By Malusi Msomi

The Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica recently joined us on test, marking the brand’s first fully electric offering in South Africa. Compact and clearly aimed at urban buyers, it still manages to carry that unmistakable Alfa character.

Design and interior

From the outside, the Junior Elettrica looks every bit the Alfa. The familiar shield grille sits proudly up front, flanked by slim LED headlights, while 18-inch alloy wheels round off the stance. It may not be as aggressive as the range-topping Veloce model, but it still turns heads in traffic.

Inside, the layout is clean and modern. Twin 10.25-inch screens handle infotainment and driver information, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto included. The cabin feels well thought out, and importantly, it retains proper physical climate control buttons. A small win, but a meaningful one.

Front occupants get comfortable cloth seats, and overall space is decent for a compact electric SUV. There are a few drawbacks. Rear visibility is not the best, and rear passengers miss out on door bins, which feels like an odd omission.

Performance and efficiency

Power comes from a front-mounted electric motor producing 118kW and 260Nm, with Alfa claiming a 0–100km/h time of 9 seconds. On paper, it may not scream performance, but on the road it feels lively and responsive, especially in city driving.

More importantly, it is genuinely enjoyable to drive. The steering has a nice weight to it, the ride is comfortable over longer distances, and it does not feel like just another appliance on wheels. There is still some personality in the way it moves, which is refreshing in the EV space.

Alfa Romeo claims energy consumption of 15.1kWh/100km. During our time with the car, we managed around 14.5kWh/100km, slightly better than the official figure. That translated to a real-world range of approximately 395km on a full charge. Alfa claims between 398km and 410km, so our results were not far off.

Verdict

Priced from R799,900, the Junior Elettrica enters an increasingly competitive new energy vehicle segment. It may not be the most powerful EV on sale, but it combines distinctive styling, a pleasant cabin and solid efficiency.

Most importantly, it is great to drive. For buyers looking for a compact electric SUV with character rather than just range figures, the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica makes a compelling case.