Alfa Romeo Mito Reviews

Graham Smith reviews the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Alfa Romeo Mito as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2009, 2010, 2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Alfa Romeo MiTo as a used buy.

Alfa is keen to grab a larger slice of the pie in Australia and the updated second generation Mito is part of that plan.

If there is such a thing as a sampler in the automobile industry this must surely be one.

Alfa Romeo has released a Series 2 version of its MiTo three-door hatch with the biggest news being the addition of its smallest engine, a brilliant little two-cylinder 875 cc turbo-petrol unit.

Alfa is up against it in the performance tiddler class with its Mito TCT squaring up against the Volkswagen Polo GTi. Apart from selling for thousands of dollars less, the Polo GTi comprehensively out muscles the Alfa Mito while offering a similar level of equipment. Mito Sport TCT retails for $34,990 while the Polo GTi is $27,790.TECHNOLOGYThe Polo has 132kW versus the Mito at 99kW. It has 250Nm versus the Mito at 230Nm. It has a seven speed double clutch transmission versus the Mito's six speed double clutch unit. It would be a struggle for an Alfa dealer against this level of competition. But perhaps Mito buyers are what are called "Alfisti" — enthusiasts for the brand who have eyes only for an Alfa. They will probably go for the Mito TCT regardless.DESIGNIt's a cute looker that's for sure with a face that looks a bit like artist Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream." The pert rear end shares no styling cues with any other car and is topped off by dual exhaust tips and a pair of LED tail lights. Mito TCT gains auto stop/start which switches off the engine at the lights or when you come to a stop then starts it as soon as you lift off the foot brake. It's designed to save fuel and contributes to Mito TCT's 5.5-litres/100km — slightly better than the Polo GTi at 6.1. It comes with what Alfa calls DNA — multi drive modes for Dynamic, Normal or All weather responses.DRIVINGHandling is OK to a point spoiled by steering backlash on bumpy corners. The interior is stylish and functional but the driving position is strange unless you have short legs and long arms. The stop/start system has too much lag before re-igniting the engine at times leaving you high and dry and we came to grief with the hill holder function a couple of times on a steep hill — it didn't work.We can't understand why anyone would want this car in any mode other than Dynamic because the other modes feel like there is a sock in the intake. The engine is unusual in that it doesn't have an inlet camshaft, instead, it uses oil-activated solenoids to open and close the valves with wide variability. The thing is, Mito TCT has the lowest power output of all the Mito models. Others get 114kW up to 125kW. We'd go the standard manual Mito thanks.ALFA MITO TCTPrice: from $32,990Engine: 1.4-litre direct injection Outputs 99kW/230NmTransmission:seven speed double clutch transmissionBody: Three-door hatchEconomy: 5.5-litres/100kmWarranty: Three-years/100,000km

Why would you buy a small Italian car when there are some perfectly acceptable Japanese and Korean rivals for almost half the price? I actually don't have the answer because it's all to do with how an Alfa Romeo buyer ticks. Speak to these tragics and it's just the allure of Alfa - the smell of the leather, the sound of the exhaust, the feel of its tyres through corners, and the sense that it's a different car for a different personality.Buyers also had the knack - in earlier Alfa experiments - of mind-numbing dismissal of some embarrassing quality issues and an irregular reliability record. Some things change. The latest Alfa small car, the Mito, delivers transport that is one step left of the norm - owners call it a character - but there are unanswerable questions as to why. Yes, it can be cute to some. But unlike its well-executed and smile-inducing big sister Giulietta, the Mito is flawed - especially in its new dual-clutch version.VALUEYes, I know price is less a criteria than a desire by owners to prove they don't follow convention. There is a place in my world for these people, parked in the same room as those who fervently watch Home & Away. Alfa opens its Mito cabinet at a not insurmountable $29,990 for the manual. The test car is the TCT (twin-clutch transmission) at $2000 extra, $31,990.Its Euro rivals include the Golf 90TSI (from $24,990), Polo GTI ($27,790), Renault Clio 200 ($36,490) and Alfa's Fiat-badged mechanical clone, the 500 Sport ($24,990). There's very strong competition here. But this doesn't dismiss the Mito's high level of features and even its decent build quality.DESIGNIt's called cute by people who think pugs are the canine equivalent to Monica Belluci. No, the Mito isn't cute. It's just small. Styling cues are borrowed from other Alfa models - round tail lights, deep and narrow shield grille, and so on - but they're lumped onto a bulbous body that, in a previous article, I described as looking like Mr Potatohead with accessories. But it's functional and Italian and I bet that's one of the first times you've seen those two words in the same sentence.TECHNOLOGYThe big news is the Multi-Air head that uses solenoids to control the intake valves. This allows the engine management system to dictate how long these valves remain open and even delay closure until much of the trapped cylinder air is expelled. That makes it very efficient.The TCT's 1.4-litre turbo-petrol engine has 99kW/230Nm, down from the manual-transmission model's 114kW/230Nm. The manual doesn't have the Multi-Air head and posts a 6.5L/100km economy compared with the TCT's brilliant 5.5L/100km. Part of the TCT's fuel saving is that head but also the stop-start system. The six-speed gearbox is a twin-clutch arrangment with electronic engagement (hence no clutch pedal). It's variously called DSG, Powershift and S-tronic by other companies. Mitos also gets Electronic Q2 which maximises torque transfer to the front wheels, effectively electronically simulating a limited-slip differential.Then there's Alfa's DNA program that gives drivers the choice of three modes - All Weather, Normal and Dynamic. All Weather is for snow bunnies, normal is for economy running and Dynamic is the only place you want to be if you have a heartbeat.SAFETYTop marks here with a five-star crash rating, electronic stability program, brake slip control, traction control, a hill holder, the Q2 electronic diff and seven airbags.DRIVINGEvery component of the Mito works hard to make you enjoy the ride. And the harder you push, the more responsive the car becomes. That's the essence of Alfa. The problem is that to get the most out of the car, you have to have the quiet winding road, the driving ability and the compunction to get out there and enjoy it. There's not much of that in Australia. Mito is also presented - and priced - as a city car and this marketing direction has blurred the little car's strengths. However, at least it's fun to drive when the conditions exist. As for the other conditions - city and suburbs - it's not entirely happy.Sure, it gets around. But the visibility is poor so it relies on its parking sensors. The TCT has an uncomfortable pause between pressure on the accelerator pedal and actual movement that can really get your heartbeat going when crossing a busy road.It should be driven only in its Dynamic mode. The Normal mode is too sluggish to enjoy. While we're on the subject of lag, the stop-start is commendable but has a restart time that is the slowest on the market. Add that to the gearbox lag and you have some interesting quiet times with yourself after the traffic light turns green.The three-door almost, literally, shuts the door on this being suitable for hauling babies or toddlers. In fact the high waistine and tiny rear windows may make it a dark, claustrophobic hole for any child. Rather, this is a car the for enthusiast who has downsized.VERDICTIt is the espresso of Alfa's cappuccino but the beans have a bitter after taste. It is enjoyable to drive when the road conditions are tights and twisty, or even when the freeway is running smoothly, but even the pseudo-automatic gearbox doesn't give much joy in the city.The Mito gets high marks for its innovative technology that has real-world benefits, but its the box they come in that is flawed. On top of that, it's fighting one-armed with the cheaper, faster, more engaging and more practical Volkswagen Polo. Not this time, Alfa.ALFA ROMEO MITO SPORT TCTPrice: $34,990Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assistResale: 65%Service interval: 15,000km or 12 monthsEconomy: 5.5 l/100km; 128g/km CO2Safety equipment: seven airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC, hill assistCrash rating: 5 starEngine: 99kW/190Nm (230Nm available) 1.4-litre turbo-petrolTransmission: Six-speed dual-clutch autoBody: 3-door, 4 seatsDimensions: 4063 (L); 1720mm (W); 1446mm (H); 2511mm (WB)Weight: 1170kgTyres: 215/45R17, space-saver spare

The car Alfa Romeo needs to drive its on-road presence is finally on sale. The launch of the semi-automated twin-clutch MiTo TCT models comes 18 months after the manual's launch. That's a long time to wait for a car Alfa predicts will account for more than 70 per cent of sales."When we launched MiTo, the delay (on an auto) was going to be six months," Alfa's general manager Andrei Zaitev wryly recalls.  "But it's here now and we think it's a major advance in the product and in transmission technology."The other major advance is the Euro V-compliant MultiAir engine. Fiat is following the VW Group's "smaller but smarter" engine strategy and this 1.4-litre unit uses only 5.5 litres every 100km while keeping the sound and sensations Alfa owners traditionally value in a car.VALUEThe Alfa's well kitted out on the spec sheet. The base TCT rolls on 17-inch alloys with cruise control, fog lights, Bluetooth and a decent audio system. It's $31,990, which puts it up against the likes of the Mini Cooper and Audi A1.Spend another $3000 and the TCT Sport adds auto wipers, rear parking sensors and a carbon-fibre finish to the dashboard. And red brake calipers, which obviously help you to stop faster.TECHNOLOGYThe twin-clutch transmission and Multi-Air engines are the standouts. The transmission is a dry-clutch unit that Alfa Romeo Spokesman Edward Rowe says was designed to deal with up to seven gears, 350Nm and four-wheel drive demands to suit the other arms of the Fiat empire.In the MiTo's case there's six cogs and three program maps for the automatic mode. Dynamic is the most responsive of the three and tries to adjust its shift points to your driving style. Manual changes are made by either pushing the gear lever left and flicking it up and down or by using the wheel paddles.Alfa repeatedly pointed out the new transmission will operate just like a conventional automatic, right down to the creep on idle. The majority of the time drivers will leave it in one of the auto modes anyway.The TCT is matched in the MiTo with a turbocharged 1.4-litre engine that is every bit as hi-tech. It uses a stop-start function at the lights as part of a fuel-efficiency focus and an electro-hydraulic set of solenoids to operate inlet valve lift and duration.It's smart and it works, with puts out 99kW and 190-230Nm depending on which map you've got the transmission in.  Rowe says the same 1.4-litre engine is tuned to give 125kW in the range-topping MiTo QV.STYLEThe design is what sells Alfas and the looks of the latest MiTo haven't changed. That means its a stylish alternative for Mini shopper or those looking for a change from the baby Audis and BMWs.The three-door hatch is well built and the new transmission will have an undoubted appeal with women - a key target demographic. Alfa expects up to half its customers will be female because of the greater emphasis they place on style and individuality.  The interior is well executed with logical controls in the right places and the seats are comfortable places to spend a few hours.SAFETYThe MiTo has already earned its five stars and comes with the full airbag and software intervention suite, but it is the fact the hazard lights flash during emergency braking that is most impressive.  It's an increasingly common feature on European cars and the flashing lights certainly help grab other drivers' attention.THE MiTo is a five-star safety car, so no surprises on the airbag-ABS-stability control front.  But the seven airbags are boosted by an active head restraint that works to cut whiplash injuries. The MiTo also hits its hazard flashers during emergency braking, a system becoming more common on European cars.DRIVINGThe baby Alfa hustles along surprisingly well, with a claimed 0-100km/h time of 8.2 seconds. The engine revs out to near the redline in dynamic mode and does it with enough growl and snarl to remind you you're driving an Italian car.It's not far off the benchmark VW Polo in this class, but is let down by suspension that is simply the weak link in a good package.  The hi-tech electronics and reasonable rubber are terrific, but the suspension struggled to keep the tyres in constant contact with the back roads of Sydney.The MiTo's torsion beam rear feels every undulation and feeds that back into the cabin. Potholes jar and big hits earn a shudder. So they should, the Alfisti will clamour, but it's an old-school approach to sporty suspension at a time when the modern set-ups on rival cars soak up some of the impact.That said, the Alfa still tracks true - even big hits don't throw the car off-line, just your seating position and if aural clamour matches your desire to go forwards, the Alfa will still deliver.VERDICTA head-turning alternative in the baby-car class that has the poise - and enough pace - to warrant Alfa's forecast of  252 sales next year.Alfa Romeo MiTO TCTPrice: from $31,990Engine: turbocharged 1.4-litre direct injection Outputs 99kW/230NmTransmission: twin-clutch automatic, front-wheel driveBody: Three-door hatchSuspension: MacPherson strut front; torsion beam rear.Warranty: three-years/100,000km

Alfa Romeo is relaunching its MiTo light car range with a revised four car lineup, featuring a twin clutch (manumatic) transmission on some and other technology as well as an equipment tweak.MiTo has been available here for some time but faces stiff competition from Mini and other brands.The MiTo TCT (Twin Clutch Transmission) is aimed at buyers wanting an auto as well as sporty performance and low emissions and fuel consumption. The best of both worlds.But the MiTo you'd expect to get TCT misses out - the high performance QV remains six speed manual only.  Go TCT and it means the least powerful 99kW engine in the MiTo's 1.4-litre, turbo four cylinder, petrol Multi-air engine range.Four versions of MiTo are now offered; 114kW manual MiTo at $29,990, 99kW MiTo TCT at $31,990, 99kW MiTo Sport TCT at $34,990 and 125kW MiTo QV in manual also at $34,990.Alfa says the three versions of MiTo's 1.4-litre Multi-air engine deliver comparable power and torque to other engines of greater capacity. Designed by Fiat, Multi-air technology also garners significantly better fuel economy.Multi-air engines don't have an inlet camshaft instead, a set of electro/hydraulic solenoid (pumps) operates the inlet valves, it is said, more efficiently than any variable cam timing system in existence.Opt for the TCT models and you also get auto stop/start function that further reduces emissions and fuel consumption to as low as 5.5-litres/100km particularly around town.The six-speed TCT system has adaptive shift patterns and is operated like a regular auto with PRND selected on a stick shift that also offers sequential change mode in a parallel Sport gate. Paddles are also provided on the steering wheel.Sport mode defaults back to auto if you fail to utilise the manual system.All three engines deliver strong torque at low engine speeds and pass Euro 4 or 5 emissions regulations. MiTo score a five star Euro crash rating.All four models score Blue&Me audio system, electronic key, aircon, wheel controls, cruise, pollen filter, electric power steering, trip computer and window tint. Wheels are alloy 17 or 18-inch with low profile rubber.All models are fitted with what Alfa calls DNA (for Dynamic, Normal and Allweather - a system that changes settings for the engine, steering, suspension and gear box.The MiTo Sport TCT is speced up to a similar level as the MiTo QV model - without the 125kW engine.MiTo has undeniable character and presence on the street thanks in part to its unusual face and the pert rear end accentuated by a bank of LEDs.It's just that the TCT transmission needed to be on the QV as well as the other models. Go figure.Alfa Romeo MiTo TCTEngine: 1.4-litre Turbo 4-cylinderPower: 99kWTorque: 190Nm/230Nm (Normal/Dynamic)Transmission: 6-speed Twin-Clutch autoWeight: 1170kg

IT'S nice to see the Italians back in town. Once upon a time streets were sprinkled with Fiats and Alfa Romeos. Lancias too.Back in the sixties, into the seventies and eighties there were Fiat 850s, Fiat 124 coupes, Alfa GTVs, Alfasuds and Alfettas roaming Australian roads. There followed a dearth of Italian product for a few seasons and many reasons.Things are looking brighter these days. Maybe there's not quite the range once enjoyed here but machines such as the Fiat 500 (especially the CC) and the Alfa Brera do brighten the streetscape, breaking up the monotony of all those German runarounds.There is more passion in the style of today's Italians over most Euro rivals; maybe the Italians are considered quirky and chancy in some quarters but they are rarely dull.Latest in the ranks is Alfa Romeo's MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde MulitAir, a very handsome three-door with a clever and spirited engine. As it should be.At just shy of $35,000 before on-road costs, the MiTo QV is not the cheapest of three-doors but is packed with a swag of comfort, convenience and safety features plus clever mechanicals. And it carries a good deal of style, heritage and sporting character; things hard to pin a dollar value on.This Mito's MultiAir motor is 2010 Engine of The Year, acknowledged for a clever variable valve timing system that helps the Alfa to 100km/h in 7.5 seconds while offering a reputed 6 litres per 100km on the combined cycle. There's also Start/Stop technology here, allowing the engine to turn itself off when stationary and idling, automatically restarting when the clutch pedal is depressed.And then there's the switch allowing a driver to choose between dynamic, normal and all-weather modes.  This changes the MiTo's dynamics by adjusting engine, steering, suspension and gearbox outputs. Most sporting.Inside and out the MiTo is covered in class. The interior sports a tidy array of switch gear and comforts with chrome and carbonfibre highlights. The exterior is a piece of auto art, with a sweet face and big shoulders separated by coupe-like profile, design cues taken from the striking Alfa 8C Competizione. It is a small car with a big presence, designed to scare the likes of VW Polos and such.The MiTo arrives with a five-star Euro NCAP rating, seven airbags and hazard lights which fire automatically under emergency braking. Active safety includes ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution plus traction and stability programs to resolve any loss of grip, whether down to surface or driving issues.The MiTo QV is a feisty six-speeder, best driven in dynamic mode for extra turbo boost and more torque. It also stiffens up suspension, weights up the steering and everything happens that bit quicker and sharper.  Much more better (even if there's less ride suppleness through the potholes).The only supermini problem here is the cramped footwell for taller, big-booted drivers; these types may also find forward visibility a little restricted by the roofline and rear view mirror. But the nature of the little beast nipping at the heels of bigger machinery will always bring a smile. The 'normal' setting for engine and all feels a tad doughy after a run in 'dynamic'.The Alfa Romeo MiTo QV is hard to ignore. It adds a deal of ingenuity and excitement to this compact compact class. It mixes class with charisma; it has street presence. Maybe it is not cheap for a small car but it is never dull.