Alfa Romeo MiTo released in Australia
July 9, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Alfa Romeo have today released the MiTo to Australian buyers with a keen emphasis on sharp driving dynamics, high equipment levels and of course, safety.
The MiTo is available in two variants locally, the standard MiTo and the MiTo Sport. Both versions come equipped with standard trip computer, cruise control, air-conditioning, remote locking with boot release, steering wheel audio controls, front armrest with locker, leather steering wheel, VDC with hill hold, front electric windows, DNA and a premium six speaker audio system headlining the standard equipment package.
MiTo Sport gains Blue&Me Bluetooth telematics with a USB connection, climate control air conditioning, sports bumpers, spoiler and pedals, rear parking sensors, Brembo Brakes, auto wipers, lights and interior mirror as well as front fog lights.
“The moment is right to introduce a new sporty compact to the sector,” says Edward Butler, General Manager for Alfa Romeo in Australia. “Cool, young drivers will relish the choice and excitement that this new model – a real driver’s car – brings. Keen pricing, Alfa’s evocative heritage and the MiTo’s good looks mark it out as a genuine contender within this competitive sector.”
Safety is also paramount with both models featuring seven airbags (front, side, curtain and driver’s kneebag), self-aligning head restraints and hazard light activation during heavy braking.
The standard MiTo comes with an 88kW 1.4-litre turbo charged four cylinder engine that manages 0-100km/h times of just 8.8 seconds (top speed 198km/h) while at the same time delivering fuel economy returns of 6.1 litres per 100km.
While the top spec MiTo Sport offers a 114kW 1.4-litre turbo charged four cylinder engine capable of an 8.0 second run to 100km/h and on to a top speed of 215km/h. Fuel economy returns are 6.5 litres per 100km (combined).
Sharing the same platform as the Fiat 500, the all-new Alfa Romeo MiTo is priced from $31,490* for the standard model, and from $37,490* for the MiTo Sport.
*Prices are a guide as recommended to us by the manufacturer.
Print it: 
Um…. Interesting VW had to put super&turbo charge in the 1.4 engines to make it more powerful and also use less petrol..0-100km/h take 8.0 sec in golf 118TSI. ON the ohter hand, Alfa romio put the turbo in the 1.4 engine and the resource come out the same 0-100km/k in 8.0 sec, but golf use 6.4l/100km againt 6.5l/100km in Mito.
English not your strong point TSI?
I don’t think this thing looks all that bad, could be a lot worse huh?
The Golf is a much bigger car. Lets compare apples?
When I first saw this car I thought it was unbelievably ugly but I saw a black one the other day up close and you know what? It’s looks great. Just like an Alfa Romeo should. I wouldn’t say beautiful but it isn’t as ugly as I first thought it was. I’d still rather a Mini but it’s good to have choice.
TSI^^^^
The difference is the Mito has s/ex appeal while the golf [designed by Italians no less!] is well, a golf.
I believe this will be the cheapest new AlfaRomeo you will ever be able to buy.
Alfa for the masses!
Cheers
F-0
Unfortunately at those prices I don’t think Alfa is going to be selling a whole lot of MiTos in Australia. How many times can you slice up the same inner-city latte-sipping fashionista market of the three east-coast capitals between the Fiat 500, Fiat Punto, Smarts, and Mini Cooper before it completely disappears? And that’s not counting people who will compare the MiTo Sport directly to something like a Golf GTI for barely $2000 more.
Hammond was driving one on the latest Top Gear episode. Some of the pictures don’t do justice to how good this car looks, especially in black or grey as shown in TG.
Btw the Mi.To is built on the same platform as the Punto, not the 500.
Frugal One – you say that the Alfa Romeo Mito has S-e-x Appeal…. so how many beers did you have to have before it started to look attractive? I mean from the front it looks like a stoned Parrot…. I’d rather have a Mini Cooper S
Or an Alfa Romeo Brera V6
the only itiliant car i’d buy is ferrari, zonda and maybe masarati
I like it alot, its different, but to be honest i would buy the fiat 500 for some unknown reason…just like it that little bit better i guess. Would be better as a rear wheel though….
^^^^^^^^FrugalOne Says:
July 9th, 2009 at 11:05 am
First shipment is totally sold out, next shipment just about to, earliest you can get your hands on one is Dec/Jan.2010
Okay hey that’s great…. and HOW MANY cars are inthose shipments????
It all well and good to make those claims but when you are only getting around 100 per month it doesn’t say much. Remember when XR5 was released and within 2 weeks it had order banks blowing out 8 months??? SOunded fantastic but in reality Aust only got 40 cars amonth. Todays public WILL NOT wait 3>4 months for a vehicle like this when there are so many other cars onthe market that offer similar Pananche. Lets see Polo, C2/3/4, Clio, Punto, 207and dare I say it (because you will laugh but the Europeans aren’t they put them in the same class) but even the New Fiesta (in ZETEC Guise) is a competitor for the same market place.
As for the car I like it it is quirky and looks different to the crowd. But then (apart from Polo so do all the others in that list)
The fact this car is a sellout goes to prove there are a lot of gullible people out there who dont mind being separated from their hard earned.
The only car on sale in Australia more ridiculously overpriced than this is the Honda Civic Si Hatch.
The mini is overpriced too but it has outstanding dynamics which in part makes up for some of the financial burden of buying one. Not to mention the Mini’s excellent resale, which is something Alfa can only dream of.
From all reports the Mito has ‘average’ steering with little or no feel, and is no more than a competent handler.
Then again, I suspect those qualities matter little to the Latte set.
So, what’s my point?
Dont have one! Except to say this thing is about $5k over priced, in my view.
However, if you’ve bought one, I hope you get a lot of joy from it.
Oh and I should say I really want to love Alfa..I really do. The 159 Ti is the best looking sedan in the world in my opinion. But for God’s sake, The 159 needs some grunt (at least 150kw 4cyl and 200kw 6cyl), a fruity exhaust note and some German-worrying dynamics. If it had those i’d be tempted to forget about the depreciation and just yell VIVA ITALIA!
Cheers
JJ
I test drove the ’sport’ on Monday. I enquired about the fully loaded model with sunroof, leather and chrome pack on the headlights and tail-lights – and um they had not sold one at the Melbourne Dealership that i tested it at… Anyway it is a beast to drive, much more fun than the Mini, feels more alive. Can i say i agree it looks odd in pics, but in the flesh it looks MUCH MUCH better. My only concern is that of re-sale at the end of a lease, and are Alfas really that problematic? Everyone i speak to tells me to stay away because of reliability… Travelling to Europe frequently i see them everywhere, yet here in Aus they seem to have a terrible rep for reliability. Does anyone know if this is really the case with the new models. I am keen to buy one, but will go the mini option on reliability. Had a Golf GTi – so these are the two cars im keen on. Can anyone advise? Cheers :)
for all this talk – i hope this is more reliable than the rest of the afla range …. choice between this and mini and the answer is mini … at least it will run when i want it to!
anti-spam word ‘way’ as in this car is way overpriced.. nice one caradvice
half of you are living in la la land to seriously believe that alfa romeo is not reliable???
now have 73,000km on my 159 and that bella has been 100% rock solid.
as for my wifes 23,000km mini? that piece of junk has cost us over $9000 in repair bills.
we are now trading the mini for the mito as it is way more fun to drive and way cheaper than a mini.
as for alfa depreciation? do your bloody homework? to purchase say, an audi a3 or bmw 3 series the same spec as the 159? you need to find an extra $18,000/$20,000
Alfa Romeo. Looking gorgeous, unashamedly Italian, off-skewered off-set number plate, brazen looks and couldn’t give two hoots for Nuremburg lap time conquests. While journalists are out there measuring which car’s got the biggest willy, Alfa’s around the back, dragging on a ciggie and enticing everyone with its charm, looks and good manners.
follow the crowd consumer = showing everyone you have the right school uniform
Alfa = not giving a shi5 about the ‘right’ uniform; but having the right heart.
I have an Alfa 156, my bro has a Mini. His car had so much problem its not funny. The Alfa in comparison has given no trouble. Modern Alfas are not any less reliable than other Euro brands. Like everyone else, was very hesitant about buying an Alfa, but what I found is… most people commenting on how bad Alfa reliability have never owned a modern one. You can’t expect it to be bullet proof like a Japanese car, you need to make sure it is serviced regularly like all euro cars.
!Frontman^^^
NFI, they most likely did it as you claim on purpose to make themselves feel all warm-n-fuzzy?
Where is the MultiAir system?
Where is the auto?
Where is the GTA powerhouse?
Great and class leading vehicle for Yuppi/DINK’s set, but not suitable for my lifestyle.
Cheers
F-0
FrugalOne: I think that if you walked into an Alfa dealership, the salesman would refuse to sell you one just out of principle.
frugalone,
i feel sorry for you.
What really gets on my nerves is how people are already trying to mispronounce the MiTo name. Jez Spinks on Drive is encouraging people to pronounce it like “me too” which is totally wrong (in Italian this pronounciation would be spelt “mitu”).
FYI, it is pronounced like “me-toe” but with the emphasis more on the “i” and a short “o”.
Will seriously consider looking at this once the Dual Clutch Auto arrives in Mid 2010… hers hoping the supply issues have cleared up by then too…
According to Carsales, the auto is due her in mid 2010, and its a double clutch gearbox… shouldnt be too bad…
Hmm, I thought it shared the platform with a Punto.
I was going to just change the badges on mine when I got the chance. :p
Fillipo – pronunciation only relates to the spoken word that is the way you say something.. Sure the way you say something depends on how a word is spelt etc
However; I’m not sure how you can get annoyed at the way people are “pronouncing” the word Mi-To given that they are writing it [in a sentence] NOT saying it.. I mean everyone is spelling it the same way aren’t they?
The MiTo shares the same engine as used by Fiat in the Punto Sport and Ritmo Sport with just a bit more power.
Couldn’t have the Alfa putting out more power than a Fiat!
The build quality is excellent as one would expect from a modern European maker. We just have to convince the motoring public that today’s Alfa/Fiat of this fact and not to harp back to the models of the 70s and 80s when Russian steel was used in their manufacture.
Nice and I hope it does well against the Mini, although exterior design is a bit odd, not like the classic GTV’s… However I will wait for the VW Scirocco which should be better all around and less expensive.