2024 (74) Alfa Romeo Junior 115kW Elettrica Speciale 54kWh 5dr Auto

Alfa Romeo starts its EV mission with this car, the Junior. Jonathan Crouch drives it.

Ten Second Review

Alfa Romeo's first EV, the Junior, brings a sporty vibe to the bulging segment for compact electrified crossovers. Shared Stellantis Group underpinnings have been given the Milanese maker's evocative spin here - and you might really like the aspirational end result.

Background

'Electric according to Alfa Romeo'; what might that mean? We have our initial answer with this car, the marque's very first EV, the Junior. It was born in controversy, the name changed from 'Milano' a week after launch, following complaints from government officials that a moniker designating Italy's second city was inappropriate for a car assembled in Poland. This model couldn't be more significant, the first design created as part of the brand's ambitious 'Zero-to-Zero' mission, which targets the marque to go from no EVs to 100% Zero-Emission sales by 2027. That still looks a far-off target; even the Junior can also be had with a fossil-fuelled Hybrid powerplant, though it launched in the UK in the summer of 2024 as an EV. The brand likes to see this car as a 'spiritual successor' to its old Giulietta and Mito compact hatchbacks 'to attract a new generation of Alfisti'. And its mission is apparently to help the brand 'go from exclusive to inclusive'; rough translation - the typical current Alfa buyer is over 50 and a petrol head. That can't continue. Is the Junior the car to break that trend? Let's see.

Driving Experience

Both this Junior model's most direct Stellantis Group cousins, the Jeep Avenger and the Fiat 600, were launched as EVs, with 1.2-litre Hybrid petrol power following shortly after. That trend has again been replicated again here - there's a combustion 'Ibrida' version as well as the 'Elettrica' EV - which was predictable given that the market still isn't quite ready to be completely electric. Whether it's ready for this Alfa EV will be interesting to see. To be honest, there's not much that's particularly 'Alfa'-like about the kind of ordinary Junior 'Elettrica' we're trying here, which gets the usual Stellantis Group set-up that sees a 156hp motor energised by 54kWh battery, delivering range in this case rated at up to 255 miles. 62mph from rest takes a relatively leisurely 9.0s and top speed is limited to just 93mph. Still, there's the brand's usual DNA driving mode system (the letters standing for 'Dynamic', 'Natural' and 'Advanced efficiency' settings). You'll want to avoid the eco 'Advanced efficiency' mode because it restricts power to a feeble 79bhp; even with 'Natural' engaged, you only get 109bhp. Only 'Dynamic' releases the motor's full output. With that top setting selected, it really does feel quite engaging to drive - and there are several reasons why. The e-CMP2 platform all Juniors are based on is engineered around a wider track than you'd see it use with another equivalent Stellantis brand model - for more involving handling. Nor does this car feel quite as ponderous as some other small EVs at speed through the turns - which is partly because its 1,560kg kerb weight is about 200kgs lighter than the class norm. On top of that, there's well controlled body roll, feelsome brakes and a level of steering feel that's the best we've ever experienced with a small EV. All of this wieldiness bodes well for the top 'Elettrica Veloce' version that any remaining true 'Alfisti' prepared to take this step with the Milanese maker into a new fully-electrified future will prefer to target. This is the version of this car that the company seems to have put much of its efforts into, using engineers who'd previously worked on the Giulia GTA super saloon. This flagship variant uses the same battery as the base model, but gets a front-mounted 280hp motor borrowed from the Abarth 600e hot hatch, which powers the 'Veloce' version to 62mph in just 5.9s. Earlier we mentioned the Hybrid version of this Junior - the Junior 'Ibrida'. This combustion model weighs 255kg less than this EV variant, which should make it even more 'chuckable' through the bends. And it uses the same 1.2-litre three cylinder mild hybrid 48 Volt petrol powertrain we've seen on multiple Stellantis Group models, which develops 136bhp and features a 28bhp electric motor built into a 6-speed dual clutch auto gearbox.

Design and Build

As an Alfa should, the Junior has a bit of pavement presence, though everything you can't see is pretty familiar Stellantis Group fare. Primarily the e-CMP2 platform, which allows for dimensions pretty typical for the kind of compact SUV this is, 4.17m long, 1.5m high and 1.78m wide. As you'd expect, lots of the usual brand styling cues feature - including C-shaped SZ-inspired ultra-slim '3+3' headlights, and of course the usual triangular Alfa 'scudetto' shield grille. A cut-off 'coda tronica' 'kamm-style tail references the classic Giulia TZ and there are minimal overhangs, strong wheel arches and big 18 or 20-inch wheels. The shared engineering is equally well disguised inside in the driver-focused cockpit with its telescopic cowled instrument panel and 'cloverleaf'-style air vents. The screen tech will be more familiar to Stellantis Group model regulars, a pair of 10.25-inch displays, respectively for the instruments and the infotainment. The latter set-up uses the usual tile-based widget arrangement, with cloud navigation and over-the-air updates. Back seat space isn't especially generous, not helped by the stylised centre tunnel and the thick plastic-backed front sports seats. But headroom is better than you might expect given the swept-back roofline. Boot space is fine too, rated at 400-litres, thanks to extra rear overhang length. There's an adjustable height floor and, in the EV version, storage for cables beneath the bonnet.

Market and Model

The Milanese maker is keen to point out its unique positioning in the market - "we're the only brand able to sell a car at 2 million euros and 30,000 euros" Alfa boss Jean-Phillipe Imparato boasted at the launch of this car. Pricing for the Ibrida Hybrid (offered in a single spec) starts from around £28,000. Pricing for the standard 156hp Elettrica EV version starts at just under £34,000. There's a mid-range 'Speciale' EV variant at just under £36,000. The EV derivative real 'Alfisti' customers will want though, is the high performance Junior 'Elettrica Veloce', with its more powerful 280hp motor. One of those was priced from launch at £42,295. Across the range, Alfa is offering a choice of three optional trim packs. The 'Technology' pack includes matrix-LED headlights, navigation and a powered tailgate with gesture control. The 'Premium' pack gives you an updated interior finish, plus a driver seat with electric adjustment and a massage function. The 'Sport' pack, gives you exterior styling tweaks, plus Sabelt sports seats with alcantara upholstery. The mid-level 154bhp 'Elettrica Speciale' limited edition model is expected to be popular. This borrows many of the key features from these three packs and included 18-inch alloy wheels, red paint, unique upholstery, 8-colour ambient lighting, keyless entry and a leather-covered steering wheel. That's priced from just under £36,000.

Cost of Ownership

We gave you the driving range figure from the 54kWh battery (51kWh usable) in our driving section - 255 miles for the base 'Elettrica' and 208 miles for the more powerful 'Elettrica Veloce' version. These aren't anywhere near class-leading and, as with any EV, will obviously rise in urban driving conditions. The battery can charge at up to 100kW (again, not anywhere near class-leading) and can recharge from 10-80% in under 30 minutes via a 100kW cable when hooked up to a suitably rapid charger. Just 3 minutes on such a fast charger would add 80 miles of range and 24 minutes could get the battery from 20 to 80%. For home use, an 11kW AC charger is also included, allowing for faster three-phase charging, if your house has access to that. Energy efficiency is rated at around 5.0 miles per kWh. For the Ibrida Hybrid model, you're looking at a combined cycle fuel figure of 58.8mpg and a CO2 reading of 109g/km. As with other Alfas, depreciation values will be aided by this model's 'NFT' (or 'Non-Fungible Token') technology, which backs up the car's service history (stuff like maintenance records and battery pack condition) in a cloud, out of the vehicle. This means that no one should touch your car without it showing on the NFT record. Alfas claims that this makes it much harder to forge the vehicle's records, which in turn ought to preserve residuals. Unfortunately though, the standard warranty offering remains the usual unremarkable three year / 60,000 mile package. There's a separate eight year / 93,000 mile battery warranty.

Summary

It's a hard thing to translate Alfa Romeo values into this electrified era - we saw that with the Plug-in Hybrid Tonale. But this Junior makes a decent attempt to do just that - and quite effectively disguises its generic Stellantis Group engineering. Which is just as well given the importance of this car to the brand; it could end up accounting for over 40% of the company's sales. The hastily added replacement name of this model is borrowed from the 1966 GT 1300 Junior version of the Giulia, just one of the cues intended to allow this car to trade on its maker's famous history. In reality though, the Junior shares nothing with Alfa's past; that's the whole point. Whether the result is a dilation or an expansion in brand values will be up to you to decide.