Introduction
The BMW MINI is so synonymous with being premium and expensive (regardless of the fact there's one on every street) that whenever a small car with a little bit of flair comes along it's hailed as the next 'MINI killer'. This Alfa seems the perfect MINI killer too, because it's practical and cheaper to buy while having a genuine whiff of prestige. Most MINI rivals are cheaper to buy, granted, but until now none have worn an Alfa badge. And that counts for a lot.
What are its rivals?
Discounting the obvious (which for those who skipped the introduction is the MINI), the MiTo finds another in-house rival in the form of the Fiat 500, despite the fact it actually shares its underpinnings with the bigger Fiat Punto. There's also the Ford Ka to consider, and shortly there'll be the Citroen DS3. Essentially, the MiTo is for anyone that considers him or herself moderately stylish, and doesn't care too much about what's going on behind the front seats - as long as there's something there.
How does it drive?
In two very distinct ways. Every MiTo gets a three-way toggle switch called 'D.N.A.', so called because the modes it offers are dynamic, normal and all-weather, but also because flicking between them changes the character of the car. You'll note there are three modes yet we said it drives in only two distinct ways, and that's because the all-weather mode is specific to inclement conditions; really, you'll be switching between D and N most of the time.
The difference between dynamic and normal modes is determined by the steering, suspension, throttle, engine management and traction control settings, all of which are tightened up or loosened off depending on what would make them sportier. What you get, then, is a quite dramatic change when flicking from N to D, taking the car from being a quite supple, almost docile supermini to a hot hatch. It really is a marked change, especially as a torque 'overboost' kicks in, which, combined with the sharper throttle, makes the car feel bigger-engined at a stroke.
Our issue is that sometimes the difference is too great. The steering, for example, goes from quite light to overly firm, taking on a heavy, artificial resistance to inputs that also self-centres really quickly if you let go. The ride also becomes firm and fidgety to the point that it's all you can think about - great on a perfect, windy road, but not so pleasant most of the time.
What's impressive?
The 1.4-litre turbocharged engine, which develops 155bhp, yet returns 43.5mpg, feels rapid and serves up the mighty shove of torque you'd expect of a powerful engine in a small car, but without the turbo lag you'd fear from a small engine with big power. It feels faster than its eight-second benchmark 0-62mph sprint suggests, especially in dynamic mode on overboost.
The looks you can make your own mind up on, but we happen to think that, apart from its bug eyes, the MiTo is a quite stunning little car. It's based superficially on the Alfa 8C Competizione supercar - a fact men can use to repel every girl they ever meet - but it's actually packaged quite well too, with a decently sized boot and space for medium-sized adults in the back. Certainly it's more practical than the MINI.
What's not?
While we like the layout of the MiTo's cabin, it's disappointingly poor in the quality stakes. What Alfa has tried to do is that thing a lot of makers are up to these days, and which Peugeot does quite well in the 207: swathe the upper dash in a softer material to mask the fact that underneath it's all a bit cheap and ropey. It essentially serves the same purpose as a concealer, which is funny, because you can have the headlamps circled in black too, like a 'guyliner'.
Should I buy one?
Apart from being a rarer sight on the roads than the MINI (which is a funny thing to laud as a positive, because it fundamentally means it will sell less), it's also cheaper, better equipped and more practical. It doesn't have the BMW's dynamic prowess or outright quality, but it's a very viable alternative, offering an involving drive and buckets of charm. We'd like the quality to be better, and the ride to be more accommodating in D mode, but there's a lot to like about the Alfa.
And if the £15k asking price of the 1.4 TB in top whack Veloce spec is too much, a mid-range diesel version (especially the excellent 120bhp 1.6 JTDm) will give you all the MiTo's looks and charm with reduced running costs for less outlay. That makes it an even more enticing little car.
