Lancia Delta 1.9 MultiJet Twin Turbo 190 CV, road test (Part I)

Curious things in life: I bring you a car that was a well-known vehicle around the world and yet is now a complete stranger to the market. Let me explain: anyone who likes the world of motoring knows the sporting reputation of the Lancia Delta, but since 2008, when the new generation appeared, the Delta has been a complete unknown in the market.

But time passes, and the stylish Italian design I present to you has little to do with that sporting past of yesteryear. In fact, comparisons are odious, and I prefer to focus on the new model, which has a lot to tell. Design, elegance and comfort are the premises of this model, but in addition it hides a small surprise under the bonnet: one of the engines (personally) that I like most within the diesel range, the 1.9 Multijet Twin Turbo of 190 CV.

My first experience with this engine was in a Saab 9-3 Cabrio 1.9 TTiD of 180 CV (the previous generation of the engine), which surprised me with its power, consumption and above all its recoveries. The engine has been updated and I have not gone crazy. For those who are not familiar with the engines of the Fiat Group, that diesel engine of the Saab (among other brands) is developed by Fiat Powertrain , and our Delta on test increases the power up to 190 CV with an efficient twin-turbo system.

Engine and performance

Focusing now on the 1.9 MultiJet of 190 CV, it is an engine I like because it offers a strong response at almost any rev range; from 1,400 rpm we already have sufficient thrust, which becomes more effective as we approach 2,000 rpm. The secret lies in the two turbos: one works at low revs (providing great flexibility) and the other comes in afterwards, both working at mid-range and pushing hard up to 4,000 rpm. Proof of this is the powerful torque of 400 Nm.

This engine is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox, with a very smooth and fairly precise feel, with which we can get a good deal out of the engine. Moreover, thanks to the engine’s flexibility, we will hardly need to play with the gearbox, as it can pull from very low revs.

Handling

But despite this powerful engine, the Delta is not designed to have a sporty character, since its main orientation is comfort. It is a car perfect for travelling where the occupants are looked after with a high level of ride comfort. The suspension has an intermediate setting, absorbing road irregularities very well, but keeping its composure in tricky areas.

The Delta’s large body shows some body roll, especially in fast bends, but I again remind you that its forte is enjoying driving, and the stability and traction control (standard) take care of correcting any problems should we decide to tackle more complicated routes. In fact, the chassis has good poise and we always have the Sport option available, which controls the suspension and firms up the steering somewhat (which feels too soft in normal mode and conveys little confidence).

That said, in town it is a very comfortable car, because between the gearbox and its light steering it makes pottering around a real pleasure. It also features parking assist and another system that guides you when parking, which we will cover in the equipment section. Finally, we have to mention its brakes: four discs that stop the car without any problem.

Fuel consumption

In terms of consumption, the 1.9 Multijet of 190 CV is characterised by a fairly economical consumption, which depends entirely on how we drive. If we decide to make use of the 190 CV, consumption will clearly be affected, but with normal driving the consumption is comparable to a lower-powered diesel engine. On the motorway we achieved 5.4 l/100 km at the legal speed, while in town and on country roads (40-60%) we achieved an average consumption of 6.5 l/100 km. In practice, it is very easy to keep it around seven litres in urban environments.

In short, a very performance-oriented engine with fairly economical consumption, for a car with real character thanks to its 190 CV and its powerful 400 Nm engine with two turbos.

In the second part of the road test we will talk about the design, both interior and exterior, one of the Delta’s strong points, as well as its interior space, since its exterior size is reflected in a spacious cabin.

Photos | Diego G. Moreira | Thanks to Borja for his collaboration on the test