2025 Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida First Drive

Let’s be clear: the Alfa Junior Ibrida is still under consideration for New Zealand and far from confirmed. So why did we drive it? Well, we were in Spain for the launch of the Leapmotor C10 and needed a way back from Valencia to Barcelona. The offer of using a new Alfa for the three-hour drive came up and so we took it.

Though not overtly sporty, it’s an Italian-ised version of Stellantis’ small SUV platform (think Peugeot 2008). However, it is more closely related to the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600. Stellantis is getting rather good at providing a base vehicle and tailoring it to each brand’s character. The Avenger looks and feels like a Jeep. And they’ve done a solid job here as well.

There’s only so much you can do with a small two-box SUV, but oh, madre mia, Alfa’s stylists have nailed this. That classic scudetto grille, the laser-etched serpent on the C-pillar, the retro-flavoured Kammback end; there are plenty of brand cues here. It reminds me of the ‘90s 146 hatchback, to which this could arguably be a spiritual successor. And yes, there’s a take on the clover-leaf wheels.

Inside, the vibe’s equally playful: quilted “Spiga” seats (with massage function, no less!) and quadrifoglio-shaped air vents. The only downside is the Stellantis-shared switchgear and infotainment system (which is mounted in a way that requires you to look down to see it) somewhat detracting from the fully Italian feel.

Space is fine in the front, with a nice wrapped-in feel, while the back seat is modest and loses a little in headroom. At 415 litres, the boot is one of the best in class, however.

You do get Level 2 driver assistance features, with the lane keeping system and adaptive cruise performing well during our limited test.

Under the bonnet is a 1.2-litre turbo triple humming alongside a 21kW 48V hybrid motor/generator. It’s not a rocket (0–100km/h in 8.9 seconds), but there’s enough pep for confident motorway cruising. Floor the throttle and the engine gets shouty but I’ve always said that there’s little better than a three-cylinder on song. Stick to Eco mode and it’ll sip fuel at a claimed 4.1L/100km. The six-speed dual-clutch is smooth and largely faultless.

So how does it drive? Vehicles on this platform usually feel pretty good and this is no exception. Alfa’s engineers have firmed things up, particularly the steering which, while still light and ease-focused, feels nicely responsive.

Now, what about the electric version? While we didn’t drive the Junior Elettrica, its drivetrain is familiar. A 54kWh battery feeds a 115kW motor, good for 407km (WLTP) and a nine-second 0–100km/h time. A Veloce model outputting 207kW to the front wheels is also on the way. However, that seems like a lot of mumbo to be pushing through just the fronts!

So, should it come here? That’ll come down to price. The Peugeot 2008 Hybrid retails here from $44,990, while Alfa’s larger Tonale starts just shy of $60,000. With its slightly more exotic badge, could the Junior Hybrid tolerate a price around $50k? I suspect and hope so.