Alfa Romeo Junior brings Italian flair to compact car segment

It’s a simple fact of life that one day your kids will grow up and take an identity of their own.
And that’s exactly what has happened with one of Alfa Romeo’s most favoured children, the Junior, which was a cheeky, charming and athletic rogue when it was little but has now matured into an enhanced soft roader that treads lightly with a gentle carbon footprint.

Yes, the Junior nameplate has returned to Alfa Romeo showrooms for the first time since the late 1970s as an additional pillar in the storied Italian brand’s line-up, sitting below the Giuila, Stelvio and Tonale as a compact urban runabout that is available with either a hybrid or fully electric powertrain. So, let’s check it out.

The 2025 Alfa Romeo Junior is offered in a single high-level model trim with the choice of either hybrid (Ibrida) or fully electric (Elettrica) powertrains.

The former kicks off the range at $45,900 plus on-road costs, while the battery-powered model starts from $57,900 plus on-roads.

Both versions are available in six colour choices, with White Sempione the only tone that doesn’t attract a $1990 premium, like Black Tortana, Red Brera, Blue Navigali, Arese Steel and Galleria Grey.

The only other choice buyers need to make is whether to fit the optional sunroof, which adds a further $1990 to the purchase price.

Both the Junior Ibrida and Elettrica come equipped with a generous level of standard equipment that includes 18-inch diamond cut alloy wheels, automatic LED matrix headlights, LED tail lamps, privacy glass and a two-tone black roof on all colours, except Black – naturally!

Inside the cabin, the ‘Spiga’ seats are trimmed in a mixture of black cloth and synthetic leather with red finishes, with the driver enjoying power seat adjust. and heating while the driver has an additional massage function.

Plus, it has climate control air conditioning, keyless entry with push button start and a twin digital display with a pair of 10.25-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment, which incorporates a six-speaker audio system with DAB+ digital radio, wireless smartphone mirroring for Apple and Android devices, embedded sat-nav and Alfa Romeo connected services, as well as a wireless phone charging pad.

In typical Alfa Romeo fashion, the Junior’s cabin mimics its bold exterior styling with a more sporting ambience than most other compact cars due to some trademark design cues such as the binocular-inspired digital instrument cluster, the thick-rimmed and leather-trimmed, three-spoke steering wheel, and snug front bucket seats.

And then there’s some truly unique elements that add even more flair, like the fact that the centre display is slightly angled towards the driver, the illuminated circular air vents are Quadrifoglio-inspired, linking back to the brand’s rich racing heritage, alloy pedals, and matching faded graphic in the seat backs and cushions.

It’s got a genuine sense of style that is truly Italian. Yet, the Junior doesn’t compromise on practicality thanks to clever packaging.

There’s decent headroom across both rows, and more legroom in the back and cargo capacity in the boot than you’d expect from a compact soft-roader.

The front seats provide excellent support during spirited driving, yet are comfortable on long journeys and offer plenty of adjustment to suit all sizes as well as a commanding forward view through the expansive windscreen.

The digital instrument cluster is bright and displays all the information necessary, but with a retro touch as both the speedo and tacho replicate traditional Alfa Romeo analogue gauges.

The widescreen central display is mounted lower than many others below the air vents, which ensures a more direct flow from the ventilation system on your face rather than your torso.
And its menu structure is easy to navigate and fully customizable, spotlighting the myriad of functions and features.

The slim centre console rises between the front seats to highlight the prominent starter button at the top, with a touch button gear selector, drive mode selector and electronic parking brake below.
In front of the start button is a deep well for the wireless charging pad that keeps mobile devices from flinging around the cockpit when cornering.

And it’s nice to see a bank of physical buttons for often-used functions for the ventilation system and audio volume dial.

The Alfa Romeo Junior has yet to be tested by an independent safety authority such as ANCAP or its European counterpart, but it does come equipped with a comprehensive array of safety systems and crash avoidance features.

This includes a safety cell with six airbags, as well as advanced driver aids such as autonomous emergency braking with vulnerable road user detection, adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, lane keeping assistance, blind spot warning, traffic sign recognition and driver monitoring.
It has a top-view parking display on the centre screen with front, rear and side parking sensors.

As previously mentioned, the Alfa Romeo Junior is available with a choice of two powertrains, a petrol-electric hybrid in the Ibrida and a battery-electric set-up in the Elettrica.

In the former, the Ibrida pairs a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine that produces 107kW of combined power output (ICE + emotor), which delivers a torque output of 230Nm.

It sends power to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission with paddle shifters and can accelerate from 0-100km/h in under nine seconds while consuming 95 RON premium unleaded at a claimed average of 4.1L/100km.

The Ibrida uses the electric motor across a variety of scenarios, including from a standstill, in slow-moving traffic, when parking and at highway speeds for short periods when cruising at a steady state.

The Elettrica replaces the petrol engine entirely and inserts a more powerful electric motor that produces 115kW of power and 260Nm of torque.

It is provided with energy stored in a 54kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers 407km of driving range and can be replenished between 20-80 per cent in around 27 minutes on a 100kW DC fast charger.

Like all Alfa Romeo models, the Junior is covered by a factory five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty with free roadside assistance.
The Elettrica’s high-voltage battery is also guaranteed for eight years and 160,000km.

The Junior Ibrida requires servicing every 12 months or 15,000km, with the Elettrica every 12 months or 25,000km.

As with any Alfa Romeo, the Junior stands out among its more conservative rivals with a lovable sense of Italian style and sporting character.

It looks like nothing else in its class on the outside, feels genuinely unique on the inside without compromising on space or practicality, and has an equally charming driving character whichever powertrain option you choose.

So, yes, if you want a fresh and funky urban runabout that treads lightly on the environment but stomps heavily with style, then there’s a lot to like about the Alfa Romeo Junior.

Now is the perfect time to take one for a test drive. Explore more about the Alfa Romeo Junior today.

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