Road Test: Alfa Mito QV 2015 South Africa

You can now stream music from your phone or use navigation in the 2015 Alfa Mito QV. These features, housed in a bigger non-touch screen, are the small differences between this model and the largely unchanged model introduced in 2012. The rest of the Alfa Mito is vividly similar which – for a brand that struggles to sell over 100 units a year – is bad news.

Alfa Mito 2015 Road Test South Africa

Don’t get me wrong the improvements are entirely what consumers have been asking for but still lag behind new technology like screen mirroring or voice control. And the screen doesn’t show rear parking or attempt any sort of colours beyond red unless in navigation. One of my passengers described the faux carbon fibre clad cabin as ‘mountainous’ with bubbles and curves and old gripes like the loose leather fitting around the steering wheel are still as heinous as ever. Apart from the lovely seats the Alfa Mito is not a great cabin. It lacks quality and technology and although we understand the attempt to distance itself from sombre German layout, after a while we missed the sprinkle of neatly-pressed build fittings. The steering wheel sits too high, the radio doesn’t switch off with the ignition and there are annoying beeps for everything.

Putting some points back in favour of the Alfa Mito is the 1.4-litre engine. A previous Engine of the Year Winner, I’m convinced it could re-enter in 2015 and win it over again. Unlike other small efficient turbo engines which choke at high rpm, this sweeps into the redline, surges across six short ratios in slingshot fashion and feels meticulously balanced and light.

We just love the combination of 125kW and 250Nm in a frame weighing 1145kg because the Alfa Mito is ideally powered for the majority of driving. You can dispense almost all of it, all the time, squeal and torque steer out of corners and light up little stretches without doubling the speed limit. And it goes without saying that the manual six-speed adds to the engagement. Avoid the TCT

Although not exactly the same spec as ours, note the new centre screen

Pity there’s no rorty Italian sound from the twin chrome pipes, well not from inside at least even when you delve into the engine modes. There are three modes to the DNA switch but Dynamic distracts you from the Mito’s weaker aspects while Comfort is like sliding another carpet between pedal and floor – the whole response feeling instantly lethargic – and All weather…well we would rather not go there.

Ride in the Alfa Mito is firm. The short wheelbase aggravates the hops on smooth blacktop but road noise and cabin insulation is actually better than many rivals. Steering feel and front-end grip isn’t quite as prodigious as that in a Fiesta ST and the brakes could offer better feedback.

There’s another thing we love about the Alfa Mito. Years on it still turns heads and looks even sharper in the QV spec here with upturned splitters wedged around the bumpers, ally wing mirrors, long grille that requires an offset numberplate and anthracite wheels. Even the rear lights have an uncanny resemblance to the Ferrari California although we wish the front ones came with Xenon. Although there’s sufficient ride height in the middle, that front bumper does often snag.

Can we see the 2015 Alfa Mito QV turning the nameplate’s fortunes around? While it’s unlikely that a slight improvement in media functionality is enough, one must believe that a hybrid of Giulietta interior and Alfa’s terrific engines transposed into a compact Mito chassis could make for a brilliant car. We desperately want to love the Alfa Mito but its price and lack of interior cohesion ruins any chance of that.

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