Alfa Romeo’s Junior Has Some Appeal, But It’s Not The Smart Choice | Review | Carscoops

We can all agree that Alfa Romeo is a grasp of design. Over the many years, the Italian firm has penned some incredible-looking vehicles, however typically, the attraction of its cheaper automobiles drops when you get behind the wheel.

Launching right into a market dominated by automobiles just like the Hyundai Kona, Jeep Avenger, Lexus LBX, Audi Q2, and others, the Alfa Romeo Junior can’t rely solely on its putting seems to be to succeed. It has to drive nicely and make monetary sense.

So does it try this? To discover out, we just lately examined the mild-hybrid model of the Junior, often known as the Ibrida, for every week. In some ways, we discovered it to be a matter of favor over substance.

QUICK FACTS

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When it was first launched in April 2024, the Alfa Romeo Junior was briefly often known as the Milano. However, the Italian authorities rapidly expressed disapproval of the identify, noting that calling it the Milano was truly unlawful, because it’s in-built Poland, not Italy. A few days later, Alfa Romeo renamed it the Junior.

This pint-sized SUV is a vital mannequin for the Italian model. The all-electric model, often known as the Elettrica, is the corporate’s first-ever EV. Those not involved in proudly owning an EV may buy the mild-hybrid Junior Ibrida. In Australia, the hybrid mannequin considerably undercuts the EV, beginning at AU$45,900 (US$32,000) plus on-road prices, nicely below the AU$57,900 (US$40,300) beginning worth of the Elettrica.

The hybrid mannequin depends on a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine rated at a fairly disappointing 100 kW (134 hp) and 230 Nm (170 lb-ft). of torque. A small electrical motor will increase mixed energy as much as 107 kW (143 hp). Working alongside the 1.2-liter engine is a six-speed dual-clutch transmission driving the entrance wheels.

A Fresh But Cheap Cabin

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There’s no denying the Junior’s cabin has loads of character, though it doesn’t really feel as premium as one thing like a Lexus LBX.

As you’d count on from a contemporary Alfa Romeo, the digital gauge cluster is roofed by a beautiful curvaceous shroud, giving the cockpit a barely retro really feel, which I actually appreciated. After all, so many vehicles these days have small screens for the cluster after which a naked dashboard, which isn’t significantly attention-grabbing.

Elsewhere, the steering wheel is trimmed in beautiful soft-touch black leather-based and fitted into the middle of the dashboard is a ten.25-inch infotainment show. This display is a bit of smaller than some SUVs on this class, however it fits the general design of the inside very nicely.

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The software program used is acquainted to different Stellantis merchandise, although not as complete or as intuitive as what you’ll discover in a Jeep, for instance. The automobile we examined additionally had a fairly weird quirk. If I entered the settings menu, there was no again button to convey me again to the house display, nor any shortcut to re-open Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As a end result, if I opened the settings, I used to be solely capable of return to the primary menu by turning the Alfa off after which again on.

Read: Alfa Romeo’s Smallest SUV Lands Just Across America’s Borders

This being an Alfa Romeo, the quirks didn’t cease there. On a number of events once I hopped into the motive force’s seat, the automobile didn’t detect the important thing, though it was in my hand. I additionally discovered it fairly odd that fairly than merely urgent the engine Start/Stop change to show the Junior on or off, as with just about each different automobile in the marketplace, it’s important to maintain down the Start/Stop button for just a few seconds. Not an enormous difficulty, after all, however it’s odd.

There are loads of small design touches I appreciated. For instance, I appreciated the small, round tweeter audio system poking out from the A-pillars, in addition to the spherical air vents that incorporate illuminated logos that change colour relying on the ambient lighting settings. The sporty seats with purple stripes and a therapeutic massage perform for the motive force had been additionally a pleasant contact.

Alfa Romeo deserves applause for holding the Junior’s cabin filled with buttons, together with a great deal of climate-control toggles positioned instantly below the central display. Visibility is sweet too, and from behind the wheel, the Alfa has a way of sportiness which isn’t current in all of its opponents.

The rear seats are tight, significantly headroom, not that this comes as any shock given the Junior’s compact dimensions. The rear isn’t well-suited for adults, however it will likely be simply nice for… juniors. Working within the Junior’s favor is the truth that rear cargo house is sort of respectable at 415 liters (14.6 cubic ft) with the second-row seats in place.

How Does It Drive?

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Alfa Romeos have all the time been characterful to drive, and the Junior is not any completely different. However, it lacks among the class and refinement of its opponents and can largely attraction to those that are prepared to sacrifice some sophistication for fashion.

The Junior Ibrida’s much less fascinating traits might be traced again to the powertrain. Small-capacity three-cylinder engines are inclined to really feel a bit of strained below energy, and Alfa Romeo’s 1.2-liter unit is not any completely different. It feels a bit of tough, and the hybrid set-up didn’t easy issues out as a lot as I’d have appreciated. The transmission from all-electric energy at low speeds to combustion energy can be a bit of abrupt.

The six-speed dual-clutch transmission additionally leaves a bit of to be desired. Even although the Junior is new, the DCT appears like one thing you’d anticipate finding in a 10-year-old automobile. At low speeds it’s jerky, and I’m positive that if Alfa Romeo had invested extra money and time into the transmission, it may have been improved.

Read: Alfa Romeo Says Oops, Junior Veloce EV Makes 278 HP Not 237 HP

Outright efficiency is nothing to write down dwelling about, with the run to 100 km/h (62 mph) taking 8.9 seconds. However, it’s satisfactory for on a regular basis motoring.

Despite the powertrain’s quirks, particularly at low speeds, the Junior Ibrida does have lots going for it. Alfa Romeo is aware of a factor or two about perfecting the steering really feel of a automobile, because it’s executed with the Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio fashions. It’s executed the identical with its child SUV, serving to it really feel nimble and light-weight on its ft, whereas nonetheless providing loads of suggestions as to what’s happening below the entrance wheels.

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The SUV’s suspension setup helps its dynamic dealing with credentials. Those in search of an ultra-premium, plush experience could also be disenchanted, as that’s not what the Junior delivers. Instead, it’s reasonably agency however is way from harsh. The experience provides the Alfa Romeo a way of surety on the highway, doing a strong job of holding roll and extra physique actions in examine.

The Junior comes with loads of security methods. These embrace an energetic lane centering system with site visitors jam help and radar cruise management. This set-up works comparatively nicely, though there have been just a few events when the Alfa overpassed clearly marked strains, forcing me to take over management.

Like so many different new vehicles, it additionally features a velocity restrict warning system that’ll ring each time you exceed the velocity restrict, even by solely 2 km/h (1 mph) for a few seconds. Fortunately, the delicate tone emitted as a warning isn’t as annoying as among the loud beeps from different automobiles with comparable warning methods.

Verdict

Jeremy Clarkson as soon as famously mentioned you’re not a correct petrolhead until you’ve owned an Alfa Romeo. While I don’t agree with him on that, there’s no denying that vehicles from the Italian model have a novel allure that makes them stand out from the competitors.

The mild-hybrid Junior might be as far eliminated as possible from the Alfa Romeos that Clarkson has fawned over for many years, but it nonetheless retains a few of that acquainted Alfa Romeo DNA. The rational thinkers amongst us will in all probability understand that for the cash, there are higher choices on the market, significantly when you want a automobile that you may drive and depend on day after day. But for emotional thinkers, the Junior delivers one thing distinctive in what’s oftentimes a cookie-cutter class.

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