The Alfa Romeo Junior has arrived, and before you assume otherwise, it’s not a tiny city car meant to replace the MiTo supermini – remember that model?
Surprisingly, it’s an SUV, and although it falls on the smaller side of sport-utility vehicles, its sporty nature could position it as a modern rival to traditional hot hatchbacks.
Originally named the Milano (which caused some discontent among Italians since it’s manufactured in Poland), the Junior is an all-new, all-electric model available in three trim levels.
The entry-level Elettrica features 18-inch diamond-cut aero wheels, a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB radio, automatic climate control, keyless entry and start, fabric seats, a heat pump, and rain-sensing wipers.
Additionally, it includes eight-colour ambient lighting, LED headlights, LED taillights, and a synthetic leather steering wheel.
The mid-range Elettrica Speciale comes equipped with satellite navigation, a leather steering wheel, a hands-free powered tailgate, premium heated front seats with lumbar support and power adjustments, as well as a massage system for the driver and sports pedals. It also features ambient lighting, dark-tinted rear windows, and a sporty styling kit.
The top-tier model, the Elettrica Veloce, boasts 20-inch wheels with performance tires, a black roof, premium heated seats, sports pedals, door sill kick plates, sporty styling, and red front brake callipers.
The first two trims come with a 156PS electric motor and front-wheel drive, while the Elettrica Veloce model has a more powerful 280PS in the same configuration.
While Alfa Romeo is no stranger to building SUVs – having previously released the Stelvio and Tonale – the Junior has a distinct appearance, especially from the front.
If you look closely, the upper half of the front end resembles the Alfa Romeo SZ, featuring a 3+3 headlight setup, albeit in a flatter design compared to the 1990s model. The bodywork is shaped to incorporate the iconic Alfa shield grille, which features a carved-out cut-out for Alfa’s logo. Beneath the shield sits a large lower grille with an aggressive front splitter.
From the side, the wheels appear large, and the car has ample cladding. The rear light arrangement is contained within a horizontal LED light bar below the rear window, giving the impression of a spoiler.
Inside, the cabin design is impressive, showcasing a robust steering wheel with a silver lower spoke and a sleek centre console control layout, accented with silver trim, including the engine start/stop button at the top.
The air vents are positioned at the top of the dashboard, above the 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, while larger, rounded air vents on either side resemble jet engines.
The infotainment screen is slightly angled toward the driver and sits within a prominent unit embedded in the dashboard. While it has sharp and attractive graphics, the screen we tested could have been more responsive. Fortunately, there are physical controls beneath it for adjusting the air conditioning.
Although the interior is stylish, some materials feel somewhat cheap, as there are many hard plastics visible throughout the cabin.
With 156PS available, the Elettrica Speciale can accelerate from 0 to 62mph in 9.0 seconds, which is decent but not exceptionally quick.
It’s also relatively lightweight, about 25% lighter than some competitors, which aids agility when cornering. Body lean is well-managed, and the steering feels precise and light, yet it firms up nicely in corners and offers good feedback.
However, ride comfort isn’t stellar – there are more comfortable alternatives available – but since Alfa Romeos are typically designed for agility rather than comfort, this is not entirely unexpected. Nevertheless, the comfort level is not a deal-breaker.
Overall, the Junior is a fun car to drive, although there’s a sense that it’s holding back a little.
The true performance spirit of Alfa Romeo shines through in the Veloce version. With a significantly quicker 0-62mph time of around 6.0 seconds, this model exemplifies what an Alfa Romeo should be.
Hearts, not heads, are what drive people to buy or lease Alfa Romeos. The Junior model not only boasts an additional 124PS but is also lowered, features a widened track, and has a stiffer suspension setup. It comes with larger brake discs, bigger alloys, and a Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential.
While the Elettrica and Elettrica Speciale versions are decent, they don’t quite offer the sense of occasion that typical Alfa Romeo owners seek. The lower models are fine, but the upgrades on the Veloce are well worth it for those who are more enthusiastic about driving.
Despite being an SUV, the driving position in the Junior is relatively low, which makes it feel sportier and more akin to a hatchback.
Visibility out of the front is good, thanks to reasonably thin windscreen pillars. However, the rear visibility is hampered by large rear pillars due to the tapering windows and bulging bodywork. Fortunately, all versions come with rear parking sensors as standard, and the mid-range Elettrica Speciale trim also includes a rear-view camera.
There’s ample legroom and headroom in the front for taller drivers, but the back seat could be more generous. The sloped roofline reduces rear headroom over time, and legroom is less spacious compared with some competitors. Additionally, the Junior has a hump on the floor, which middle-seat passengers will have to straddle. The slim seats do provide reasonable knee room for rear passengers, but fitting three adults in the back will be tight unless they are all lean.
The cabin offers respectable storage space, with reasonably sized door bins, a generous glove compartment, and a storage tray beneath the dashboard.
The boot space is substantial for the Junior’s class, measuring 400 litres, which expands to 1,265 litres when the rear seats are folded down. However, the rear seats only fold in a 60:40 split, which is fairly typical for most small SUVs.
Overall, the situation isn’t bad, but some rivals may be more practical for daily use. Many competitors are part of the Stellantis conglomerate, which includes 14 car brands – Alfa Romeo, Vauxhall, and Peugeot, to name a few. Alternatives to the Junior include the Vauxhall Mokka, Jeep Avenger, and Peugeot e-2008. Outside of Stellantis, competitors like the Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV, MINI Aceman, and even BYD Atto could also be considered.
With no petrol, diesel, or carbon emissions, the Junior’s running costs should be very low.
Zero emissions mean it will be treated favourably for Benefit In Kind tax, which will be advantageous for potential company car users.
The Junior is equipped with a 54kWh (50.8kWh usable) battery, with a claimed range of 255 miles. However, this drops to 215 miles in the Elettrica Veloce version.
Though its maximum charging speed is relatively slow by modern standards, the 100kW charging rate is still adequate for a 10-80% top-up in under half an hour.
A home 7kW wall box can perform a full recharge (0-100%) in about eight and a quarter hours, although all but the entry-level trim support up to 11kW home charging speeds.
Currently, Alfa Romeo is including a standard home wall box charger and installation, which is valued at up to £1,000.
Historically, reliability has been Alfa Romeo’s biggest weakness, but this could change with the manufacturer’s first all-electric car.
You’ll be pleased to know it comes backed by a three-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, while the battery receives its own separate guarantee for eight years or 100,000 miles.
Overall, the Alfa Romeo Junior is an appealing buy – or lease.
It is enjoyable to drive and offers superior handling compared to many similarly priced rivals. As with all Alfa Romeos, the Junior is also visually striking and provides a large boot for a small SUV.
However, some competitors do offer more spacious cabins and better interior materials, and the Junior’s range and charging speeds may not measure up to several rivals.
If you value the driving experience, handling, and performance, the potent Veloce version may be the ideal choice for you. If you’re willing to overlook the Junior’s downsides, you might as well enjoy everything that this new Alfa has to offer.
Regardless of the version you choose, you’ll always make a statement. Alfa Romeos are incredibly pleasing to the eye, so none of the Junior’s minor issues will likely matter to you – or anyone else – in the end.
We are back to the idea of hearts over heads again.
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