “I agree with the critics that the seats lead to fatigue on very long journeys,” writes the MultiJet 165 driver. Later he qualifies this finding. “I recently had to cover 2,800 km in three days, so I have to tone down my previous (critical) comments about the seats. My wife and I had no problems with sitting after so many kilometers. Apparently the hard chairs settle over time.”
This driver of a Delta built in 2009 also expresses criticism: “Of course, a lot has already been written about the seats, I can partly confirm this. Too little lateral support is also what bothers me, they are just too flat.”
The rider of a similarly equipped Delta does not experience any discomfort from the seat itself, but does experience discomfort from the seating position. “The chairs look chic and are sturdy but comfortable. But just like in my previous MPV, the seating position is on the high side, so my leg between the seat and the accelerator pedal is at a slightly different angle than, for example, in a low-sitting station wagon. This causes my lower leg to hurt on longer rides. All the more reason to purchase cruise control.” There are also positive sounds. “Unlike most people, I find the seats very comfortable,” said the driver of a 2008 Delta 1.4 T-Jet. “Great seats, even though reviews often say that you sit too much on the seat instead of in it,” says another director.
In younger cars, Lancia seems to have improved the furniture, as this driver of a 2014 MomoDesign version describes. “In this version, a number of the criticisms from tests by car magazines (less good seats and aluminum-colored plastic) have been replaced or improved. The seats are comfortable.”
How does the Delta drive?
Lancia was the luxury brand of the Fiat group, but at the same time it has a rich motorsport history. The driving characteristics of the Delta can go both ways. “The 1.4 T drives sportier than expected,” writes the owner of a 2011 Delta, “I expected it to be more leisurely. You can tear quite well with it.” The driver of a Delta with 120 hp diesel agrees. “Good handling, sometimes a bit firm in terms of damping, but I knew that in advance.” The driver of the 165 hp diesel also notices the strong damping. “Short bumps are poorly damped and a bad road surface, such as a brick road, makes it a bit jumpy. He then ‘dribbles’ a bit.”
The driver of a 120 hp petrol Delta describes and experiences it differently. “Lancia has clearly aimed for Audi-like handling, with sufficient comfort and fairly firm damping. Compared to my previous car, the Delta is lightweight, and that means good controllability in fast corners.”
Maintenance, malfunctions and annoyances
The Lancia Delta has now been out of production longer than it has been in production, allowing reviewers to provide a better picture of the quality. And that is not disappointing, because used car buyers also report few problems. The next driver bought the car after 45,000 kilometers and is still driving it. “Did I already mention that this car was trouble-free until recently? What was it? At the cold start it stalled immediately and then ran perfectly. I threw a bottle of cleaner in the tank as a remedy, solved it!” Later another vibration occurred, which was caused by a defective engine mount.
However, not all Deltas are equally problem-free. For example, one rider soon had to deal with a malfunctioning gearbox and another had to have the MultiAir module replaced shortly after maintenance. That didn’t spoil the fun: “The car drives fine again and the replacement cars have made me realize what a great car the Delta is. It drives perfectly again and the many kilometers have still not made me tired of this car!”
The next driver was so enthusiastic that he bought the same car after the Delta, but younger. “After 7 years and 120,000 kilometers, I exchanged my previous Delta for this 3.5 year younger copy with only 41,000 km on the odometer. Since the Delta is unfortunately no longer made, I was looking for a younger example with few kilometers and in the most luxurious version.” It therefore appears that Lancia already has one customer for a new model yet to be introduced. Tips for the designer: ensure a nice-looking interior and above-average space in the back. Delta riders will thank you.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl