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Pros: stylish looks, sweet to drive, affordable
Cons: cramped rear-seat space, questionable interior plastics
Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Design
As part of the huge Stellantis automotive group, Alfa Romeo has access to a lot of ‘shared’ hardware to create new models. To that end, Alfa’s Junior compact crossover is related to all of the Peugeot 2008, Citroen C3 Aircross, Opel Mokka, Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600 among more, and it has so far only been available in two electric forms: the 156hp Elettrica and the 280hp Veloce flagship.
Now, though, the first modern Junior with an internal-combustion engine is launched and it’s a 48-volt mild-hybrid called the Ibrida, that being the Italian word for ‘hybrid’. This newcomer to the Junior range looks pretty much the same as its siblings, complete with its triple-lamp signatures fore and aft, and about the only visual differences on this car are a set of tailpipes peeking out of the rear bumper and a smaller yet still attractive set of 17-inch alloys in the wheel arches. All of which means the Junior Ibrida is a good-looking thing.
Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Interior
Sharing so much with some other, budget-oriented models means there are a few plastics in the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida which leave a lot to be desired – they’re scratchy, unyielding and not very easy on the eye, as they form huge expanses of shiny black material. Apart from that, though, there’s a satisfactory level of technology in the Junior, with a pair of digital screens for the main infotainment and instrument cluster, and various Alfa-specific flourishes like the steering wheel and concave dashboard sculpture further lift the ambience somewhat.
But nothing like as much as the hugely expensive, yet utterly gorgeous, optional Sabelt bucket seats. These are a four-figure upgrade and they’re magnificent, trimmed in Alcantara, and superbly supportive and comfortable, but they don’t half feel like overkill in a modest B-segment runaround like this.
And talking of seats, the front ones in the Alfa might be fine, but the rear-row passenger space is cramped – and it gets even worse with those Sabelt seats fitted, as their hard seatbacks sap what little legroom there is in the back of the Junior in the first place. At least the Alfa has a sizeable 415-litre boot, big by the standards of this class.
Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Performance & Drive
Like the two electric powertrains in the Junior family, the mild-hybrid system in the Ibrida has been seen widely elsewhere in the Stellantis group before. It is formed of a turbocharged 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol engine, augmented by a 21kW electric motor and a small battery, the latter of which is sited beneath the driver’s seat as it’s so tiny.
Although the Junior Ibrida only qualifies as a mild hybrid and not a full one, like a Toyota Prius, Alfa nevertheless claims it can spend more than 60 per cent of its time in town traffic driving on electric power alone, while even managing up to 45 per cent on slower extra-urban roads – all of which leads to a 20 per cent claimed reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, as compared to the 1.2 without the hybrid gear fitted. Officially, it’ll do 4.8 litres/100km, although we recorded a less impressive (but still decent) 6.5 litres/100km on a particularly testing drive route. Therefore, the Alfa does look like it will prove to be an efficient day-to-day car.
With peak outputs of 136hp and 230Nm, on paper the Ibrida is the weakest of all three Junior models. But it’s considerably lighter than its electric siblings, and that means it’s actually quicker for 0-100km/h than the Elettrica, the Ibrida managing a swift 8.9-second run. This says a lot about its performance, and the added 29hp and low-down torque of the electric motor certainly make the Alfa Romeo feel a lot stronger than a ‘mere’ 136hp. It has plenty of acceleration, it’s easy to get it up to motorway speeds, and it even sounds good when revved out. The crossover’s relatively low kerb weight also translates into highly capable handling, with sharp steering, very good body control and lots of grip allowing the Junior Ibrida to flow sweetly down a challenging road.
It’s even better for rolling refinement and comfort, however, which are the key attributes a compact crossover like this must have. The smaller wheels and lower weight result in a supple feel to the suspension, which in turn sees the Ibrida soaking up the worst of craggy urban road surfaces, yet it’s on the motorway where it really feels like a premium product. A languid, long-legged gait and reasonable suppression of both tyre and wind noise bless the Alfa Romeo with true, relaxing ‘big-car feel’ at high speeds – it’s stable, it’s solid and it’s assured, rather than being flighty and stressed-out.
Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida Pricing
The Ibrida starts from the same €34,995 figure as the basic Junior Elettrica in Ireland, which is a bonus. The standard equipment roster includes 17-inch alloys, LED lights on the outside, both 10.25-inch digital screens in the cabin and automatic climate control too. A Speciale trim upgrade will add 18-inch wheels, electrically adjustable ‘Spiga’ bucket front seats (these are not the aforementioned Sabelts, mind) and plenty of advanced driver assist systems (ADAS). It’s a fair price and a healthy level of standard kit, making the Junior Ibrida look terrific value considering it feels like a special product deserving of the heralded Alfa badge.
Carzone Verdict
It would be easy to dismiss the Alfa Romeo Junior Ibrida as nothing more than a badge-engineering exercise, as much of its technical and mechanical make-up has previously been seen elsewhere in other products. However, Alfa’s engineers have put their own clear, defined stamp on the Ibrida, resulting in a good-looking and great-driving small crossover that feels a cut above the mainstream norm. As long as you don’t need to regularly transport six-foot-tall passengers in the back of your car, the Junior Ibrida is a really attractive and keenly priced option in the B-segment class.