Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 TB Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Car: Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 TB
Prices: £11,919-£14,745 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-10
Emissions: 145-153g/km
Performance: [1.4 TB 120bhp] 0-60mph 8.8s Max Speed 123mph
Fuel Consumption: [1.4 TB 120bhp] (urban) 34.9mpg / (extra urban) 56.5mpg / (combined) 46.3mpg
Safety: Seven airbags, ABS, EBD, VDC
Dimensions: Length/Width/Height, 4063/1721/1446mm

SMALL TURBO, BIG FUN

Our Rating: 8.0 / 10

Alfa’s turbocharged 1.4 TB engines look a good fit in the MiTo range. Steve Walker takes a look.

If the automotive industry brainboxes are to be believed, engines in our small cars are going to get smaller. It’s a result of the push for greater efficiency and lower emissions but it doesn’t have to mean that that the days of fun, fast hatchbacks are over. With the aid of a little turbocharging, a small capacity petrol engine can punch well above its weight, as the 1.4-litre TB unit in Alfa Romeo’s MiTo aims to demonstrate.

There’s no doubt that the cost of buying and running a small car with lively performance can be prohibitive, especially for the younger drivers that tend to be attracted by such models. Once the lofty asking price has been met, the fun really starts as the insurance quotes come in and the fuel bills mount up. Suddenly the sluggish entry-level engine you turned your nose up at starts to look like a more viable option. So can the Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 TB buck this trend? It seems to have the right stuff.

A good turbocharged engine can deliver performance and flexibility that belies its size and the best modern units are light on fuel to boot. The somewhat unfortunately titled 1.4 TB engine fits that description and is available in two guises when fitted to Alfa’s MiTo. First up is the 120bhp option. Thanks to its turbo, it reaches peak power output at 5,000rpm which is lower in the rev range, and therefore more accessible, than you’d expect from a normally-aspirated engine with the same output. Maximum torque of 206Nm is also available low down at 1,750rpm, so you get the almost diesel-like thrust through the gears that adds to the enjoyment factor in a feisty small car. 0-60mph takes 8.8s which is respectable but not as quick as the 155bhp version which does the same in eight seconds dead. This unit hits its peak power at 5,500rpm and develops torque of 230Nm at 3,000rpm but in everyday driving doesn’t feel massively quicker than the 120bhp car.

Alfa Romeos are supposed to be entertaining to drive and the MiTo seeks to underline its sporting intentions with its DNA system. The technology can adapt the MiTo’s steering, throttle response and stability control according to the conditions and the driver’s preferences. It can be set in Normal, Dynamic or All-Weather modes to help drivers get the most out of their vehicle. In Dynamic mode, the turbo gives extra boost but the Normal setting takes the edge of the throttle response for more relaxed driving. The MiTo handles competently but can’t match the fun factor of BMW’s MINI with a ride that’s on the fidgety side and a lack of steering feel. Also offered are a hill hold function and Alfa’s Q2 technology that acts like a limited slip differential to divert engine torque to the wheel that has the grip to use it.

Alfa Romeos are supposed to be pretty and the MiTo is definitely one of the more stylish small cars in today’s marketplace. The car is based on the same platform as the Fiat Grande Punto and it shares that car’s elegant dimensions while adding some attractive detailing of its own. The interior of the MiTo could well be best in the current Alfa Romeo range. It seems strongly built and the variety of racy trim materials employed to impressively up-market effect. The rocker switch behind the gear lever that controls the DNA system is particularly well executed.

The driving position in the MiTo is lower and more sporty than you’ll encounter in the majority of superminis but there’s a good degree of adjustment in the seat and steering wheel so drivers can adapt it to their own tastes. The boot is fairly modest at 270-litres and there’s quite a high lip which means items have to be lowered inside. Space in the rear is reasonable compared to other three-door superminis but a pair of tall adults wouldn’t be very comfortable back there on a long journey.

There are three trim levels available to buyers but while the 120bhp 1.4 TB engine is available in all of t