Alfa Romeo MiTo Sport TCT 2011 Review

Price Guide (recommended price before statutory & delivery charges): $34,990
Options fitted to test car (not included in above price): Leather seats $2500
Crash rating: Five-star ANCAP
Fuel: 91 RON ULP
Claimed fuel economy (L/100km): 5.5
CO2 emissions (g/km): 128
Also consider: Audi A1, MINI Cooper, Renault Clio

There's a real sense of occasion to driving an Alfa Romeo, an unquantifiable, indescribable presence that permeates almost all aspects of the car. A large part of this compelling presence can be attributed to the vehicle's country of origin, Italy, and it's etched all over the car's design, inside and out.

It's an attractive car, exotic in some ways, and yet for all this aesthetic magic there's something sorely disappointing about the car. Long story short, the gearbox is mediocre.

On test is the Alfa Romeo MiTo TCT 1.4 MultiAir, where TCT stands for twin clutch technology, and that was enough to get the writer rather excited, based on past experiences with dual clutch transmissions we've sampled in Volkswagen, Volvo and Ford vehicles.

However, the gearbox is lacking in refinement and response, and though it does have a few redeeming features, it left a bad taste in one's mouth. The TCT twin clutch gearbox uses dry clutches, unlike the wet clutch setup used by Volkswagen, and Alfa claims this configuration results in six per cent better efficiency.

Efficient it may be, but when the by-product is a lack of refinement and response, the driving experience is compromised. There's a real sense of unfulfilled potential here, a car that is very capable in many ways and lovely to sit in, great to look at and touch, but suffers because of its sub-par gear changes.

For instance, when planting the foot and opening up the throttle, the gearbox takes its time dropping a cog or two - there's a significant hesitation - and it's slower to react that its closest twin clutch rival (which has been on the market for several years now). The MiTo's TCT often has trouble deciding which gear it wants to utilise, which sees the engine over-rev when it didn't need to.

There's also a substantial dead zone between neutral and first or reverse, where the gearbox needs to think for a moment before it engages a gear.

Alfa Romeo's TCT does trump VW's DSG in one area, and that's when you come to a stop at traffic lights - there's no shuddering or pushing. Step on the brake pedal and the car doesn't try to scooch forward or tuck in. A minor victory is better than none at all...

The gear changes are little more responsive when you're not demanding maximum thrust and in everyday traffic the gearbox is tolerable. Switching the 'DNA' model to dynamics also helps somewhat and the tip-tronic mode is a saving grace of sorts, resulting in slightly faster shift times, but they still don't make up for the gearbox's inherent lack of response.

We recorded an overall fuel consumption figure of 7.8L/100km and we were driving it pretty hard for the most part, which makes that end result impressive.

Alfa Romeo claims an average fuel consumption of 5.5L/100km and CO2 of 128g/km. The car also features a stop-start system that can be switched off, and though not as smooth as some systems, it will save fuel during the urban commute.

Power from the baby Alfa's 1.4-litre engine MultiAir engine is above average, outputting 99kW, while torque is formidable at 230Nm, providing the car with a rapid 8.2 second zero to 100km/h sprint time. On the road the car is relatively nippy, but could do with more horsepower to match its torque output.

Interestingly, the MultiAir engine replaces the traditional cam and valve setup with electro-hydraulic solenoids, and while this may improve power and efficiency, it makes a bit of noise and runs a little ragged. The coarseness of the engine isn't a deal breaker (unlike the gearbox), and it actually adds character to the car, giving it more voice than its European rivals.

Standard equipment on the MiTo Sport TCT includes power windows, locks and mirrors, 17-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, front fog lamps, plus Blue & Me [Bluetooth] connectivity which we found difficult to use.

Other equipment includes alloy scuff plates and pedals, rear parking sensors, auto wipers, dual-zone climate control and an auto-dimming rear view mirror. By and large, it's a very well-equipped compact car whose features help expedites the little things while motoring.

The MiTo looks fantastic, and is easily one of the most interesting designs in the light car segment. The curvaceous roofline and bold brake lights are inspired by the Ferrari-killing Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione super car while the front end is unmistakably Alfa -- the bold V-line grille, brash circular headlight clusters and a sporty, low-slung stance. Add nicely sized 17-inch alloy wheels with aggressively profiled tyres, red painted brake callipers and a rear spoiler to the equation and the overall effect is one of confidence and style.

If Alfa Romeo could squeeze more sporty DNA into its designs, we'd probably be looking at a football on wheels.

Step inside the car and the sporty feel has been blended with a subtle a touch of luxury, from the ribbed leather seats to the alloy scuff plates and pedals, to the minimal instrument panel with analogue gauges and italicised fonts. At night everything is lit up with a red hue and a carbon weave finish on the dashboard looks fantastic.

Time spent in the cabin is time well spent -- it feels like a low-key Lambo thanks to the clever implementation high quality materials in all the major touch points -- seats, steering wheel, gear shifter, dashboard. Simply put, the MiTo looks and feels superb; aesthetics are unmatched in its class in my opinion.

Seating is good, with an upright seating position that can be manually tailored to suit your height, and though rear seat room is not too bad, rear leg room is a bit squeezy. Rearward vision compromised due to the high and thin rear window, but the wing mirrors are great, making up for the rear window's compactness.

The car steers well, very well in fact, and this side of a Renault Clio wouldn’t be troubled by too many other light cars. On a tight and twisting ribbon of bitumen, the Mito Sport TCT fired through the tighter turns without protest nor body roll.

The ride quality is best described as firm and while the plucky Italian's stiff suspension suits flowing mountain passes, it doesn't suit everyday driving as much. Indeed ride quality is not what you'd call plush, but at least Alfa Romeo has stuck to its guns and delivered a sporty, (almost uncompromising) chassis tune. The stoppers are very effective and deliver good deceleration should you ever need to pull up in a hurry.

For all it's technological innovations, the Alfa Romeo MiTo Sport TCT falls short of the mark due a sporadic transmission. If you have to have the auto, then definitely give it a test drive because the car has many redeeming features - just don't expect Volkswagen levels of refinement.

While it's not perfect, there is something very appealing about driving the MiTo. Like many Alfa Romeo vehicles, this particular car is so unlike any of its rivals (especially its Asian contemporaries) ensuring it never feels like an appliance. The MiTo has soul, something that's in short supply in today's new car market place.

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