Alfa Romeo is not such much a car brand as a cult. Its passionate enthusiasts see the brand as the Opus Dei of the automotive world. That’s why so many struggle with the sacrilege of the SUV and more recently, the EV. The Junior represents their Judas Iscariot.
These emotional fans demand emotive cars, and they have been well-served with vehicles as temperamental as themselves. Yet, like with their religious counterparts, congregations have been noticeably dwindling. Reformation was overdue.
Enter Jean Philippe Imparato, an auto executive with a record as a bit of a miracle worker. Having resurrected the fortunes of Peugeot, it was time for the French man to work his magic in northern Italy.
His first priority was to improve quality and reliability. That’s a long-term effort, but the initial signs have been good. The Tonale may be a bit lacklustre on the road, but it does seem to be holding together well. And the pipeline of new models promise to put the Scudetto grille back in the mix with German premium brands.
But to fund its product offensive, it needs a steady flow of cash. And that’s where the Junior comes in. Alfa engineers may love a saloon, but they can’t ignore the public’s preference for a crossover.
The good news for the Alfisti is that Junior is not just a cash cow, it’s a surprisingly impressive car to drive, both in terms of it being a crossover and also an EV. And that’s being recognised already: the Junior is one of the seven finalists for Europe’s Car of the Year.
Of course, it’s not sold only as an EV. Junior comes with a selection of powertrain options: a 136hp 1.2-litre petrol regular hybrid or an all-electric in either 156hp or 280hp output (both front-wheel drive). Range is promised to be 406km on a full charge of the 156hp version.
That’s a promise this car might keep, for during our time with Junior on Irish roads, the Italian managed to deliver the sort of energy consumption to achieve 350km. That’s not stellar by any means, and there are certainly similar-sized cars with better range.
The 51kWh battery pack and the rest of its underpinnings are straight from the Stellantis parts bin. They have been tried and tested in Peugeots, Opels, Jeeps and Fiats. So have the regular engines that will power the non-electric versions.
But don’t be fooled: this is not just a dressed-up Opel or rebadged Peugeot. The real magic with Junior is how it handles itself on the road. This car is fun.
That’s what differentiates it from its otherwise competent siblings.
The 156hp version we tested isn’t necessarily fast, with a 0-100km time of nine seconds. For that you want the 280hp version, which cracks that distance in 5.6 seconds. But there’s enough throttle power there to deliver an engaging drive.
Somehow, weighing in at 1.5 tonnes, Junior feels light and agile. That’s a feat other EV cars simply cannot manage. Part of this is down to the steering feel, which is remarkably sharp, but also the chassis, which is responsive and obedient to your instructions. There’s a balance and poise to this Alfa that can fool you into forgetting it’s a crossover – and an all-electric one at that.
It’s not without flaws, the primary one being that we’d like snappier brakes. But as a follow-up to the rather lacklustre Tonale, it’s a reminder of why so many people fell in love with Alfas in the first place.
In design terms, the crossover is squat enough to resemble a hatchback profile, while the high rear tailgate has touches of Kia’s current EV6, but links back to Alfa heritage as well.
The plastic grille on the electric version is going to divide the crowd, but it’s a competent take on what is a vestigial feature in any event; they might as well have included a toy gearstick inside the car and added a V8 soundtrack.
The interior is dark, at least on our test car. Trying to retain the sports car feel, it perhaps leans too much to the past and does itself a disservice in feeling at times a little dated.
It’s a solid effort, and while there are plenty of parts here shared with the rest of the Stellantis brands, it’s well put together. Pitching at premium buyers it might struggle a bit, with a launch price of €42,500, but get it out on the road and its entertaining handling will make up for any qualms you might have about the decor.
To follow Alfa you need a degree of blind faith. It has promised so much in past, but disappointment lingers around the corner.
Sadly, Imparato has handed over the keys of Alfa and moved on. Given the rollercoaster ride at Alfa these past three decades, it’s a retrograde step. Like every cult, a lot about success or failure comes down to the leader.
If this is his legacy, then he can certainly be proud. If it provides the cash to deliver his promised pipeline of new models, then he may one day be regarded as a motoring saviour – at least among the Alfisti.
Alfa Romeo Junior Launch Edition 156HP BEV
Power A 156hp electric motor powered by a net 51kWh battery pack, driving the front wheels
0-100km/h 9.0 secs
Range 406km (WLTP)
Consumption 15.3 kWh/100km
Price €42,500 (launch edition price)
Our rating 4/5
Verdict Full-flavour Alfa driving fun for the electric era
