Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.3 JTDm-2 85 bhp Sprint 3dr Car Review - February 2012

With performance of 78.5 mpg the car offers drivers significantly greater fuel economy as compared to the 78 bhp Progression and the 135 bhp Distinctive. The car has an acceleration of 0-60 mph in 12.9 seconds with a top speed of 108 mph, which is impressive feature for a super mini. The car offers drivers incredible ease and stability to driving. The five-speed transmission suits the engine's power delivery well and the change is fast without being notchy.

The strut front and torsion-beam rear suspension gives some nose-wide under steer in extremes, is well balanced and largely neutral. The dampers have internal rebound springs that replace conventional anti-roll bars to minimize body roll in corners. The car has three driving settings through its DNA switch – Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather. This changes the throttle response and steering depending on the driving environment. While Normal is the ideal mode to enjoy driving the MiTo, the Dynamic mode makes steering heavier and accelerator more sensitive. The All-weather mode is designed to work when roads are icy or slippery, but the ride is uncomfortable.

The Alfa Romeo MiTo looks beautiful with its bulbous snout, tear drop shaped windows and concentric LED lights in the rear, style cues derived mainly from Fiats Alfa 8C Competizione supercar. The top spec version of the four seat car comes with 17 inch alloys and a rear spoiler which give it a sportier look.

The car offers customers the latest in driving convenience. It has a range of switches, dials and buttons, but the most interesting is the Windows start button on the steering wheel which starts the Blue & Me information and entertainment system co developed by Microsoft and Fiat. It allows playback of digital music via the car's USB port and hands-free use of mobile phones paired via voice control.

Dialing a contact in the phone book can be done by pressing Start, saying the word 'dial' aloud, followed by the name of the contact. Text-to-speech technology allows SMS text messages to be read aloud over the car's speakers at the driver's request. The car has a Hill Hold feature detects when the car is stopped on a hill with an incline of 5 per cent or more, and applies the brakes for one second to prevent you rolling backwards into parked traffic.

The MiTo also offers optional technologies like heated windscreens, an alcohol test kit, satellite navigation and a Bose hi-fi with eight speakers, a subwoofer and digital amplifier. While it’s not a family car, the MiTo offers budding drivers a range of options for comfortable and enjoyable journeys.

Comfortable space is a challenge when travelling in the Alfa Romeo MiTo. The back seat will be cramped for tall adults and the boot offers space for only a couple airline hand bags. The 60/40 split folding rear seats which is a standard fit on most of the competing cars is an optional extra for the car which costs an additional 450 pounds. Beyond the glove box, the car offers limited storage spaces in the cabin.

Regarding safety, in the mandatory EuroNCAP crash test, the MiTo scored a five star rating. Safety equipment includes seven airbags, ESP traction control, anti-whiplash head restraints, electronic stability control and ISOFIX child seating. Shelling out extra provide drivers with additional features like tyre pressure monitoring systems and bi-xenon headlamps. The car is very useful for small families and comfortable for motorway driving, cruising around town and school runs. It has the best green credentials amongst the 78 bhp Progression and the 135 bhp Distinctive with a Euro 5 emissions rating and average carbon emissions at 112 g/km.

Even though Fiat has had a spotty reliability record, the MiTo is a product to challenge that reputation. The car comes with a 3 year warranty with no limit on miles. Fiat offers top of the range customer service to keep customers safe and happy when driving the MiTo.

The Alfa Romeo 1.3 JTDm-2 85 bhp Sprint 3dr is costed at £14,450. It is costlier than the 78 bhp Progressive and slightly cheaper than the 135 bhp Distinctive. The car is an insurance category 11 model. The insurance premium is slight higher from the 78 bhp but significantly lower from that of the 135 bhp and most of the sport cars offered by competing brands. The car delivers slightly less sports car performance as compared to the 135 bhp, but has the best fuel efficiency amongst the three, costing around 2000 pounds more than the 78 bhp Progression. Additionally, Fiat offers a variety of service plans for the MiTo, and the generous standard kit list means that customers are likely to inflate the list price with costly options.

Overall, the 85 bhp Sprint offers the best performance at a reasonable and affordable price. Along with being cheaper than buying a Mini, the popularity of the MiTo along with the Alfa badge also deliver it strong resale values.