Alfa Romeo Junior 2024 review: is the brand's first EV worth the hype?
Alfa's first fully electric car is here, previously known as the Milano
Watch our full video review of the new Alfa Romeo Junior
Update:
Less than a week after its release, the Alfa Romeo Milano was renamed 'Junior' because the Italian government deemed it illegal.
This is because it's a car named after Milan but is built in Poland.
In a statement, Stellantis said: "Despite Alfa Romeo believing that the name met all legal requirements and that there are issues much more important than the name of a new car, Alfa Romeo has decided to change it from “Milano” to “Alfa Romeo Junior” in the spirit of promoting mutual understanding."
Everything you need to know about Alfa’s baby SUV
After launching the Stelvio SUV in 2017, and later the Tonale, the next logical step was for Alfa Romeo to enter the small SUV market with the Junior.
Pulling on the heartstrings of old-school Giulietta and Mito fans, the 2024 Junior offers a sporty take on Britain’s most favoured car body style.
While hybrid petrol variants will be available, Alfa Romeo will also make an all-electric version that will benefit from the battery technology in existing Stellantis Group cars.
Alfa Romeo Junior: design
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Being so closely related to the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600, the Junior will share many parts with them, helping us to gauge its overall size.
Alfa Romeo says the Junior is 4.17 metres long, 1.78 metres wide and 1.5 metres tall – broadly the same as its two sister cars.
Being a thoroughbred Alfa, it looks as sporty as anything with muscular wheel arches, sharp LED headlights and a rear inspired by the legendary Giulia TZ racing car from the 1960s.
Colour options are yet to be announced, but surely that classic Italian red is the one to go for?
Alfa Romeo Junior: interior, practicality and tech
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Inside, the Alfa Romeo Junior is fresh and modern with a compact steering wheel for a sporty driving feel.
The standout feature is the 10.25-inch touchscreen that sits proudly in the centre of the dashboard. This allows the driver to control a variety of features, including choosing their own homepage for a personalised experience.
There’s also Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, should you prefer this to the car’s in-built infotainment system.
Other fancy tech includes 360-degree parking sensors and a 180-degree rear camera that monitors the surrounding area, helping with semi-autonomous parking.
Those sitting in the front get a set of Sabelt sports seats which focus on a lightweight design while also being supportive.
The boot measures in at 400 litres which means it’s ‘the largest boot in its class in battery electric vehicle (BEV) form,’ according to Alfa Romeo.
Alfa Romeo Junior: performance and power options
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The 2024 Alfa Romeo Junior is available with either a petrol hybrid or electric powertrain from its launch, though it’s unknown as to whether the hybrid will be coming to the UK.
Junior Ibrida hybrid
Powering the 48V hybrid car is a 136hp 1.2-litre, turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine that’s mated to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, making it efficient and performance-oriented.
The 'Ibrida’, as it’s dubbed, will drive around the city in electric-only mode more than 50% of the time, and can be driven up to 93mph (150 km/h) using just its battery pack.
The hybrid will also be available with either front-wheel drive or Q4 all-wheel drive, giving buyers more options.
Junior Elettrica EV
The fully electric Junior Elettrica is powered by a 54kWh battery, producing either 156hp or 240hp.
Alfa says this battery is good for 255 miles (410km) WLTP of range during normal driving, rising to a claimed 367 miles (590km) in an urban setting.
When it comes to charging, the new Junior benefits from 100kW DC fast charging, taking less than 30 minutes to charge the batteries from 10 to 80%.
Alfa Romeo Junior: prices, specs and release date
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The Alfa Romeo Junior is available in three different trims: Techno, Premium and Sport.
This will offer a variety of options across the range, with the top-spec Sport gaining sports seats, Alcantara upholstery and added sports trinkets to make you feel you’re living the true Italian sports car experience in something that’s far more efficient than a supercar.
The 2024 Alfa Romeo Junior will be available at the end of June 2024, with a starting price of around £24,000 for the hybrid and £33,895 for the fully electric model, available in the UK.
Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica UK prices:
Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica: £33,895
Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Speciale: £35,695
Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce: £42,295
However, if you don’t want to wait for a brand-new Alfa to arrive, check out our full range of used Alfa Romeos for sale and see if any tickle your fancy.