Chrysler’s stylish little city car

The Chrysler Ypsilon is a cute little city car

If you’re in the market for a city car that will really stand out in the looks department and is a fun little drive then you should check out the Chrysler Ypsilon.

The baby of the Chrysler family is a really distinctive looking car, especially the front grille, and the model I was driving also came with a glass sunroof.

The Ypsilon’s lineage as a cousin of both the Jeep and the Fiat is really evident in its styling. It carries the hidden handles in the rear doors of the Jeep (many people think its actually a 3 door), and inside, the glossy black surround bears more than a passing resemblance to its Fiat 500 and Punto cousins.

While a design hit, the centre location for the instrument panel didn’t impress from a driver perspective

One of the most striking things you’ll notice when you sit into the car is that there is no instrument panel directly in front of the driver, the dials instead are housed in a pop-up looking casing in the centre of the dashboard.

While styling-wise the instrument panel was a hit, as a driver, I didn’t like my eye to be taken so far off the road to check the essentials, especially as the Sat Nav was to my right. You do get used to it though.

With its large front windows and glass roof, the Ypsilon feels bigger inside than it looks and leg room is adequate both back and front.

Head height in the back could be a problem for taller people though. It can seat four adults comfortably. The boot is adequate for a car of its size and extra luggage space can be created by lowering the rear seats.

The model I was driving featured Stop and Start technology, cruise control, parking sensors, back and front, Bluetooth and USB, conveniently located in a spot where it’s easy to access. The car I was driving also parks itself (€870 optional extra).

The Ypsilon offered a lovely high driving position, with the back seats higher again, almost tiered.

The five speed manual 1.2l model I was testing had a lovely feel to it and was much peppier than I expected it to be. While it took its time to get to 120kph on the motorway, it had no problem cruising at the speed.

My magical mystery tour also took me up the steep hills of South County Dublin and the Ypsilon handled these with absolutely no problem.

Overall, I was very impressed with the drive the Ypsilon had to offer and really loved taking it for spin.

The glass roof was an expensive extra at €1,100 but worth it if you have the cash to spare. A two-tone paint option is also available at €1,100.

The Chrysler Ypsilon is available from €14,245.

Tech Spec.
Engine: 1.2 69hp petrol
Acceleration: 0-100km/h in 14.5seconds
Top speed: 163km/h
Combined Fuel Consumption: 4.9l/100km
CO2 Emissions: 115g/km
Annual road tax: €160 (Band A)
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Luggage capacity: 245l

A version of this article first appeared in Metro Herald