Lancia Ypsilon HF review: completely impractical, but what a wonderful car

Fast as lightning, razor-sharp, and dazzling, yet also unbearably tough. The Lancia Ypsilon HF is an electric hot hatch that makes few compromises when it comes to comfort. After spending more time with it, we’re even more impressed by its sporting qualities. But as a daily driver, this quirky Italian car is hardly tolerable.

A Second Encounter with the Lancia Ypsilon HF

Some cars become more appealing the longer you drive them. With others, you discover more and more flaws. This Lancia Ypsilon HF review highlights both aspects clearly. It continues to tempt us with its impressive performance and wonderful driving dynamics, but it can just as easily drive us to despair a few kilometers down the road. That makes it one of the most contrasting electric hot hatches around today.

During the introduction, we already drove the Ypsilon HF on Italy’s Balocco test track. In our first test, we were very impressed by its speed, excellent traction, and sharp handling. However, a track is different from the Dutch public roads, with their sunken cobblestone streets, bumpy asphalt, and numerous traffic barriers. That’s why we’re now spending more time with the HF, once again in the stunning Arancio Lava color, complete with an equally striking blue interior.

Italian beauty in Arancio Lava

The Ypsilon HF is a truly stunning vehicle. Especially in the warm, almost fiery Arancio Lava color, which beautifully highlights the curves of its body. Its broad shoulders, muscular wheel arches, and low-sitting chassis give it a seductive appearance. At the same time, the Ypsilon has a refined touch, something unmistakably Italian. The round rear lights subtly reference the legendary Stratos, while the sleek front lighting design gives it a uniquely distinctive look.

What’s particularly appealing is that Lancia resisted the temptation to turn the HF into a garish sports car. The 18-inch wheels, widened track, and subtle aerodynamic accents give it just the right amount of edge. It looks muscular without being rough, elegant without being tame. From certain angles, it’s downright stunning.

The blue interior completes its unique appearance. The stylish sports seats offer excellent side support, and the striking color combination evokes the flair of earlier Italian sports cars. Not all plastics are equally nice, and several switches are familiar from other Stellantis models, but the Ypsilon is by no means lacking in personality.

High Fidelity: a glorious past

The letters HF stand for High Fidelity, meaning high fidelity. The term originated in the 1960s among loyal Lancia enthusiasts and evolved into a hallmark of the brand’s most sporty models. Along with the famous red elephant, HF became inextricably linked to Lancia’s golden age in rally racing.

The Stratos, Rally 037, and Delta HF Integrale are among the most legendary rally cars ever built. The new Ypsilon shares few technical similarities with those icons, as it is based on platforms used in models like the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce, Peugeot e-208 Gti, and Abarth 600e. But more important than its origins is whether this small Lancia possesses the temperament one would expect from an HF model. And on that question, we can now answer unequivocally yes.

280 horsepower at the front wheels, and it performs incredibly well

With 280 horsepower and 345 Nm of torque, the Ypsilon HF is among the most powerful compact electric hatchbacks. All of the power is delivered to the front wheels, but thanks to a particularly efficient mechanical Torsen limited-slip differential, it manages to transfer that power surprisingly well to the road surface.

Especially when accelerating out of corners, you can tell how excellently the powertrain and suspension work together. The front end delivers an impressive amount of grip, seemingly pulling the car out of the turn. Understeer remains remarkably rare, while the steering feels firm and precise. The chassis barely leans, and every turn input is responded to without hesitation.

The sprint to 100 km/h takes only 5.6 seconds. Even during intermediate accelerations, the electric motor responds very quickly. Yet it’s not this straight-line speed that makes the Ypsilon HF so attractive. Many electric cars these days are incredibly fast. The skill lies in converting that speed into driving pleasure in corners. And in that regard, this Lancia performs exceptionally well.

With its Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, finely tuned suspension, and mechanical limited-slip differential, the HF is a true enthusiast car. It feels alert, eager, and almost impatient. It’s a vehicle that constantly invites you to take a few more corners. It offers the driving pleasure that used to make us eager to get behind compact GTIs.

A suspension with no mercy

The downside of all these sporting qualities becomes apparent once the road surface becomes less favorable. Because the Ypsilon HF isn’t just firmly sprung—it’s set up extremely stiffly.

Especially in residential areas, where traffic bumps and cobblestone roads alternate, it becomes clear just how little concessions Lancia made to comfort. Each bump must be navigated carefully. Even then, passengers still experience a significant jolt. Small irregularities are hardly filtered out, and on poorly maintained roads, peace and quiet inside the cabin are often hard to find.

A sportsy hot hatch certainly doesn’t have to be a comfortable family car. A sturdy chassis is part of its character. But there’s a difference between sporty and excessively harsh, and in our opinion, Lancia went too far in this regard. We even wonder whether adding a bit more suspension comfort would have really compromised its excellent handling.

The downside is that it’s not a feature to which you fully adapt after a few days. On the contrary, the longer we drive the HF, the more pronounced the lack of comfort becomes. The same car that brings us so much pleasure on a nice country road can be quite annoying during a routine drive.

The range doesn’t match its temperament

The battery pack is also a limitation. With 54 kWh gross and approximately 51 kWh of usable capacity, the energy supply is quite modest for a car with such pronounced sporty ambitions. Lancia claims a WLTP range of around 370 kilometers, but this figure proves difficult to achieve once you utilize its sporty capabilities.

The Ypsilon HF constantly encourages aggressive acceleration and higher speeds. This results in high power consumption. During one of our tests, we recorded as much as 25.2 kWh/100 km from the start. It’s just a snapshot, but it’s quite telling. With a more moderate driving style, a practical range of around 250 kilometers is plausible, but it can drop significantly when driven sportily.

That’s combined with a modest maximum fast-charging capacity of 100 kW. Charging from 20% to 80% takes about half an hour under favorable conditions. As a result, the Ypsilon HF is certainly not an ideal road car. Its limited range and relatively long charging stops stand in sharp contrast to its performance.

As a second car for nice days, these issues are manageable. But those who use it daily and drive long distances regularly will become frustrated by these limitations.

Completely impractical, but irresistible

After spending more time with it, we are actually even more impressed by the Lancia Ypsilon HF’s sporting capabilities than during our first drive in Balocco. At the same time, we have become considerably more critical about its suitability for daily use. Its unforgiving suspension, relatively high fuel consumption, and limited range make this small Italian car quite demanding to drive.

As the only model in its class, it would be difficult for us to recommend it. Those who appreciate Italian charm but prefer to keep their backs healthy should opt for the regular Ypsilon Electric instead. It is significantly more comfortable and can easily cover 390 kilometers on a single charge. However, for fans of true electric hot hatches, the HF is particularly attractive with a starting price of €40,950. It is even cheaper than the less powerful Alpine A290 with 220 horsepower and the much more expensive CUPRA Born VZ with 326 horsepower.

There is something irresistible about this Lancia. Its speed, fantastic grip, and eager driving character turn every beautiful curve into a little celebration. And then there’s its stunning appearance, which continues to capture our attention even after weeks.

There it is again, after a ride during which we were annoyed several times by its stiff chassis. That beautiful, low body in Arancio Lava, the robust wheel arches, the distinctive line work. You take one last look before walking away. And despite all the criticism, you know you’ll want to get in again tomorrow. Not because you have to, but simply because you enjoy driving it.

Text by: Marc Verweij