Alfa Romeo Mito Review
COMPACT ITALIAN CHARISMA, OR STYLE OVER SUBSTANCE?
Say what you want about Alfas- but few brands provoke as much passion.
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There is something undeniably magnetic about an Alfa Romeo. Even the smallest among them, the MiTo, carries that romantic weight of the badge.
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Launched in 2008 and given a mild facelift in 2016, the MiTo was Alfa's attempt to bottle Italian flair into a supermini- aimed squarely at style-conscious urbanites. I can safely say I am not style-conscious, nor an urbanite but I bought one anyway.
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I have owned my MiTo now for two years and I love it. It is a face-lifted 2017 1.4-litre TB MultiAir Super TCT in red. It has seen both daily commutes and b-road Sunday blasts. Whenever I am in it, there is always someone looking at it, and when another MiTo is coming the other way (which is not often), a little wave is always approvingly accepted, as if I am part of some exclusive club.
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It is certainly a car that stands out, but is there any substance behind its character?
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EXTERIOR:
Nearly two decades after it was originally launched in 2008, the MiTo still turns heads. Alfa's signature shield grille and teardrop headlights inject the little hatch with a coupe-like charisma few others manage. Despite strong competition from rivals such as the MINI and Fiat 500, the MiTo seems to avoid their 'cute retro' styling, taking a more aggressive and striking bent.
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Its shortened proportions and kicked-up back end may divide opinion, but there is no mistaking it for anything else on the road.
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The car is optioned with Alfa's iconic teledial wheel design optioned in graphite grey. The scudetto grille and offset number plate nod unapologetically to the 8C Competizione- hardly a bad starting point. Against today's increasingly homogenous hatchbacks, it's a rare splash of personality.
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INTERIOR:
Step inside, and the MiTo's Cockpit aims for sporty intent with a mix of circular vents, hooded dials, and bolstered seats. The flat-bottomed steering wheel and aluminium pedals are nice touches on the Sport trim. Surprisingly for an Alfa, it does feel well screwed together and solid feeling. However, hard plastics in most places including on the dashboard, let the side down and remind you that this is ultimately a small, cheap hatchback. The MINI wins on the interior quality front. The fake carbon fibre on the dash is a nice touch though- even if it looks like an afterthought.
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Space-wise, its a mixed bag. Front occupants are treated fairly well with good legroom for the passenger specifically. But the rear bench is tight and due to small, high rear windows, can feel claustrophobic.
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The boot space is decent at 270 litres, similar to its rivals, but a high load lip means that loading heavy items can be a struggle.
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Infotainment is the Fiat groups Uconnect system on a 5-inch screen. By modern standards, it feels small, but for the size and age of the car is acceptable, and responds fairly quickly to your fingers. On my car, it covers the basics of bluetooth, audio streaming and trip computer information. Navigation was available, but as an optional extra on all trims except the top Veloce which was standard.
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DRIVING:
Where the MiTo begins to justify its badge is from behind the wheel. The 1.4-litre MultiAir Turbo unit in my car delivers 140bhp through a 6-speed Twin Clutch Transmission (TCT), Alfa's version of a dual-clutch. It's quick shifting, if a little jerky at lower speeds, but smooths out the faster you drive. Especially, when put in 'Dynamic' mode, it has impressive pull for a small hatchback.
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Speaking of which, the DNA system- offering Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather modes, actually makes a noticeable difference. In Dynamic, throttle response sharpens, the steering weights up, and it holds each gear for longer.
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The steering is quick, if a little light and devoid of road feel when compared to the Ford Fiesta.
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Grip levels are decent, though ride quality suffers slightly on larger wheels.
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On smoother roads, it flows well, and there is genuine enjoyment to be had around tight corners.
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Around town, the MiTo is compact enough to dart around traffic, but the ride does feel firm and unsettled over broken surfaces. On the motorway, it cruises with more stability than its size would suggest, though high levels of wind and road noise do intrude into the cabin. The 6-speed TCT has very short gears, so engine noise is high at 70 mph.
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RUNNING COSTS AND OWNERSHIP:
Despite its sporting credentials, the MiTo isn't too hard on the wallet. On average, I am getting 43 mpg, in both urban and extra urban driving.
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Servicing is fairly priced and parts are generally available and easy to come by, as it shares many of its components with other Fiat group models. However, being an Alfa, it isn't the most reliable car in the world, with electrical glitches being a common issue.
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LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT?
At the end of the day, its down to this; the MiTo is less about cold specs and more about the emotional payoff. It's not the most practical, refined, or cutting-edge supermini. To some, it may not even be the best looking- but it has soul and character that most modern cars simply do not have.
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The ride borders on harsh, the cabin materials don't shout quality, and if you're looking for a refined, Germanic tank, this isn't for you. But if you see it for the first time and say to yourself, 'I like the look of that' with a big sigh- then its the car for you.
After all, you don't buy an Alfa with your head, but with your heart.