Why the comparison?
Alfa Romeo has an all-new small car in the MiTo and its natural rival is the MINI. The Italian firm is in predatory mood and wants to take customers away from MINI so this comparison is all about whether the Italian has the charm, brio and chutzpah to outdo the Cooper, which is the acknowledged leader in the supermini style stakes.
How are they similar?
They're both after the same style conscious buyer who is less concerned with practicality than looking good. If their compact car also happens to be bijou as well, then so much the better. Does the Alfa have the chi-chi looks to out-catwalk the MINI? Well, we reckon it's as good as the MINI. Where the MINI Cooper is now as common as Emporio Armani, the Alfa MiTo has the advantage of still being a relatively rare sight on UK roads, though this is changing as more buyers switch on to the Italian. Even with familiarity, the MiTo still has a taut style that is bang up to date and its Alfa 8C-esque headlights and grille are a refreshing change from the MINI's slightly downcast second generation appearance. So, it's a draw here.
Inside, the MINI has an unashamedly retro look to the dashboard. We're not fans of the oversized, centrally placed speedo - it overwhelms the otherwise neat and stylish dash. Alfa Romeo has played it with a little more restraint, so there are just the Alfa cues of hooded instrument binnacles and a simple centre console. It's not as striking as MINI's dash, but it's just as easy to use.
Both cars use small capacity engines - a 1.4-litre turbo for the Alfa and a 1.6-litre in the MINI Cooper. This gives them urgent performance without being ferociously fast. To get the two as close on price, we've opted for the MiTo in its 155bhp Lusso trim at £14,045, while the MINI Cooper comes in at £13,715. Each has air conditioning, electric windows and door mirrors, CD player and ESP as standard.
How do they differ?
While the MINI relies heavily on looks and charm for its appeal, the Alfa adds a good dose of practicality into the mix. It's not the most spacious supermini around - and it's only a three-door - but compared to the MINI's rear quarters the MiTo is positively commodious. Two adults can fit in the back of the Alfa and its boot is big enough for a weekend's luggage (270 litres for the MiTo versus 160 litres for the MINI). Space in the rear of the MINI prompts jokes about how many elephants can you squeeze into a MINI. Answer: about half a trunk's worth.
The biggest difference, though, is in the way these cars dole out their driving thrills. Alfa Romeo drivers will have no problems getting ahead thanks to the extra power of the MiTo's 155bhp engine. It's a free revving motor and sees off 0-62mph in 8.0 seconds, while the MINI needs 9.1 seconds. More relevant still, the MiTo is swifter at overtaking on any road and in any conditions, though its six-speed manual gearbox is not as fluid or precise as the MINI's. The MiTo also comes with Alfa's 'DNA' system, which allows the driver to select between three modes for throttle response and steering feel. The most aggressive Dynamic mode is fine for back road blasts, but a chore in town. MINI drivers have no such choices and don't need them as the Cooper is very well set up all round.
Both cars have firm rides at all speeds - some call it sporty, but we tend to think it can be unforgiving when all you want is day-long comfort. Each deals with corners in a noticeably different way. The MINI resists all body lean to feel like a go-kart where the Alfa's suspension allows just enough roll to let its driver know that things are hotting up. Which you prefer is largely down to taste, but the MINI has the edge for its overall poise on bendy tarmac. However, the MINI misses out on steering feel to the Alfa. Criticisms of the MiTo's steering feel have been addressed and all new MiTos have a better weight and feel to their steering than the slightly artificial sensations provided by the MINI.
So which one would we have?
Many buyers will have made up their minds about which car they would choose between this pair long before they even set foot in a showroom. Style plays a large part in the buying process of the Alfa and MINI. Setting that aside and looking at objective measures, the Alfa offers more space, practicality, performance and everyday comfort than the MINI. Balancing this out, the MINI is slightly cheaper, will hold its value better and is the keener drive. The MINI also produces less emissions and is more economical (129g/km and 52.3mpg versus the Alfa's 153g/km and 43.5mpg). It's a very close call, but the MINI's marginally better ownership prospects win out for us in these cost-conscious times, though we would congratulate anyone who chose the Alfa.
