Skip advert
Advertisement

Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir Sportiva review

Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir Sportiva gets more powerful engine and an extra gear

Overall Auto Express rating

3.0

How we review cars
Find your Alfa Romeo MiTo
Compare deals from trusted partners on this car and previous models.
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Value my car
Fast, no-nonsense car selling
Value my car

Adding more performance, as well as a six-speed gearbox, makes the Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir Sportiva a more useable car outside of town, though it still lacks some of the refinement that its more keenly-priced rivals offer. Buyers will now get higher levels of specification, though despite a minor update, it's still showing its age both inside and out.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Alfa Romeo is getting back on track, and helping matters is an updated MiTo range that features four new trim levels: Sprint, Distinctive, Sportiva and the range-topping Quadrifoglio Verde (QV). The Alfa Romeo MiTo Sportiva, at £16,300, offers the best sense of value of the four trim levels, featuring the 18-inch alloy wheels, steering wheel and leather-trimmed handbrake from the sporty QV model.

The 2014 updates made by Alfa Romeo to the MiTo are best described as 'subtle'. The Alfa Romeo front grille now has a chrome finish, while the front and rear light clusters benefit from a titanium grey finish. At the back, a sportier bumper improves appearances and the rear windows now feature privacy glass.

It's inside that Alfa Romeo’s changes are more apparent, with the MiTo sporting new dashboard design and layout that houses a five-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Sadly, the hardware itself already looks somewhat dated. Nonetheless, the look and feel of the materials used throughout by Alfa Romeo are noticeably better - if not class-leading – than the previous generation car.

Alfa Romeo MiTo Twinair Sportiva 2014 interior

However, Alfa Romeo’s extensive use of darker colours means that it feels less spacious than it really is. As ever, the MiTo's long doors make for comfortable ingress and egress but prove inconvenient in tighter car parks.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

i10

2019 Hyundai

i10

38,755 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £7,490
View i10
HR-V Hybrid

2017 Honda

HR-V Hybrid

70,277 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £8,790
View HR-V Hybrid
EV6

2024 Kia

EV6

20,984 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,795
View EV6
1 Series

2021 BMW

1 Series

36,564 milesManualPetrol1.5L

Cash £17,990
View 1 Series

Alfa Romeo has tuned the 875cc TwinAir engine that it shares with the Fiat 500 to produce 104bhp. The updated engine gives the MiTo more spring in its step around town, but more importantly, the addition of an extra ratio in the gearbox means the car is now that bit more refined at higher speeds, especially on motorways.

Despite its additional power, the Alfa Romeo MiTo still retains its tax-friendly 99g/km of CO2 output. Being a two-cylinder engine, the MiTo has quite a distinctive sound that will be somewhat divisive - in many ways, it adds to the little Alfa Romeo’s charisma, but some won't like it. However, it does have a tendency to encourage faster driving, which can be detrimental to economy. Selectable driving modes are chosen via the centrally-mounted 'DNA' switch as before.

The MiTo’s ride comfort suffers slightly from the addition of the 18-inch wheels on the Sportiva specification, leading to a busy drive over uneven road surfaces even at low speeds. This exaggerates the impression that constant steering adjustments are required.

Overall, the Alfa Romeo MiTo remains a car that will be a choice for those that want to stand out from the crowd, and are willing to put up with some of its shortcomings.

Read more about the best superminis currently on sale in the UK.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £3,331 off RRP*Used from £9,600
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,116 off RRP*Used from £18,900
Audi A3

Audi A3

RRP £26,295Avg. savings £2,513 off RRP*Used from £5,500
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025