The Alfa Romeo MiTo is a three-door supermini that has been in production since 2008. Introduced at the British Motor Show, the MiTo is Alfa Romeo’s answer to the Audi A1. It was developed by designers from the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo and is believed to have drawn inspiration from the 8C Competizione. The MiTo is based off the Fiat Small platform seen on the Grande Punto and takes on a name that references the cities where it was designed (Milan) and assembled (Torino/Turin). At the same time, the name MiTo is also a play on the Italian term “mito” which translates to “myth” or “legend.”
Pros
The Alfa Romeo MiTo is an eye-catching car, many thanks to taking styling hints from the 8C Competizione. But aside from building a pretty supermini, Alfa Romeo intends for MiTo buyers to go home with a part of the supercar experience that is to be expected from the Competizione. This way, even if you have to work with a budget and opt for a lower-powered model, you’ll still have a pleasing experience with every drive.
And while the MiTo already looks great on its own, the vehicle still offers options to personalise. These options come in the form of picking the colour of lamp surrounds and mirrors, as well as making it possible to add an assortment of Italian flag or cloverleaf stickers much like the Fiat 500.
Inside, the driving position the MiTo would put you in is classified to be generally good. There may be a couple of flaws but the driver’s seat is sufficiently low, a welcome treat that is not normally offered for a vehicle in its class. This kind of seating position also gives the MiTo a sporting feel that Alfa Romeo wants to impart.
If you opt for the Multiair engine, disappointment won’t be in your vocabulary, bringing proper pace, economy, and flexibility to the MiTo like no other. The engine sounds brilliant even under heavy loads and can smoothly accelerate to reach top speeds of 108mph. Three modes (Normal, Dynamic, and All-weather) are also available to ease the car into any kind of driving condition.
The MiTo is positioned to be a premium small hatchback thus the hefty asking price. However, economy is impressive and low CO2 emission levels allows for tax breaks that will translate to savings. In particular, the TwinAir MiTo is exempted from London Congestion Charge and road tax. BIK figures are also better than rivals like the Citroen DS3 and Audi A1.
Cons
In terms of space, the Alfa Romeo MiTo is modest. While two six-footers can squeeze in at the back, they won’t be comfortable enough to sit through long-distance trips. There’s a bit of redemption though with luggage space at 270 litres but that’s nothing really outstanding.
And though the car can function on three different modes, making it supposedly capable of taking on any kind of road, the MiTo offers poor ride quality. Drive it over a challenging road and you’ll definitely feel every inch of the road, no thanks to too much axle movement in the rear.
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(Average rating: 5 , Total rates: 2 )
