The Lancia Ypsilon 1.0 FireFly Hybrid is a five-seat mild hybrid city car, about 3.84 metres long, with a three-cylinder 69 hp engine. In 2023 it was the third best-selling car in Italy, with 44,891 registrations. When buying used, check the gearbox and clutch, steering and brakes, the ABS warning light and recalls.
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Lancia Ypsilon (project 846), five doors |
| Unveiled | Geneva Motor Show 2011; built in Tychy (Poland) until 2024 |
| Platform | Fiat Panda |
| Hybrid | from 2020: 1.0 FireFly 3-cylinder, 69 hp + 12 V belt-driven motor-generator + lithium-ion battery (mild hybrid, not a pure electric car) |
| Dimensions | about 3.84 × 1.68 m; wheelbase 2.39 m |
| Boot | from 245 to 940 litres with the seats folded |
| Sales | 44,891 registrations in 2023 (about +9.6% on 2022, when it was 40,970), third in Italy |
| At our lot | 1.0 FireFly Hybrid, year 2023, 91,000 km, petrol mild hybrid, manual, white with black details |
Why was the Ypsilon the third best-selling car of 2023?
Not a Fiat, not a Panda: in 2023 the third best-selling car in Italy was the Lancia Ypsilon, with 44,891 registrations (about +9.6% on 2022, when it was 40,970). Within the Stellantis group, it ranks second. If you want to see one in person, in Rome there is this Ypsilon 1.0 FireFly Hybrid.
What is the Ypsilon 1.0 FireFly Hybrid (mild hybrid)?
A five-door that looks like a three-door. This series of the Ypsilon (project 846) was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011 and built in Tychy, Poland, until 2024. It uses the Fiat Panda platform and is the last Ypsilon with a five-door body: the rear handles are hidden so that it looks like a three-door.
In 2020 the Hybrid version arrived: a 1.0 FireFly three-cylinder engine with 69 hp, paired with a small 12 V belt-driven motor-generator and a lithium-ion battery. It is a mild hybrid, meaning it does not run on electric power alone but helps the engine use less fuel, especially in town.
This series of the Ypsilon was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011.
Four things you may not know about the Ypsilon
- First place among hybrids. In 2023 the Hybrid version was the best-selling hybrid city car on the Italian market.
- A growing share. In the B segment it reached 14.9%, the second-best share in its history.
- Seats from the sea. Some fabrics are made of Seaqual Yarn, a yarn made from plastic recovered in the Mediterranean.
- Design with a memory. The “lid”-style bonnet recalls the Lancia Ardea, while the rear window, the “flying bridge” roof and the LED lights look to the Delta.
Does a used Ypsilon Hybrid make sense in Rome?
Yes, because it measures about 3.84 metres by 1.68, with a wheelbase of 2.39. Not much more than a city car, but with five seats and a boot that goes from 245 to 940 litres with the seats folded. In road tests it is credited with:
- Light steering, with a City function for manoeuvres;
- Suspension that soaks up potholes well: useful on Rome’s cobblestones;
- Quietness and good visibility, thanks to the raised seating position;
- Low fuel consumption, confirmed by tests in several magazines.
For the rules on driving in the city, see our page on the Fascia Verde in Rome. Looking for something else? Our catalogue has used hybrid cars in Rome and another city car for Rome.
What should you check on a used Lancia Ypsilon?
Typically, on a Ypsilon of this generation:
- Gearbox and clutch: try the gear lever and the clutch, because they are not always up to the standard of the rest of the car.
- Steering and braking: the steering is vague at high speed and the braking system tends to tire.
- Steering noises when stationary: listen to the front dampers while turning the wheel (strut top bearings).
- ABS warning light: the wires can rub against the base of the 12 V battery.
- Recalls: ask the Lancia/Stellantis network using the chassis number. In the past there were recalls on Isofix child seat mounts and on a control unit.
- Services: ask for the service history, as with any car.
This Ypsilon is at our lot
Lancia Ypsilon 1.0 FireFly Hybrid
- Year: 2023
- Mileage: 91,000 km
- Fuel: petrol, mild hybrid
- Power: 69 hp
- Gearbox: manual
- Colour: white, with black details
Want to see it in Rome? Come and visit us: The right car? We’ll find it for you
How we prepared it
Before it goes on sale, this Ypsilon goes through a complete inspection in our workshop, a few steps from the sales area. We check everything: mechanics, engine and gearbox, brakes, suspension, electrical system and electronics, bodywork. The service is done. So when you come to see it, you know what you are getting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Lancia Ypsilon Hybrid?
A city car with a 1.0 FireFly three-cylinder engine with 69 hp, paired with a 12 V belt-driven motor-generator and a lithium-ion battery. It is a mild hybrid: it does not run on electric power alone but helps the engine use less fuel.
How big is the Ypsilon?
About 3.84 metres long by 1.68 wide, wheelbase 2.39 metres; the boot goes from 245 to 940 litres with the seats folded.
Where and when is the Ypsilon built?
Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, it is built in Tychy, Poland, until 2024. The Hybrid version arrived in 2020.
How many Ypsilons were sold in 2023?
44,891 registrations (about +9.6% on 2022, when it was 40,970): the third best-selling car in Italy.
What should you check on a used Ypsilon?
Gearbox and clutch, steering and brakes, noises from the front end when turning the wheel while stationary, the ABS warning light, recalls using the chassis number and the service history.
What checks did this car go through?
Every car goes through a complete inspection in our workshop, close to the sales area: mechanics, engine and gearbox, brakes, suspension, electrical system and electronics, bodywork. The service is done.
Sources
- Wikipedia IT/EN: Lancia Ypsilon
- Motor1 Italia
- Alvolante, Motori Magazine
- Patentati.it, ClubAlfa (2023 sales data)
- Mopar Insiders, Money.it
More car stories on our blog.
Updated on 30.10.2026
