Our opinion on the Alfa Romeo Junior
The Alfa Romeo Junior is by far and away our favourite of the Stellantis collection of small SUVs based on the CMP platform. It possesses that familiar Italian flair, while the sporty-looking cabin features decent technology and some interesting design touches. It’s also got a decent-sized boot.
The electric versions can actually be engaging to drive, too, with steering, road-holding and a playful nature that will appeal to Alfa fans, even if the powertrain isn’t quite on-brand. However, while the hybrid Junior Ibrida is available at a fairly competitive price, it’s less impressive to drive. That would be OK for most other cars in this segment, but not one wearing an Alfa Romeo badge.
About the Alfa Romeo Junior
What’s in a name? Well, in the case of the Alfa Romeo Junior, quite a lot more than for most new cars. The very stylish and suitably dramatic-looking small SUV was meant to be called Milano and was unveiled with that name in April 2024, but the plan had to be hastily, and slightly awkwardly, changed when the Italian government’s ‘Made in Italy’ rules forced the brand to choose something slightly less patriotic.
This is because the car isn’t manufactured in Alfa’s home country, but in the same Polish factory that also produces the Fiat 600 and Jeep Avenger. So the decision was made to revive the Junior name previously used on the iconic Alfa GT Junior coupe in the sixties and seventies.
The Junior is Alfa’s first EV, and when the covers were pulled back, it looked like the UK would only get the pure-electric versions. However, a hybrid powertrain was soon added to the line-up. This widened the baby SUV’s appeal and slashed its starting price.
We tested the Junior against the MINI Aceman in a twin test to determine which distinctive SUV is the very best buy. The Italian option beat back its competitor and took the win thanks to its superior driving experience and unique personality.
Alfa Romeo Junior prices and latest deals
How much does the Alfa Romeo Junior cost? Well, official ‘on the road’ prices range from £28,795 to £42,290 but you can currently save an average of £1,715 through the Auto Express Find A Car service, where prices start at £27,387. Don’t want to buy? You can lease a Alfa Romeo Junior from £372 per month.
Check out our latest new car deals and leasing deals for the top offers available now on Auto Express. And don’t forget we can help you sell your car, too.
Prices for the Alfa Romeo Junior start from just under £28,000 for the hybrid version, officially called the Junior Ibrida, which, rather surprisingly, is more than £3,000 less than a like-for-like version of the Peugeot 2008. Although all that really does is highlight how overpriced its French cousin is.
The zero-emissions Junior Elettrica starts at nearly £34,000 and gets the same amount of kit as the Ibrida. Sitting pretty at the top of the EV range is the Junior Veloce, which swaps the standard 154bhp electric motor for a 276bhp unit with a limited-slip differential (LSD), upgraded front brakes, lowered suspension, and other chassis tweaks. All those changes raise the price to more than £42,000.
