Alfa Romeo MiTo 010 Review

IF new cars sold only because of the way they look the Alfa Romeo MiTo would be a showroom champion.

It competes in the baby-car class against a wide range of rivals, led by the Volkswagen Polo and upcoming Audi A1, with a distinctive style that shouts Italy and promises something special. The QV model of the MiTo also comes with a breakthrough Fiat 'Fire' engine that makes 125 kiloWatts with brilliant economy and emissions.

But the numbers tell the story, as only 174 MiTo deliveries have been made in Australia during the first nine months of this year. That compares to 674 for the Peugeot 207 that leads the upper price bracket of the baby class, athought it is third behind the Fiat 500 on 265.

The relatively slow sales rate explains a new two-model approach and the loss of the previous starter car, with only 88 kiloWatts.

VALUE

The MiTo is now priced from $29,990 or $34,990 for the loaded QV, although it's still possible to jump over $40,000 on the road with the $2500 leather cabin, $1950 glass sunroof, $1990 adaptive suspension and $790 metallic paint that are on the list of optional equipment.

The change was made to boost the car's competitiveness and cashes-in some of the recent gains in the Australian exchange rate. But it still makes the MiTo more costly than the Volkswagen Golf, which is a class bigger and the real benchmark for European hot-ish hatches.

And the spelling of its name? MiTo is a combination and contraction of Milan and Turin.

TECHNOLOGY

The big brag for the Mito QV is the 'Fire' engine, which uses Fiat's multair technology to deliver plenty of kiloWatts but claimed economy of 6.0 litres/100km and CO2 emissions of just 139 grams/kilometre. It's all done with very carefully controlled air injection and variable valve timing, as well as a stop-start engine system.

The QV is also available with adaptive damping, claimed as a first in the class, with three settings for different conditions and driver demands.

DESIGN

The MiTo is a baby hatch that stands out in a crowd of cars like the Mazda2 and Honda Jazz, but still doesn't have the trendy pulling power of the Fiat 500. So it's a good looker but not an outright star. The shape is great - although not for rear vision - and the nose is one of the most distinctive since Alfa's own 147.

Inside, the look is clean and modern, with dress-up kit including a carbon fibre look to the top of the dashboard. The seats are also well shaped, the dials are sporty and clear, and all the controls are easy to use.

SAFETY

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.

DRIVING: Paul Gover

The MiTo is good but not great. And if you forget to trip the switch that takes the turbo engine to dynamic response then it can feel quite dowdy, although it's good for the 1.4's economy.

The MiTo QV is comfortable and well equipped, good looking and nicely finished.

But the whole time I'm driving the car I compare it with a Golf - even though it's a class bigger - and find the Italian car comes up short. It does better if you use the Polo as a rival but people who buy chic hot hatches are not usually buying just on price.

The MiTo gets along very nicely with full power engaged, the gearbox is great, it has good brakes and the cornering balance is also good. But the ride suffers over sharp bumps, when the rear suspension gets all bouncy and unsettled.

There is plenty of standard equipment, the trip computer is good and the sound system has plenty of punch.

Yes, I like the look of the MiTo and the idea of an Alfa that combines go with green, but I cannot warm to the car.

SHE SAYS: Alison Ward

The whole time I was driving the MiTo I was thinking about the Mini, and I prefer the Mini.

The MiTo looks great and it's comfy, but it doesn't have any zoom-zoom unless you push the special button. It goes nicely then but it should be the standard setting, not something you have to turn on. I know it makes the engine greener, but . . .

I like the stop-start system to save fuel but I've seen that in other cars, including a Fiat.

For me, the MiTo costs too much and is not special enough. Yes, there is a cheaper model but I can only go on the QV I got to drive.

VERDICT: A great looker but not a standout in 2010

Alfa Romeo MiTO QV

PRICE: $39,440 as tested (sunroof, leather)
ENGINE: 1.4-litre turbocharged four cylinder
POWER: 125kW/5500revs
TORQUE: 230Nm/2250rpm (Normal),250Nm/2500rpm (Dynamic)
ECONOMY: 6.0litres/100km
CO2 EMISSIONS: 139g/km
TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drive
BODY: Three-door hatch
SEATS: Five
DIMENSIONS: Length 4063mm, Width 1720mm, Height 1446mm, Wheelbase 2511mm
TRACKS: front/rear 1475mm/1469mm
STEERING: Electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion
SUSPENSION: Front MacPherson struts, rear torsion beam axle
FUEL TANK: 45 litres
FUEL TYPE: Unleaded
WEIGHT: 1145 kg
SPARE TYRE: Space Saver
BRAKES: ABS four-wheel discs
WHEELS: 17x7 alloy
TYRES: 215x45
SAFETY: Front-side-head-knee airbags, ABS, stability control, active head restraints, emergency brake lights