ALFA ROMEO JUNIOR IBRIDA

Electric baby crossover is followed by a 134bhp hybrid

- ILLYA VERPRAET

TESTED 25.9.24, NORTH JUTLAND, DENMARK DELIVERIES SUMMER

IT was bound to happen once Alfa Romeo got folded into the Stellantis family: no more super-expensive, bespoke, rear-wheel-drive platforms like the one that it developed for the Giulia and Stelvio. Now the brand's job is to take the same bones as Citroën, Vauxhall, Jeep, DS et al and somehow make something with them that feels like a true Alfa. A tough job.

Enter the Alfa Junior. Small crossovers are what the people are buying, and small crossovers are what they will get. Underneath, it's the same car as the Peugeot 2008, Jeep Avenger, Fiat 600 and a few others, but Alfa makes much of its sporty character, talking of "symbiosis" and "authentic emotions".

We've previously driven a few Elettrica (that's Italian for electric) versions, and in Veloce form, with 276bhp, a limited-slip differential and Sabelt bucket seats, it showed promise. But Alfa is aware that for many people an EV doesn't work, so in the middle of this year it will also introduce a petrol version, the Ibrida (that's Italian for hybrid).