2025 Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce | UK Review
Expensive, odd, annoying, sometimes brilliant - an EV can most certainly be a proper Alfa
These are exciting times for the Stellantis EV empire in Europe. While cars like the Maserati GranTurismo Folgore are fun distractions, nobody is really taking much interest in that sort of thing. But small hatches and coupes, trading on heritage yet bristling with the latest electric tech, warrant much more attention. There’s a new 208 GTI coming, Vauxhall looks set to resurrect the Corsa VXR (and Opel the Monza), plus the current Grande Panda is surely calling out for a little extra, um, motorvation. The future looks vaguely encouraging, not least because there’s a lot to appreciate about right now thanks to the Alfa Junior Veloce.
It’s a car that might have passed you by, with the biggest splash made by Alfa’s titchy EV so far being the name change from Milano. Add to that the overwhelming number of electric cars that are launched, the fact that this shares a lot with the Abarth 600e and the high price (from £42k), and it’s easy to see why Alfa’s 280hp hot hatch hasn’t hogged the headlines. But it’s notable for a few reasons, particularly with the upcoming Peugeot sharing the Alfa’s e-CMP platform, limited-slip differential, hydraulic bump stops and powertrain. The first is the fact that the power reaches the road via the front wheels and that diff, where the EV norm is becoming rear-wheel drive when just a single motor is involved. Secondly, despite the shrunken SUV stature, the Junior comes in at less than 1,600kg; a hundred-and-a-lot kilos less than a Mini JCW, and not a whole lot more than an Alpine A290, while enjoying a significant power advantage.
If the Junior has passed you by virtually, there’s no danger of the same happening in person. This is loudly and proudly Alfa, from the giant triangular grille to the lights split into two banks of three, as is tradition, both front and rear. It sits 25mm lower than a standard hybrid, so the stance is less tippy-toed, and the slender spokes of the attractive 20s are great for showing off the giant 380mm front discs. (And just as bad for uncovering the weedy rear rotors.) The Junior Veloce is one of those Alfa Romeos that, if not exactly conventionally beautiful in its 4.1-metre frame, holds your attention. You just sort of keep looking at it.
Inside, while the concessions to its driver are welcome - specifically the fantastic Sabelt seats - it’s far from flawless. There’s not very much space in the back, which would be acceptable in a more traditional hot hatch but harder to excuse in something that looks vaguely family-friendly, and all the screens are a bit sluggish. The infotainment experience lags behind cars like the A290 and Mini. Nothing beyond the (optional) seats and the wheel feels very expensive, either, which they should. And even beyond the usual bongs and beeps, the Alfa bleats out a lot of warnings.
There’s little drama to accompany the first few miles of driving a Veloce. There isn’t a silly soundtrack or hair-trigger throttle to catch the attention; it’s smooth, it’s quiet, the brake pedal doesn’t feel quite right - the usual stuff. Despite its performance remit, the Alfa is an agreeable runaround, surely more so than the stiffer Abarth. There isn’t quite the sophistication of the Alpine when it comes to dealing with city streets, it being maybe a tad brittle by comparison, but it’s comfier on 20s than a Stelvio is.
More importantly (for us, at least), the Junior is fun to drive. The steering is bright and alert, keyed into a front end of equal willingness; there’s simply no hesitation in direction changes, and none of that inertia that comes from heavier alternatives once that initial facade of EV agility has ebbed away. The front Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres have fantastic purchase, and it isn’t long before you’re driving the Junior like a traditional front-engined, front-wheel drive pocket rocket - and having a ball in the process. Brake late and hard right into the bend (the brakes do improve, though they never feel great), point the front end into the corner, pick up the throttle almost immediately after and feel the diff fling you out the other side.
Having that hardware up front really is the making of this car. While the arguments for rear-drive in small EVs are reasonably persuasive, keeping things balanced, the innate capability of an electric car means fun can be in short supply. Look at the Cupra Born VZ, which needed a huge boost in power and torque to feel just a little more exciting. No such qualms here; the Junior’s driven axle is fizzy and alive, line tightening with throttle thanks to the diff and just occasionally lapsing into torque steer when really eager. Crucially, though, it doesn’t feel overawed by the power or clumsy; there’s no ugly axle tramp or one tyre fires that some hot hatches throw up. The wheelspin that comes doesn’t feel like power is being squandered, just that the car is working hard, and telling the driver about it through the steering. When it rains you have to work with the Alfa a bit, meter out your inputs just as you would in a 280hp front-drive car with an engine, which makes getting it spot on - feeling the front end bite and charging away - all the more rewarding.
The agility and energy don’t come at the expense of stability, either; the Alfa is as assured as might be expected given the battery bulk is buried down low. The performance is strong, too, a useful step on from something like an Alpine A290 despite just half a second separating their 0-62mph times. The Junior seems to go without much sound manipulation, predominantly relying instead on just the noise the motors make; usually a cause for some grumbling, it says a lot about the immersion of the driving experience that it doesn’t really register. You’re too focused instead on where the next opportunity to fling it at a bend will come from.
An unexpected treat then, and proof enough that a front-wheel drive Alfa EV can still entertain. Moreover, its everyday viability isn’t compromised by its sporting aspirations, with the diff and steering feedback always ensuring it feels purposeful in ordinary driving. This could very easily have made the Alpine versus Mini comparison into a triple test and acquitted itself very well indeed. It’s a formula that’s delivered time after time - keep it small, weight conscious, fast and front-drive, hook up plenty of power to a good diff - and most certainly still works as an EV.
So it’s a shame, then, for the Junior to be hamstrung by obvious drawbacks. As with the senior Quadrifoglios, it is just too expensive. The car you see here, with the Sport Pack (the seats and the steering wheel that you’re really going to want), the Tech Pack, the sunroof and the paint, is £48,605. Even without options or grants, the Alfa Junior 280 Veloce is £42,305, and that feels like a lot. While it exists in a strange space without many conventional rivals, the aforementioned Born costs from £44,820, bringing with it much more space. You’ll do well to surpass £40k on an A290.
There’s the small matter of range to consider as well; making a light, fun performance EV with a modest 51kWh battery is to be applauded, but here it means a WLTP range of just 200 miles. The price surely needs to be lower for that to be overlooked, especially as the driving style the Alfa encourages means you’ll never get near the claimed 3.34mi/kWh. While it’s not quite snatching-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory stuff - the Veloce is still good - that fact undoubtedly harms its usability credentials.
Nevertheless, let’s focus on the good stuff to finish. The electric Junior flagship is proof that this platform can deliver a likeable and rewarding performance EV, and we should be optimistic about what’s to come. Certainly, it’s another Alfa that demonstrates to the obvious European rivals the advantages of not much weight, and is nothing if not different in a sea of bland BEVs. With the ability to make it more than just a curio (though sadly the price and the range will probably see to that). Let’s see what Peugeot can conjure up with the GTI - hopes are reasonably (if slightly unexpectedly) high…
SPECIFICATION | 2025 ALFA ROMEO JUNIOR ELETTRICA VELOCE
Engine: 51kWh battery, single electric motor
Transmission: single-speed auto, front-wheel drive, limited slip diff
Power (hp): 280
Torque (lb ft): 254
0-62mph: 6.0 seconds
Top speed: 124mph
Weight: 1,590kg
MPG: 3.34mi/kWh (claimed)
Range: 200 (WLTP combined)
Price: £42,305 (price as standard, before grants; price as standard £48,605, comprising Sport Pack, Technology Pack, Electric sunroof, Bi-colour roof, Arese Grey paint)
As a serial Alfa owner, ( 'Sud, 33, 147, Mito and currently a Tonale) I like the styling and the retro nods. At least Alfa has an identity, unlike many new manufacturers.
Does anyone actually think this sort of styling looks attractive?
I also like the choice of wheel colour
On a side note I can't remember the last time I saw a new/newish Alfa on the road...just me?
and I can't see this changing that!So a 51kWh battery pack according to my maths gives a best possible range in ideal conditions of 168 miles. Add in the best to charge to 80% only most of the time and the British winter climate and we are looking at low 100’s.
All this for a starting price of 42K or the equivalent monthly PCP rental.
Read the room Alfa, Mr & Mrs average are skint………..
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