Alfa Romeo Junior: A Fresh Start with Some Compromises
Alfa Romeo is embarking on a fresh start with the introduction of the Junior, a compact car that aims to blend style and performance. However, while the exterior design may be eye-catching, the interior tells a different story.
Inside the Junior, you’ll find a mix of standard-issue Stellantis components that lack the premium feel expected from an Alfa Romeo. The switchgear and dashboard materials feel cheap and lack the luxurious touch found in competitors like the Mini Cooper or Lexus LBX.
One nod to Alfa’s heritage is the double cowl over the instrument cluster, but it simply covers a rectangular screen, adding little to the overall ambiance. The door cards are reminiscent of the Avenger and share the same low-quality feel, as does the dashboard.
The 10.25-inch touchscreen is integrated neatly into the dashboard, but the software lags behind rivals in terms of responsiveness and ease of use. While the configurability is a plus, the overall user experience falls short compared to class leaders.
Despite its efforts to position the Junior as a premium offering, Alfa Romeo falls short in interior finish. The dashboard and door cards are constructed from lower-grade plastics with a hard texture that fails to impress.
There are still some highlights, such as the ambient lighting package that adds a touch of flair with colour-changing options. The cozy interior, with its low seating position and driver-facing dashboard, creates a unique atmosphere, although taller drivers may find the driving position uncomfortable.
The Sabelt bucket seats in the Veloce trim add a sporty touch to the cabin, but some testers found them too narrow. In terms of space and utility, the Junior matches its platform-mates, but falls short in rear legroom and boot space compared to rivals.
While there are clever storage solutions like the mock engine cover hiding a charge cable bay, and an adjustable boot floor, the Junior may struggle to compete in practicality against its competitors.
