Road Tested by Hugh Maguire
Some of you may recall I road tested the EV version of the new Alfa Romeo Junior a few months ago and I quite liked the car. Now Alfa Romeo have launched their petrol self charging hybrid version of the Junior and its called the Ibrida which is Italian for hybrid.
So can a car that is not built in Italy, its Poland, shares many of its main components with other cars in the Stellantis group such as the Citroen C3, Peugeot 2008, Jeep Avenger, Fiat 600 and Opel Mokka have any real Alfa DNA?
That is the question I wanted to answer when testing the new Ibrida this week.
The Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida is competing in a competitive class with almost every mainstream manufacturer having a presence in the compact SUV segment. Two trim levels are available the Ibrida and the Ibrida Speciale. I am road testing the entry level Ibrida version.
Can this new Alfa hybrid rival the best?
So how does it look?
In my opinion they really got the styling of the new Alfa Junior just right. It stands out from what is becoming a crowed market of rather bland designs. This new car looks like an Alfa Romeo at least from the front. The front grille has the traditional Alfa Romeo shape though I wish they had put some chrome in it instead of just black plastic. The rear is equally distinctive if not necessarily standing out as an Alfa Romeo.
Some details are nice though, the twin real (not fake) exhaust tailpipes add a sporty note as does the rear roof spoiler and two tone alloy 18 inch alloys shod with Goodyear tyres. So we are off to a good start. Its smart, distinctive and has some personality in its styling.
What is it like inside?
The all black interior is a bit dark to look at but is lifted somewhat by the red stripes on the seats.The front seats are heated and the drivers seat boasts electric adjustment and even a rather good massage function. I like the Alfa Romeo logo embossed on the head restraints!
The instruments are digital but in a lovely analogue design and the central touchscreen is not some huge monstrosity dominating the cabin but a neatly sized one that is canted towards the driver for ease of use. Strangely the home button, hazard warning button, and door unlock/lock buttons are canted towards the passenger. Why? Was this a cost saving measure for the left hand drive production ?
Credit must go to Alfa Romeo for the use of a row of real buttons for the climate control functions as well as real buttons for the drive mode. I like that. It all goes to create the feeling that this is a car for drivers!
Accomadation up front is perfect with an excellent driving position, the rear however is tight for most adults. The 400 litre boot is shallow but about adequate for a car in this class and of course the seats fold forward to create a bigger load area.
Whats powering this new Alfa Romeo Junior?
Power comes from a 1.2 litre 3 cylinder petrol turbo and a 48 volt mild-hybrid system with a 21 kW electric motor and a 48v lithium -ion battery. Drive is to the front wheels via a 6-speed dual clutch transmission. Flappy paddles on the steering wheel allow a more engaging drive though the shift is not very snappy. Total power output is 136 bhp and overall I found the performance to be pretty good. It is quite frugal too burning 6.0 litres per 100km. Although classed as a mild hybrid it does run on battery power more than I expected when driving at slow speeds such as parking or starting off.
What’s it like to drive?
Leave it in “Efficiency” drive mode and frankly its not going to stimulate much driver involvement. “Normal” mode is a bit better but the third mode “Dynamic” is best for putting a bit more sparkle into the drive. It sharpens up all responses and makes the whole car actually feel as though it may have some of that Alfa DNA I was searching for.
The ride and handling is good and it grips well on all surfaces though you can get a bit of wheel spin quite easily if pulling away from a stop in a hurry.
Hugh’s verdict.
It took a while but by digging deeper and using Dynamic drive mode I finally found that Alfa Romeo DNA. It’s there in small quantities you just have to use Dynamic mode to find it. Overall then:
Dislikes: Quite a lot of hard scratchy plastics particularly on the door cards.
Some Intrusive road noise on more coarse tarmac.
Tight in the rear seats for taller adults.
Likes: The styling is bang on.
That dashboard is excellent, with Alfa style digital dials that look analogue.
Plenty of standard equipment, and a sense of individuality about the car.
So would I recommend it?
It’s not a full blooded Italian, nor is it a sports SUV, but it has some Italian flair, it has a small dose of Alfa DNA and so yes I would recommend it for those who want something different than what’s on offer elsewhere.