The first thing you notice about the Alfa Romeo Junior is the absence of chrome brightwork. That’s not to say the new small car is a ‘plain Jane’; it literally bears the Alfa Romeo stamp in words and brand marks all over.
The car is iconic Italian design down to the ground and marks Alfa’s return to the compact car segment, all the while with the latest in electrification. The Junior comes in two variants – Ibrida (hybrid) and Elettrica (electric).
The entry-level Ibrida comes to market from $45,900, plus on-road costs, while the full electric (Elettrica) sells from $57,900. The former (on test) is powered by a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine in tandem with a 48V mild hybrid system, while the fully electric Elettra makes use of a 115kW motor. Both versions are fitted with a 54kWh battery good for a WLTP maximum range of 410km.
Described by the maker as having a ‘driver-centric’ cabin interior, the Junior boasts premium materials, a cannocchiale digital instrument cluster, ambient lighting and the option of ergonomic Spiga seats with driver massage function.
The Elettrica sets the pace with dynamic handling from the Giulia GTA engineering team, advanced safety tech with autonomous driving and emergency braking. The Alfa Romeo Junior is covered by the company’s five-year unlimited kilometre warranty.
STYLING
While Junior speaks to a new styling language, the fresh-faced ‘little lad’ is out to charm the traditional Alfisti with its sculpted body of scudetto grille, trilobo front and coda tronca rear, plus18-inch Petali diamond cut alloy wheels.
The small SUV is ‘announced’ by the iconic leggenda scudetto (shield), set off by a black grille with Alfa Romeo signature in acrylic, paying homage to the Alfa Romeo sports cars of the 1920s and 30s.
Junior’s powerful personality is enhanced by the bold look of the front, with 3+3 adaptive full LED matrix headlights. The lower section maintains the two side air intakes found on Tonale, Stelvio and Giulia, while a sleek, not swoopy, profile is carefully crafted to reduce drag and improve overall aerodynamics.
The fabled biscione (serpent) has been laser cut into the C-pillar with a finish flowing from matte to gloss. The coda tronca (truncated tail) is functional to improve aerodynamics, while integrating a lighting signature in line with the face of the vehicle.
The Junior is available in six colours – White Sempione, Black Tortona, Red Brera, Blue Navigli (the test car), Arese Steel and Galleria Light Grey – paired with a black roof.
INTERIOR
From the stitching on the seats to the placement of controls, the maker says every detail reflects Alfa Romeo’s dedication to creating a vehicle that is beautiful and a joy to drive.
The supportive Spiga seats are a combination of black leatherette and cloth with graduated red diagonal, with the driver getting six-way electronic adjustment with two-way lumbar support, as well as a massaging facility.
Head room in the back is adequate, knee space not so for grown-ups. Luggage space is a generous 415 litres with both seat backs raised. The floor can be rearranged to varying levels and configurations.
Further embellishment includes air-conditioning vents aping a quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover), as well as air vents, cannochiale display, and the central tunnel being enhanced with eight-colour ambient lighting.
INFOTAINMENT
Alfa Romeo Junior boasts an all-new infotainment system, 10.25-inch TFT instrument cluster and 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. DAB+ audio plays through six speakers.
Both screens deliver a mass of information quickly and clearly, once the mix of controls – touch, switch, swivel and press – are navigated successfully (it took this driver some time). The electronic gearshift is a small switch on the centre console, takes up commands with minimum time and effort.
ENGINES/TRANSMISSIONS
The Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida hybrid features a 1.2-litre three-cylinder Miller cycle engine with variable-geometry turbocharger and distribution chain for maximum reliability, mated with the electrical component, a 48-volt lithium-ion battery and a 21kW electric motor.
Built into the innovative six-speed dual-clutch gearbox, the combination works with the inverter and transmission control unit to ensure maximum efficiency. This advanced powertrain allows the car to go from standstill to 100km/h in 8.9 seconds, with a top speed of 206km/h.
SAFETY
The all-new Alfa Romeo Junior offers an array of driving assistance features, with the Junior boasting impressive Advanced Driver Assistance Systems such as Level 2 autonomous driving, adaptive cruise control and active lane management.
Also on offer are Traffic Sign Recognition, Automatic Emergency Braking with pedestrian and cyclist recognition, Drowsy Driver Alert, blind Spot Monitoring, Lane Keeping Assist, 360-degree parking sensors with Active Park Assist and 180-degree rear camera.
The Junior is equipped with six airbags, including two single-stage front driver and passenger, two supplemental side airbag curtains, plus two seat-mounted front pelvic/thorax/shoulder side airbags. ANCAP testing is under review.
DRIVING
The Junior is no sports car in its performance but does not hang around when asked to get a move on. A zero-to-100km/h time of 8.9 seconds is quoted. The fossil fuel component of the hybrid system – the toytown-tiny three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbo – is slated by Alfa to consume 4.1 litres per 100km.
The test car consumed an average of 6.3 litres per 100km over a week of mainly town and some country driving. Both Juniors are claimed to be good for a WLTP maximum range of 410km.
As for the EV component, Alfa Romeo claims the Junior Ibrida is capable of an extremely smooth driving experience in city traffic with total-electric mode for more than 50 per cent of the time. I concur.
EV driving is possible not only during parking manoeuvres or at low speeds in urban areas, but also out of town, with a limited load, at up to 150km/h. The electric motor provides additional power when needed and regenerates energy during braking phases.
Exclusive electric performance is available in four modes, including e-Launch, which starts the vehicle using only the electric motor; e-Queueing, where the electric motor provides the start-up normally seen in electric vehicles; e-Creeping, in a traffic jam, following a ‘stop & go’ pattern and e-Parking, which simplifies parking manoeuvres.
SUMMARY
Alfa has arguably done a classy Italian job on the Junior Ibrida small SUV, but can’t disguise the swathe of cost-cutting hard plastic surfaces in the cabin surrounds. That apart, the deep Blue Navigli on test would hold its own among the best hybrids around.
RATINGS
Looks – 9
Performance – 7
Safety – 8
Thirst – 7
Practicality – 8
Comfort – 8
Tech – 8
Value – 8
