Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 TCT MultiAir Turbocharged Review: Gearing up

What we like:

You don't have to swap gears on your own anymore in a MiTo

What we dislike:

Unresponsive and stubborn TCT gearbox

The MiTo's stylish interior features ample space for four adults, the rear featuring fairly good amounts of head and legroom. The boot is not exactly commodious but it has a deep floor - you access it by pressing the Alfa badge on the boot lid while a simple (yet effective, once again) leather strap acts a a handle for closing the hatch.

The driving position is spot on with the driver greeted by cowled instruments. Once again, the use of Italian grammar like ‘acqua',and ‘giri'on the instruments' type face ignites the senses. The dashboard features a customizable coloured and textured surface to brighten things up a tad in the cabin while the materials used feel mostly of substantial quality.

Safety is also high on the MiTo agenda - it has been awarded a full five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests thanks to passive safety features like seven airbags and so on.

When it comes to designing cars with their heart, no one does it better than the Italians. The MiTo is once again testament to this point - every bit of it is conceived with emotion and soul over the mind, which makes this small wonder a true Alfa Romeo in blood and spirit. The MiTo has a soul that none of its competitors possess and with the new gearbox, will appeal to a wider audience. It would be even better if Alfa's first stab at a twin clutch gearbox is more sorted. Petrol heads and Alfistis though, should stick to the more fun and even more powerful manual gearbox model.

Credits: Story and Photos by Raymond Lai