Lancia Delta

Which Lancia Delta Version Should You Buy?

The best Lancia Delta version depends on whether the priority is performance, economy, transmission choice, or the character of a particular generation.

The best Lancia Delta version depends on whether the priority is performance, economy, transmission choice, or the character of a particular generation. Across the data, the Delta appears in four generation entries: the first-generation Mini 5-doors from 1979–1994, the second-generation Mini 5-doors from 1993–1999, and the third-generation Hatchback 5-door from 2008–2011, followed by its 2011–2014 restyling. The first generation offers the quickest recorded acceleration, the second combines lighter kerb weights with both naturally aspirated and turbo engines, and the third provides the broadest choice of Gasoline and Diesel engines with 6-speed transmissions. Buyers searching for Lancia Delta Integrale, HF Integrale, Evo, S4, rally, price, or for-sale information should note that those labels, prices, and sales listings are not identified in the supplied specifications; the comparisons below therefore use only the recorded version names and figures.

Lancia Delta generations: what changed?

The first generation, produced from 1979 to 1994, is listed as a Mini 5-doors with 13 modifications, of which 12 are shown. Its range begins with the 1.3 MT at 75 hp and extends to several 2.0 MT variants with as much as 215 hp. Most versions are FWD, while the 165 hp, 185 hp, 200 hp, 210 hp, and 215 hp 2.0 MT versions use AWD. Every listed first-generation version has a 5-speed Manual gearbox, a 57-litre tank, 155 mm of ground clearance, independent spring front suspension, independent spring rear suspension, and disc brakes at both ends.

The second generation ran from 1993 to 1999 and is also classified as a Mini 5-doors, with 10 listed modifications. Every version is FWD with a 5-speed Manual gearbox. Outputs range from 75 hp in one 1.6 MT to 193 hp in the strongest 2.0 MT. Compared with the first generation, the second-generation range has no listed AWD alternative. Recorded kerb weights span 1,102–1,310 kg where measured, the tank holds 51 litres, and ground clearance is 150 mm where measured.

The third-generation Hatchback 5-door ran from 2008 to 2011 with eight versions. It introduced a range composed entirely of turbocharged engines in the supplied data, plus 6-speed Manual, Robotic, and Automatic transmissions. All versions are FWD. Power runs from 120 hp to 200 hp, while recorded combined consumption ranges from 4.6 to 7.8 l/100 km.

The third-generation restyling ran from 2011 to 2014, retained the Hatchback 5-door body and again offered eight versions. It added the 105 hp 1.6 MT to the recorded selection while retaining the 120 hp and 140 hp 1.4 MT, the 120 hp Diesel choices, the 190 hp 1.9 MT, the 165 hp 2.0 MT, and the 200 hp 1.7 AT. Ground clearance is recorded at 130 mm and tank capacity rises from the pre-restyling model’s 45 litres to 57 litres, a difference of 12 litres.

Lancia Delta engine specs

Duplicate version names are distinguished by power because their specifications differ.

Power per litre highlights the strongest specific outputs. The first-generation 215 hp 2.0 MT produces approximately 107.8 hp per litre, while the third-generation 200 hp 1.7 AT reaches approximately 114.8 hp per litre. The pre-restyling 150 hp 1.4 MT is higher still at approximately 109.6 hp per litre than either third-generation 1.4 MT alternative retained after restyling: approximately 102.3 hp per litre for the 140 hp version and 87.7 hp per litre for the 120 hp version.

Performance, fuel economy, and mpg-related figures

For maximum recorded acceleration, the first-generation 210 hp 2.0 MT is the clear choice: it reaches 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and has a top speed of 220 km/h. That is 0.3 seconds quicker than the 200 hp 2.0 MT, 0.9 seconds quicker than the 185 hp 2.0 MT, and 2.1 seconds quicker than the 165 hp 2.0 MT. Acceleration for the 215 hp 2.0 MT is not measured, and its top speed is not measured, so the data cannot establish whether it is faster.

Within the second generation, both the 186 hp and 193 hp 2.0 MT reach 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and 220 km/h. The extra 7 hp therefore brings no recorded improvement in those two performance measurements. The 131 hp 1.8 MT takes 9.4 seconds and reaches 200 km/h, while the 139 hp 2.0 MT takes 9.6 seconds and reaches 206 km/h. For the 103 hp 1.8 MT, acceleration and top speed are not measured.

In the third generation, the 200 hp 1.7 AT is quickest to 100 km/h at 7.4 seconds and fastest at 230 km/h. The 190 hp 1.9 MT follows at 7.9 seconds and 222 km/h. The 165 hp 2.0 MT records 8.5 seconds and 212 km/h. Among the 1.4 MT versions, the pre-restyling 150 hp model records 8.7 seconds and 210 km/h; the 140 hp model takes 9.2 seconds and reaches 203 km/h; the 120 hp model takes 9.8 seconds and reaches 192 km/h.

The economy choice is the 120 hp 1.6 DSG, rated at 5.7 l/100 km urban, 3.9 l/100 km extra-urban, and 4.6 l/100 km combined in both third-generation periods. The 120 hp 1.6 MT uses 6.1, 4.2, and 4.9 l/100 km respectively. Choosing the Robotic version therefore reduces the recorded combined figure by 0.3 l/100 km without changing the 120 hp output or 300 Nm torque, although its top speed is 194 km/h rather than 195 km/h.

The 190 hp 1.9 MT combines 7.3 l/100 km urban, 4.7 l/100 km extra-urban, and 5.7 l/100 km combined with 400 Nm. The 200 hp 1.7 AT uses 11.1, 5.9, and 7.8 l/100 km respectively. It gains 10 hp over the 1.9 MT and cuts acceleration by 0.5 seconds, but uses 2.1 l/100 km more on the combined figure.

For the restyled 105 hp 1.6 MT, urban, extra-urban, and combined consumption are not measured. Most first-generation economy figures are also not measured. In the second generation, consumption is not measured for every version except the 193 hp 2.0 MT, which records 14.6 l/100 km urban, 8 l/100 km extra-urban, and 10.4 l/100 km combined.

Lancia Delta weight, dimensions, and capacity

Overall exterior length, width, height, and wheel sizes are not measured for any listed version, so a numerical Lancia Delta dimensions or size comparison cannot be made from these data.

First-generation kerb and gross weights are not measured. All shown first-generation versions have 155 mm ground clearance and a 57-litre tank. Second-generation ground clearance is 150 mm where measured, 5 mm less than the first generation, and its 51-litre tank is 6 litres smaller.

The lightest measured second-generation car is the 103 hp 1.8 MT at 1,102 kg, giving approximately 10.7 kg per hp. The 75 hp 1.6 MT weighs 1,130 kg, or approximately 15.1 kg per hp. The 186 hp 2.0 MT weighs 1,310 kg, or approximately 7.0 kg per hp. Kerb and gross weights for the 193 hp 2.0 MT are not measured.

Among the third-generation versions, the 140 hp 1.4 MT is lightest at 1,320 kg, or approximately 9.4 kg per hp. The 120 hp 1.4 MT weighs 1,395 kg, or approximately 11.6 kg per hp. The 120 hp 1.6 MT and 1.6 DSG each weigh 1,485 kg, while the 190 hp 1.9 MT, 165 hp 2.0 MT, and 200 hp 1.7 AT each weigh 1,505 kg. Their respective weight-to-power ratios are approximately 7.9, 9.1, and 7.5 kg per hp. Restyled models have 130 mm ground clearance; pre-restyling clearance is not measured.

Which Lancia Delta version should you choose?

Choose the first-generation 210 hp 2.0 MT if the deciding figures are AWD and the quickest measured acceleration. Its 5.7-second result is the best in the data, while its 210 hp is 45 hp above the 165 hp AWD 2.0 MT. Choose the 215 hp 2.0 MT if maximum listed output and torque matter more: it has 215 hp and 314 Nm, but acceleration and top speed are not measured.

Choose the second-generation 186 hp 2.0 MT over the 193 hp 2.0 MT when judging only by measured acceleration and speed: both record 7.5 seconds to 100 km/h and 220 km/h, while the 186 hp car also has a measured 1,310 kg kerb weight. The 193 hp alternative’s weight is not measured. For lower output and lower measured weight, the 103 hp 1.8 MT at 1,102 kg is the lightest documented option.

For third-generation fuel economy, choose the 120 hp 1.6 DSG. It matches the 120 hp 1.6 MT for power, torque, displacement, and 10.7-second acceleration, but its 4.6 l/100 km combined consumption is 0.3 l/100 km lower. For a Manual Diesel with substantially stronger performance, the 190 hp 1.9 MT supplies 100 hp per litre, 400 Nm, a 7.9-second acceleration time, and 5.7 l/100 km combined consumption.

Choose the 200 hp 1.7 AT when an Automatic transmission and maximum third-generation performance are the priorities. It has the highest third-generation output, the fastest third-generation acceleration, and the highest third-generation top speed, although its 7.8 l/100 km combined consumption is also the highest recorded in that generation.

For a Gasoline Manual compromise, the pre-restyling 150 hp 1.4 MT is the strongest and quickest 1.4-litre choice at 8.7 seconds and 210 km/h. If selecting from the restyled range, the 140 hp 1.4 MT is preferable to the 120 hp 1.4 MT for performance and economy: it adds 20 hp and 24 Nm, cuts the acceleration time by 0.6 seconds, raises top speed by 11 km/h, and lowers combined consumption from 6.6 to 5.7 l/100 km. Without price data, however, no version can be judged on purchase value or the extra money it costs.