RE: Alfa Romeo MiTo QV: Driven
Thursday 3rd July 2014
If the Giulietta flagship has a tough job in its hot hatch market segment, the MiTo Quadrifoglio Verde arguably faces an even sterner test. Between the Fiesta ST, 208 GTI, Clio 200, Mini Cooper S and Polo GTI a fairly formidable opposition competes against the Alfa.
Prettier from this angle, no?Initial impressions are mostly encouraging. The optional Sabelt seats clench where they should and the steering wheel adjusts nicely. You're perched a little too high perhaps but it's a decent driving position. It at least helps stave off a glance toward the centre of the dash, where a sat-nav screen that's too small and dated ventilation controls draw the attention. Compared to the slick and contemporary Mini the MiTo feels a couple of generations behind.
Far from brilliant in here sadlyOften the appearance of a rather awkward looking Alfa Romeo (75, 146, SZ) could be overlooked thanks to an inspirational engine. Unfortunately for the MiTo even that isn't valid. The 1.4 MultiAir turbo is torquey enough but it can't compare with a Mountuned Fiesta ST for any-rev punch. Despite peak power being produced at 5,500rpm, there's little incentive to chase higher revs as doing so amplifies a fairly flat, uninspiring sound.
MiTo struggles to justify £20K on the roadThe MiTo's innate balance is towards understeer, which it would be silly to criticise. But it's the car's obstinate refusal to do anything other than push straight on at the limit that makes it frustrating to drive hard. There's little willingness to tighten cornering line with a lift, leave alone any of the Fiesta's oversteer antics. A non switchable ESP would prevent any exploration of that anyway.
Alfa Romeo MiTo QV: Driven
Can the QV treatment be applied more successfully to MiTo than Giulietta?
Prettier from this angle, no?
But there are positives to note on the road. The turn in is quite keen, the MiTo feeling agile at corner entry. The ride doesn't feel dissimilar to the Fiesta's in fact, pretty stiff but without crashing too much.
But for a junior hot hatch, and an Italian one at that, the MiTo QV just isn't much fun. Attach whichever cliche desired about Alfa's dynamic prowess from the past and it simply doesn't apply to the latest Cloverleaf.
Far from brilliant in here sadly
As in the Giulietta, the TCT dual clutch 'box in the QV is competent yet unremarkable. The shift speed is fine but what would be wrong with a little drama? It needn't be as outlandish as something like an A45 but using the gearbox for a little aural excitement wouldn't go amiss. A piercing beep whenever it decides a downchange is inappropriate compounds the impression of the MiTo being rather strait-laced.
MiTo struggles to justify £20K on the road
If anything the MiTo's staid nature is harder to excuse than in the Giulietta. That car will inherently be a little more mature, so why can't the smallest Alfa just have an edge too it? In a class that contains the hilariously engaging Fiesta and super talented Cooper S, the MiTo will struggle to compete. Indeed at more than £20,000 it ranks with the junior hot hatch also rans.
ALFA ROMEO MITO QUADRIFOGLIO VERDE
Engine: 1,368cc 4-cyl turbo
Transmission: 6-speed TCT dual-clutch auto
Power (hp): 170@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 184@2,500rpm (Dynamic mode only, 170 in Normal/All Weather)
0-62mph: 7.3 seconds
Top speed: 136mph
Kerbweight: 1,170kg
MPG: 52.3mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 124g/km
Price: £20,210
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Discussion
dukebox9reg said:
i think id take the Clio if I wanted paddles in a small hatch at this level. Alfa need to sort themselves out or they will be cut off as a dead limb soon. I think the next gen will be its last chance.
Alfa are on life support and the prospects aren't good in my opinion. In the earlier days of FIAT control there were still some high points; 164, 156, GTV and then the GTA models, however since it has been below average fare. I've got a Giulietta, primarily because it's a nice place to be and it's a daily driver, the other options in this segment didn't appeal to me. However, reliability is regretfully poor as is build quality. For the first time in 12 years I'm questioning whether my next car will be an Alfa sadly.
I have the pre facelift Cloverleaf/QV and sat in this 'new' one at Goodwood...aside from the new radio/nav system its the same car as mine which is a 2008 design.
When I bought mine (used at 18 months old) new QV's were around £18,000 and MiTo's in general weren't flying out the showrooms, so I can't see this doing any better against more competition.
They're going to become a great bargain a year or so down the line, but that assumes people will buy new.
When I bought mine (used at 18 months old) new QV's were around £18,000 and MiTo's in general weren't flying out the showrooms, so I can't see this doing any better against more competition.
They're going to become a great bargain a year or so down the line, but that assumes people will buy new.
PH said:
But it's the car's obstinate refusal to do anything other than push straight on at the limit that makes it frustrating to drive hard. There's little willingness to tighten cornering line with a lift
Exactly the comment made by a friend that ran a standard one for about a year. Fast enough - but uninspiring.
I love Alfa's, I have two old ones, but I try as I might I can't love these modern hatches. It seems like development was rushed. It time they started trying to compete on their own terms, rather than measuring themselves against the Germans.
The Alfa character is small, light, sporting and delightful to drive, irrespective of power.
The 4C is wonderful but irrational. Most importantly it gives Alfa the benefit of the doubt, at least for a time. They now need to fulfil on that.
The Alfa character is small, light, sporting and delightful to drive, irrespective of power.
The 4C is wonderful but irrational. Most importantly it gives Alfa the benefit of the doubt, at least for a time. They now need to fulfil on that.
Alfas have always been primarily about the styling and the engines, the latter generally being proudly big, bursting with character, and of course naturally aspirated.
Mass market cars nowadays are generally ugly and turbocharged, because NCAP and emissions are more important to the majority than good looks and engine character. If they built a stunning looker with a powerful, revvy naturally aspirated engine, it would have a crap NCAP rating and high VED and BIK, so hardly anyone would buy it. So they build a safe hatchback with a 'me too' small capacity turbo engine, and everyone goes 'meh' and buys pretty much the same thing from a manufacturer with a better reliability and customer support history.
Poor Alfa. Damned if they do and damned if they don't quite honestly. I struggle to see where they go from here, and I speak as an Alfa owner.
Mass market cars nowadays are generally ugly and turbocharged, because NCAP and emissions are more important to the majority than good looks and engine character. If they built a stunning looker with a powerful, revvy naturally aspirated engine, it would have a crap NCAP rating and high VED and BIK, so hardly anyone would buy it. So they build a safe hatchback with a 'me too' small capacity turbo engine, and everyone goes 'meh' and buys pretty much the same thing from a manufacturer with a better reliability and customer support history.
Poor Alfa. Damned if they do and damned if they don't quite honestly. I struggle to see where they go from here, and I speak as an Alfa owner.
The MiTo was never destined to be good. It's the last byproduct of the FIAT-GM tie up and under all the Alfa styling is Corsa underpinnings. They were never going to make much effort on this, either, as MiTo dies in the next year or two. It's the lack of effort in the Giulietta QV that worries most. Carrying over the same suspension that was only ever an also ran just isn't good enough. Especially as the mere fitment of Bilstein B6s transforms most Giulettas. The basic design and geometry of the suspension is very good but they just seem to be constantly under-damped.
Hate the look of this car. It looks like an Owl with a squashed face.
I have a hankering after a Brera but, even though its so lovely to look at its absolutely disappointing to drive. I drove a 2.2 which barely moved and I hear the V6 not only doesn't feel much faster, it doesn't have that Busso sound track either and is all over fuel like a fat kid on a cup cake. It doesn't stack up anywhere except in the looks department.
I think they were closer to hitting the nail on the head when they put the 1750 tbi motor in it, but shortly after they then stopped making it!
They need to get their arses in gear really.
I have a hankering after a Brera but, even though its so lovely to look at its absolutely disappointing to drive. I drove a 2.2 which barely moved and I hear the V6 not only doesn't feel much faster, it doesn't have that Busso sound track either and is all over fuel like a fat kid on a cup cake. It doesn't stack up anywhere except in the looks department.
I think they were closer to hitting the nail on the head when they put the 1750 tbi motor in it, but shortly after they then stopped making it!
They need to get their arses in gear really.
Edited by Otispunkmeyer on Thursday 3rd July 12:25
W124 said:
Lord I hope the next gen cars are good. I drove the 4C and it is a wonderful thing! My notes on the older Mito are thus "utterly and unequivocally awful" - IMHO nothing gets close to the ST in this class. I have a feeling the forthcoming naughty 208 will be a great car though.
The next gen. cars are the focus. The current Mito and Giuletta QFVs are stopgaps, so regarding the future, I wouldn't read too much into the current offerings, as the brand is essentially being revamped with a massive cash influx from Fiat.Ali_T said:
The MiTo was never destined to be good. It's the last byproduct of the FIAT-GM tie up and under all the Alfa styling is Corsa underpinnings.
Fiat Grande Punto under the body but still a bugger for finding parts, especially the rear brakes. Not many alternatives but found some in the end.No one lists a replacement exhaust system either!
Like my MiTo as its the TCT but as the article says, not that exciting to drive. But hey, it does the job.
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