Lancia Delta 1.8 Di Turbo Jet 200 CV, road test (II)

Yesterday we talked about the engine, handling and consumption of the Lancia Delta equipped with the powerful 1.8 Di Turbo Jet petrol engine producing 200 CV, paired with a six-speed automatic gearbox. As we mentioned, the most outstanding aspect is the power delivery, while fuel consumption is an area that could be improved.

Today, however, we turn to the rest of the Delta’s features. Since this is a car that has already passed through our hands, we invite you to read about its design, materials and interior space in the test we carried out at the time. Meanwhile, the standard equipment and safety features are something we also covered in the third part of the test.

Exterior design, interior space and finishes

We are going to focus specifically on our test unit, since on the outside the matt black colour called Hard Black stood out, drawing most eyes during the test. Many people came over to the Delta to look at the colour, and almost everyone ran a hand or a finger over the bodywork to see the detail up close.

After a week with the car, I have to say the colour is distinctive and different. In terms of practicality, though, it isn’t its strong point. Dirt and any scratches show up far more than on a metallic colour, so it is somewhat more delicate than metallic finishes.

Inside, the space stands out, especially in the rear seats, where it feels like being in a saloon over four metres long. There is enough headroom, a raised seating position and plenty of legroom.

The front seats are also comfortable, but despite the Delta’s sporty engine, they offer little lateral support. The leather upholstery fitted as standard on this version stands out “Hard Black”. There are also nice touches in the lighting, such as the LEDs on the door handles, centre console, footwells and roof, a design detail without doubt.

The negative side is some plastics that don’t live up to the overall quality, such as the window switches, the paddle shifters (which have a rough, exposed edge) or the hard plastic centre console.

The layout of storage spaces and compartments throughout the cabin stands out, which adds practicality to the interior.

Prices, versions and equipment notes

This special series of the Delta with matt black paintwork and the “Hard Black” name can only be paired with three engines: the 140 CV Multiair petrol, the 190 CV 1.9 twin-turbo diesel and the 200 CV 1.8 petrol. In addition to the matt black exterior, it also comes as standard with leather interior upholstery.

The starting price of the Lancia Delta Hard Black 1.4 Multiair 140 CV in matt black is €24,190. Our unit, with the 200 CV 1.8 Di Turbo Jet automatic engine, starts at €29,790, and €31,790 with the “Hard Black” finish. Finally, the Delta “Hard Black” with the 190 CV 1.9 Twin Turbo diesel engine starts at €32,690.

Although the equipment on this special version is fairly complete for the price of the car, we miss parking sensors, light and rain sensors, features that cheaper models already include as standard. A recommended extra is the bi-xenon headlights, which provide good illumination and are directional.

Overall assessment

The Lancia Delta is one of those models that, despite having been on the market for quite some time, is not very well known.

Its strengths are an elaborate design and an interior carefully finished in detail (apart from some finishes). But when it launched, price was not something that helped it much.

Even so, this version with the 200 CV petrol engine lives up to its promise in terms of power, making it quite fun to drive, and petrol lovers will surely enjoy it. The main drawback is fuel consumption, which is high for the engine and displacement, since engines with similar power and larger displacement consume less.

Otherwise it is a fairly interesting car, especially if you look at the diesel range and the 190 CV engine, or even this 200 CV petrol. That said, the equipment gaps I mentioned earlier are odd in a car that costs more than €30,000.

Photos | David Taboada

<<>>