Car review: The smallest Alfa Romeo is not a junior. It looks great and drives great. But it lacks a few minor details to make it perfect.

Alfa Romeo is once again undergoing a revival. The new generation of vehicles is finally expected to deliver the long-awaited success—thanks in part to the brand’s decision to play it safe this time, gradually expanding its lineup in the currently booming SUV segment. Following the compact Tonale, there’s now the city-focused Junior—a model that wasn’t originally planned. However, growing interest in premium small cars ultimately changed the brand’s course. As an indirect replacement for the former MiTo hatchback, this newcomer aims to break into a highly competitive segment. I took the wheel of the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Speciale, equipped with a hybrid three-cylinder engine, to see what it has to offer and whether it stands a chance of success.

Design: A new, yet unmistakably Alfa look

The city car segment is a unique one. Premium brands often experiment here, offering bolder designs than they do in higher categories. That’s also the case with the Alfa Junior, which introduces a completely fresh face, while still incorporating distinctive brand styling cues.

The front end bears no resemblance to anything else in the brand’s lineup, yet it’s immediately recognizable as an Alfa. You can tell it’s an Alfa at first glance, even though the logo is now placed centrally on the front fascia instead of off to the left, and the grille—though shaped like a traditional cross—features a subtle embedded motif of the cross and serpent.

The overall look is very sporty. That might not be immediately apparent in the test car’s dark pearl Navigli blue finish, but this is clearly one of the most stylishly executed city SUVs currently on the market. Whether it’s the aggressively sculpted front, the side view with hidden rear door handles mimicking a three-door profile, or the truncated rear end reminiscent of the classic Giulia TZ, the Junior makes an impression. And if that’s not enough, the red accents on the lower body in the Speciale version seal the deal.

In terms of size, this is a truly urban SUV. With a length of 4,173 mm, the Junior is smaller than its platform sibling, the 4,300 mm-long Peugeot 2008. It’s closer in size to the 4,150 mm Opel Mokka. The name “Junior” suits the car far better than the previously announced Milano, which had to be dropped due to the fact that the car is manufactured in Tychy, Poland. Italian law prohibits domestic brands from using Italy-related names if the product isn’t made within the country.

Interior: Junior mostly in size

Inside, it’s clear that Alfa is drawing from the Stellantis parts bin. The infotainment system will be familiar to Peugeot owners, the key and steering wheel buttons come from Opel, and the minimalist gear selector is now used across the Stellantis lineup. But that’s par for the course in today’s globalized world, where shared components help cut costs.

Fortunately, Alfa succeeds in preserving its unique driver-focused cockpit atmosphere. The 10.25″ digital instrument cluster retains a hint of the classic twin-tube gauge design from the brand’s heritage. The sporty feel is reinforced by the graphic layout, the bold start button placed on the center tunnel between the seats, and beautifully round side air vents on the dashboard. However, the impression is slightly marred by some cheaper plastics.

The 10.25″ infotainment screen is angled toward the driver, but by modern standards, it sits quite low. Above it are central air vents and a few media control buttons. The upside is that the climate control remains a separate, physical row of buttons below the screen. So the infotainment is within easy reach, but not ideally placed for visibility while driving — especially during navigation use. That seems intentional though, as Alfa management emphasizes that their cars should be about driving, not electronics.

The infotainment itself boasts high-resolution visuals and the rear-view camera offers excellent image quality. There’s even a surprisingly wide selection of built-in games, useful while waiting in line at a car wash, for example. However, the system can sometimes be sluggish. One thing I miss is a dedicated “back” button — it only has a “home” button, which always returns you to the home screen.

In terms of interior space, the Junior truly lives up to its name. Rear seat space is very limited, both in terms of legroom and headroom, the latter being further restricted by the optional panoramic roof. The short seatback is also a downside. In reality, this is a car primarily for two.

The trunk, however, is very respectable for the segment, with a listed volume of 415 liters. To fully utilize the space, you’ll need to include the area under the double floor, otherwise the vertical clearance is limited, though the space is well-shaped. The tailgate opens high, making access easier.

Engine: The three-cylinder hybrid is seriously efficient

The Alfa Romeo Junior was developed during the brand’s transition toward electrification, which is why the Junior Elettrica comes in two electric versions: the base 115 kW model and the sporty 207 kW Veloce. However, Czech customers still prefer conventional drivetrains—hence the Junior Ibrida, the hybrid version designed primarily for them. It comes in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive (with the traditional Q4 badge), the latter featuring an additional electric motor on the rear axle.

The tested FWD model uses a well-known hybrid setup that’s now spreading across the Stellantis portfolio. It pairs a 100 kW petrol three-cylinder engine with a 21 kW electric motor, a 0.41 kWh lithium-ion battery, and a six-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s capable of short trips in pure electric mode. This is a refined version of the system, with a combined output of 107 kW.

The hybrid is remarkably well-tuned. The transition between combustion and electric power is almost imperceptible — you won’t notice when the switch occurs. The Junior isn’t shy about using electricity either: it drives in EV mode frequently, whether in traffic jams or even on the highway, which significantly improves fuel efficiency. Thanks to this, the Junior can be truly frugal. I managed to maintain a long-term average of seven liters per 100 km — even on the highway. In the city, consumption sometimes dropped to six litersper 100 km when EV mode was used often. A calm countryside drive, where the combustion engine frequently shut off, resulted in a five-liter average.

Still, I would have appreciated a bit more power. The performance is adequate in the city, but on the highway, a more dynamic character would be welcome. A bit more muscle would better suit Alfa’s image. The engine sound isn’t particularly engaging either—it’s rather bland at higher revs, and cold starts produce the typical three-cylinder growl.

The six-speed dual-clutch transmission is tuned with comfort in mind. Gear changes are smooth and logical. In manual mode using the paddle shifters, the gearbox is responsive enough.

Driving dynamics: This is how a small Alfa should drive

Alfa Romeo vehicles are known for their finely tuned chassis, and I’m happy to report that this strength carries over to the Junior. The handling is truly exemplary—confident and composed, yet comfortable enough for everyday use. You can drive briskly even on rough roads, and the car won’t rattle your bones in the city either.

True, you can occasionally feel the rear axle thump lightly over bumps, but that’s not unusual for this segment. However, sound insulation could use improvement. At just 110 km/h, wind noise becomes noticeable around the bodywork, and at a speedometer-indicated 140 km/h, the car feels quite loud. In that sense, it’s clearly more suited to urban use.

That said, the handling itself is on a high level. The body doesn’t roll excessively in corners, and the steering is pleasantly sharp. Simply put, driving the Junior is fun.

A bonus is how easy it is to disable the driver assistance systems — a button above the infotainment screen gives quick access to favorite features, which you can turn off with just a tap.

On the plus side, helpful driving aids abound. The annoying ones can be easily disabled. The 3D surround view simplifies parking and off-road maneuvering. The remote parking via key fob is especially handy if someone parks too close for you to open your door.

Alfa Romeo Junior: Technical specs

Engine	1.2 Turbo Ibrida
Year	2025
Displacement (cc)	1199
Power (kW)	107
Torque (Nm)	230
Transmission	6DCT
Top speed (km/h)	206
Acceleration 0-100 km/h (s)	8,9
Fuel economy (l/100 km)	4,8
CO2 (g/km)	109
Kerb weight/payload (kg)	1305/485