Alfa Romeo MiTo: Feel it? It's hot!

The cult of "Alfa"
Alfa Romeo cannot be chosen with a cool head, weighing all the pros and cons, studying discussion threads on internet forums or meticulously comparing dry acceleration figures with competitors. To be imbued with that very crazy gleam in the eyes of a devoted brand fan, it is enough to get behind the wheel of any model of this legendary Italian brand just once. And after half an hour, when emotions subside and cool down, annoying "buts" start creeping into your head: but the price, but reliability, but our roads…

And yet, the drive these cars deliver in motion is absolutely impossible to forget.

To understand an Alfa fan, it is enough to drive any model of the Italian brand

We first got hooked on this needle back with the 147, reached the limit with the 159, were slightly disappointed with the Brera… And then "Alfa" rolls out a new model — a compact premium-segment hatchback that, with the signature badge featuring a snake devouring, according to legend, a Saracen, simply has no right to be boring. Its name is MiTo, which stands for Milano-Torino, two cities that played a key role in Alfa Romeo's history. This name weaves together the brand's glorious past and its present-day technologies.

Italian school of style
Even in black, the "MiTo" shimmers with some exciting red. It seems like a reduced and softened copy of the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione supercar — primarily thanks to the same peaceful, even slightly surprised cut of the teardrop headlights (unlike the angry "eyes" of the 159 or the squinting gaze of the 147). For a small "Alfa", such a comparison is an incredible compliment! At first glance, the attempt to mold a compact hatchback in the image of a sports car seems dubious, but once you look closely at these lines, it is impossible to tear your eyes away: the recognizable V-shaped radiator grille in the form of a shield, which cannot stand the proximity of a trivial license plate, and the sculpted wheel arches — family traits of a noble automotive lineage.

Even the black MiTo shimmers with a red tint

In profile, the little one unexpectedly stretches out like a string poised in anticipation before ringing in skilled hands, and no longer seems so small. The harmonious image is completed by a taut rear end with round taillights framed in chrome. The MiTo cannot be confused with anything or anyone — the delighted glances and compliments of passersby will not let you forget that.

The aluminum sill plates and pedal covers, as well as logos embroidered with red thread on the seat backs, are a feast for the eyes. The stylish frameless doors open solidly and hospitably — after all, rear passengers will also have to squeeze through the door opening: the frivolously passionate Italians sacrificed the convenience of a five-door version for the beauty of a three-door. In the back, of course, there is no room to stretch out: maximum two people, and even then without much enthusiasm.

And who in their right mind would want to be a passenger in an Alfa Romeo?

The flat and boring center console spoils the impression of the stylish interior

In the MiTo, there is no passionate "embrace" of the driver by the center console as in the 159; here everything is flat and even a bit dull. But the character of a true "Alfa" is felt immediately: a magnificent three-spoke steering wheel in perforated leather, deep instrument binnacles with needles pointing strictly downward, and an ambitiously marked speedometer up to 260 km/h. When you turn the ignition key, the needles — something only Alfa can do! — sharply fly upward, then settle down and again rush toward the limit, while the on-board computer screen shows an animated car beckoning you to hit the road.

The colored plastic resembles carbon fiber in texture

The instrument needles point downward at rest

And this charming Italian spontaneity — they didn't even bother to unify the labels on the instruments! Benzina, Acqua — and indeed, why translate these melodious words into boring Fuel or draw predictable icons? Is their meaning unclear to anyone?

After admiring the driver's "control panel," trying not to linger on the faceless stereo, we easily settle into the almost perfect seat and study the rest of the interior. The colored smooth insert in the upper part of the dashboard, resembling carbon fiber in texture, looks great, but below, the plastic is hard and rather budget. However, the cabin pleases with decent spaciousness and comfort for its class.

The seats offer sporty comfort

In the back, there is only room for two, and not for long

But then again, are the stereo and plastic what should matter in a car with the Alfa Romeo badge on the hood? Its element is motion.

Pure emotion
The MiTo is based on the platform of the Fiat Grande Punto hatchback, which is considered one of the most successful, but with stiffer shock absorbers and a reduced steering gear ratio. The compact is offered only with a "manual," and that's great — because the Alfa's manual gearbox seems designed for the sheer pleasure of shifting gears while racking up kilometers on the odometer. The lever throws could be shorter, and the clutch less long-travel and stiff, but somehow after just half a minute it seems everything is so perfect, so tailored personally to you, that it couldn't be any other way. It is easy to forgive "Alfa" any whims.

Alfa Romeo MiTo seems drawn from the 8C Competizione sports car

Under the hood of the test car hid, at first glance, an unremarkable petrol engine with a displacement of 1.4 liters, but with turbocharging, producing 155 horsepower. In the first moments after pressing the gas pedal, don't expect a sharp jerk – modern environmental requirements have stifled the excitement in almost all new cars. However, as soon as the tachometer needle crosses the 2500 rpm mark, the turbine comes into play, and the hatchback seems to break free from an invisible leash, with a velvety growl emanating from under the hood that sends shivers down your spine.

But you don't have time to enjoy the engine's song before the rolling impacts of the suspension burst into this duet. The MiTo absolutely cannot handle uneven surfaces: whether it's tram rails or a barely noticeable pothole in the asphalt, and on speed bumps the car even bounces. At the same time, the Italian's handling is phenomenal: it seems to anticipate the driver's thoughts, enters corners as if glued, and holds the trajectory firmly. But as soon as you hit a country highway riddled with potholes and "waves," this little one can give you a heart attack.

Although, you must admit, hardly anyone would go mushroom picking in a sporty city hatchback. So let's just switch to the mode with the modest letter D.

Piccolo Diavolo Italiano
Under the central tunnel, there's a barely noticeable switch with the designations N (Normal), A (All-weather), and D (Dynamic). Just move it to position D, and a real Alfa celebration begins.

Dynamic mode noticeably changes all vehicle settings

This mode radically reconfigures the operation of all systems – from the gas pedal and suspension to the steering and electronic stability control, and the torque jumps to a maximum of 230 Nm. At that moment, everything else loses its meaning: the scenery outside the window, the impacts from road irregularities, the music. All that remains is the intoxication of complete fusion with the car. The "Alfa" cannot be praised simply for understanding the driver – in motion, it becomes a physical extension of them. You want only one thing: for the corners never to end, to enter them without the slightest roll at an ecstatically dangerous speed, steering with the short and heavy-at-speed wheel, adding gas on the exit and feeling with every cell of your body how the wheels grip the asphalt. The "MiTo" is ready to accelerate from any speed and in any gear. And in just a year, they promise the appearance of a "hot" version of the MiTo GTA with a 1.8-liter turbo engine producing 230 hp…

The car flies along the road as if glued, but any pothole can give you a heart attack

3G Generation
Still, the MiTo is a new-generation car, and in it, whether we like it or not, in addition to handling and dynamics, the richness of electronics is of great importance. Here you have a USB port and external media connector, marked with the familiar Windows flag, and Bluetooth – and all of this can be controlled directly from the steering wheel, as well as voice control for the stereo. Sound insulation is at a decent level, and the audio system's sound is pleasing. Among the pleasant little touches that you quickly get used to and begin to consider necessary, it's worth noting the door lighting, which illuminates the exit from the car in the dark. The MiTo has no separate "parking lights" – when you start the engine, the headlights come on immediately, which is a safety requirement in European countries and will become mandatory from 2012.

The trunk and glove box are unlikely to impress anyone – their volumes are quite modest. There aren't many places for storing small items in the cabin either: Alfa Romeo is the antonym of the word "practicality." Visibility when parking is not the MiTo's strong point, but thanks to its compact dimensions (length – 4063 mm, width – 1721 mm), this doesn't create particular problems; you just need to get used to the size of the rear. Caution should also be exercised with the front – the low bumper doesn't allow parking close to curbs.

The trunk volume is 270 liters

According to the official data, in the city cycle the car should consume 8.5 liters per 100 km, but the on-board computer readings never dropped below 13 liters.

On the Russian market, a serious drawback of the MiTo could be the lack of an "automatic" transmission, which, unlike European drivers, is often preferred by buyers here, especially women. True, in a year they promise to start production of versions with a robotic gearbox with dual clutches.

The Price of Pleasure
Alfa Romeo still remains a car for true connoisseurs, and not poor ones, and the relatively affordable and compact "MiTo" is no exception. Few are ready to pay more than a million rubles for a hatchback. And the price of the MiTo starts at an immodest 1,036,282 rubles for the base version with a 1.4-liter engine and can exceed 1,200,000 rubles. In addition to the high price, for the pleasure of driving an Alfa you'll have to pay with a stiff suspension, relative cabin tightness, and a small trunk. However, this doesn't hinder the popularity of the MINI Cooper, with which everyone constantly compares the Italian baby. Although, perhaps, it's not worth putting them on the same level: after test-driving both models, everyone can easily make their choice, because the cars, despite being positioned in the same premium-compact class, have completely different characters.

Those who choose the MiTo will have to decide between two trim levels: Energy (from 23,700 euros, or 1,036,282.50 rubles) and Move (24,700 euros, or 1,080,007.50 rubles). The base equipment includes electric windows, 16-inch alloy wheels, electric power steering, as many as 7 airbags, including a driver's knee airbag, the VDC + Q2Electronic dynamic stability control system, an on-board computer, electric adjustment and heating of side mirrors, fog lights, headlight washers, heated front seats, and an alcohol sensor. For an additional fee, available options include a CD stereo, tinted windows, leather seat upholstery, bi-xenon headlights, heated windshield, power sunroof, cruise control, sport pedal covers, navigation, parking sensors, phone and audio system controls on the steering wheel, and other options that can further increase the cost of the car. However, if your heart already belongs to the "Alfa," money ceases to matter…

Svetlana Aleeva