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Photo: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Used Lancia Ypsilon III: the buying guide

City car · 2011–2024 · Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

✓ 19 sources cited · updated on 13 October 2026

Good choice, check first
Reliability
4.0/5
Estimated monthly cost
€268/month
Indicative prices
€4,900 – €19,500

3 known faults

Photo: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Photo 1 of 5

Lancia Ypsilon III, front three-quarter view

Photo: Overlaet, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Verdict

Good choice, check first

Italian city car unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011, sold in France until 2016 or 2017 according to the press (Journal de l'Auto, L'argus), then only in Italy. It scored just 2 stars at Euro NCAP (test published in 2015). Sources point mainly to problems with the robotised gearbox and the clutch: prefer the manual gearbox and consistent servicing.

Reliability
4.0/5
Indicative prices
€4,900 – €19,500
Monthly cost
€268
Euro NCAP
2/5

Which version to choose

Versions to favour: 1.2 69 manuelle, 0.9 TwinAir 85 manuelle.

  • 1.2 69 manuelle

    ✓ Recommended

    Petrol · Manual · 69 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.2 Fire four-cylinder petrol engine, 69 hp, manual gearbox: simple mechanics, entry-level version.

    Engine: Fiat 1.2 8V FIRE

    Verdict on this engine: Good choice, check first

  • 0.9 TwinAir 85 manuelle

    ✓ Recommended

    Petrol · Manual · 85 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Turbo twin-cylinder petrol engine, 85 hp. Check the oil level (ANWB).

    Engine: Fiat 0.9 TwinAir (turbo twin-cylinder MultiAir)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 0.9 TwinAir 85 robotisée DFS

    Petrol · Automatic · 85 hp · Crit'Air 1

    Same TwinAir engine paired with the 5-speed robotised gearbox (DFS): the actuator is the reported weak point, so test it at length.

    Engine: Fiat 0.9 TwinAir (turbo twin-cylinder MultiAir)

    Verdict on this engine: Buy with care

  • 1.3 Multijet 95

    Diesel · Manual · 95 hp · Crit'Air 2

    1.3 diesel engine, 95 hp, 5-speed manual gearbox.

  • 1.2 69 GPL Ecochic

    Petrol · Manual · 69 hp · Crit'Air 1

    1.2 petrol and LPG bi-fuel engine (LPG tank of about 30 litres in the spare wheel well). Sold in Italy from late 2011.

  • 1.0 Hybrid 70 (micro-hybride)

    Hybrid · Manual · 70 hp · Crit'Air 1

    12 V micro-hybrid, 70 hp, added in 2020 for Italy: to be imported, never sold in France.

Market prices

€4,900 – €19,500

Indicative range: 2011 to 2024, yearly medians of 41 online listings collected by iAutos (years with at least 3 listings).

Collected on 20 October 2026 from the sources below. Our own survey of listings, by year and mileage, will refine it.

Known faults

Premature clutch and flywheel wear

Severity 2/3 · Costly

CarChecker reports early wear of the dual-mass flywheel in urban use (clutch and flywheel replacement: 800 to 1,500 euros according to that site). Partsonclick also lists premature clutch wear among the common problems of this generation.

Versions
0.9 TwinAir 85 manuelle, 0.9 TwinAir 85 robotisée DFS
Onset
not documented
Repair
€800 to €1,500

Dualogic/DFS robotised gearbox actuator

Severity 1/3 · Annoying

The actuator of the robotised gearbox can become clogged and prevent gear changes. According to the Reliability Index guide, it is often enough to remove and clean it. On the Chrysler UK forum, owners of 2012 TwinAir cars report actuator replacement under warranty (dirt blocking a small piston). CarChecker advises avoiding the robotised version.

Versions
0.9 TwinAir 85 robotisée DFS
Onset
not documented
Repair
not documented

All faults by version and mileage →

Manufacturer recalls

See the official list on RappelConso (new tab) (French government recall site: category “Automobiles et moyens de déplacement”, search “Lancia Ypsilon”). A dealer for the brand can also check, using the vehicle identification number (VIN), that recalls have been carried out.

Real monthly cost

Fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation, excluding finance. Move the slider to match your mileage. How it is calculated

Monthly cost by item
Fuel or electricity€121
Insurance€69
Maintenance€23
Depreciation€55
Total per month€268

⚠ Estimates to treat with caution

  • NEDC consumption (older, more optimistic than WLTP) as no WLTP figure is published: fuel is probably slightly underestimated.
  • Insurance: average for a closely related model (other generation or same platform).
  • Maintenance: published servicing price plus an estimated allowance for tyres and brakes.
  • Depreciation estimated at 12% of the median price a year, as no year-by-year valuation is usable.
Calculation details (12,000 km a year)
Fuel (petrol)€121

1.2 69 manuelle version: combined consumption of 4.9 L/100 km, increased by 15% for real-world driving, at 2.14 €/L, for 1,000 km a month.

4.9 × 1.15 × 2.14 € × 10 = €121

Petrol price (SP95-E10): French national average on 7 October 2026.

Insurance€69

Average monthly premium published for this model by insurance comparison sites (comprehensive cover when stated). Your premium depends on your profile.

Maintenance€23

Servicing and wear parts (tyres, brakes) for 12,000 km a year, per month.

Depreciation€55

Value lost in a year by a typical example, from the valuation gap between two years, per month.

Inspection checklist

Things to check

  • Robotised gearbox: test drive of at least 15 minutes, in town; refuse any jerking, hesitation or gears that do not engage.
  • Check the oil level (TwinAir) and ask for the oil change invoice.
  • Have the fault codes read if the engine warning light has come on (coils).
  • Test the clutch (biting point, vibrations), especially if the car has been driven mainly in town.
  • Recalls: the car-recalls.eu database lists a seatbelt pretensioner recall and an ISOFIX anchorage recall in 2017; have the serial number checked with Lancia.

Questions to ask the seller

  • Has the robotised gearbox or the clutch been repaired or replaced? Do you have the invoices?
  • Do you have invoices for regular oil changes and servicing?
  • Have the manufacturer recalls been carried out?

Test-drive tip: read the fault codes

A warning light that is off proves nothing: a fault may have been cleared just before the viewing. A Bluetooth OBD2 scanner, plugged in under the steering wheel and read on your phone, shows stored codes and whether all emissions readiness tests have run since the last reset.

See OBD2 scanners on Amazon → (new tab)Partner link

Electric or hybrid equivalent

No direct electric or hybrid equivalent in our guides. Simulate combustion vs electric cost

Alternatives

Photo: Harvey Bold, CC BY 4.0

Fiat 500

II · 2007–2024

Buy with care
Price
€5,000 – €16,000
Reliability
3.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Hybrid

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0

Fiat Panda

III · since 2012

Buy with care
Price
€4,500 – €19,000
Reliability
3/5
Fuel types
Petrol, Diesel, Hybrid

Photo: Jakub "flyz1" Maciejewski, CC BY-SA 3.0

Kia Picanto

III · since 2017

Excellent choice
Price
€8,890 – €17,899
Reliability
5/5
Fuel types
Petrol

Photo: Makizox, CC BY-SA 4.0

Hyundai i10

II · 2013–2019

Good choice, check first
Price
€3,900 – €9,100
Reliability
4.5/5
Fuel types
Petrol

Before you buy: check and equip

Check the history

Before paying, check the administrative status (lien, objection, declared claims) and the mileage recorded at the roadworthiness test.

Read fault codes

An OBD scanner plugged in under the steering wheel shows stored fault codes, even with warning lights off: useful during the test drive.

Parts and maintenance

Compare prices of parts for the Lancia Ypsilon III (timing, brakes, filters) to estimate the repairs to plan for.

Insure the car

Insurance prices vary widely from one model to another: get a quote before signing.

Frequently asked questions

Was the 2011 Lancia Ypsilon sold in France?

It was until 2016 (Journal de l'Auto) or 2017 (L'argus); after that, Lancia sold it only on the Italian market. Recent models, such as the hybrid, are therefore imports.

What is the Euro NCAP rating of the 2011 Ypsilon?

Two stars out of five, with 44% for adult occupant protection, 79% for children, 64% for pedestrians and 38% for driver assistance (La Tribune Auto, 2015 test).

How big is the boot?

245 litres according to the technical data sheets from Caroom and Encycarpedia (up to 820 litres with the rear seat folded down for the 1.3 Multijet).

Found a listing?

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