2013 Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4L 6MT FWD (78 HP)

Vehicle Overview

Six years after it introduced the MiTo lineup in its portfolio, Alfa Romeo refreshed its smallest-sized hatchback and gave it a smaller engine and a slight visual update.

During the world financial crisis, most automakers suffered greatly. Alfa Romeo was also shattered, but it managed to dodge the bankruptcy bullet, unlike other big names in the industry. One of the reasons was the MiTo. This supermini vehicle was affordable, and those who craved a better-styled vehicle than any other mundane cars on the road could get it. At the same time, Alfa Romeo and Fiat engineers tried to create fuel-efficient engines, and one of them was the so-called Twin-Air unit that won the “Engine of the Year” award in the one-liter category. As a result, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Lancia installed it under the hoods of their small vehicles, such as the Grande Punte, the MiTo, and the Ypsilon, respectively. Alfa Romeo also improved its little hatchback to make it more appealing to those customers who dared to be different and show up with something other than an economy box on wheels.

The MiTo featured a fresh front fascia with chromed horizontal slats on its grille. Furthermore, on the lower bumper, the automaker added some shiny bits around the air intake to give the vehicle more personality. In addition, the trim around the headlights featured a burnished finish. Depending on the grade, the automaker provided it with round fog lamps integrated into individual clusters that flanked the apron.

With a profile that couldn’t be upgraded too much due to production costs, the MiTo preserved most of the parts, and that included the frameless windows for the doors. That was a unique feature in the segment. Alfa Romeo also provided customers an option for chromed door mirror caps and handles, which contrasted better if they were applied to the bodywork’s black or dark red colors. At the back, the automaker added the same burnished finish around the round taillights that flanked the tailgate.

Alfa Romeo also improved and updated the interior. Customers could opt for a new infotainment system developed together with Continental. It was available with the TomTom navigation system and included an advanced Bluetooth connection that allowed SMS text message readings via text-to-speech function. Furthermore, the 5-inch touchscreen allowed customers to select their desired music from their iPods connected to the system via a USB port. They could also use a regular MP3 player via an Aux-in, 3.5-mm jack. Besides this technological upgrade, the Italian automaker added distinctive dashboard designs depending on the grade.

But Alfa Romeo didn’t just update the MiTo’s look. It also worked under the hood. There, it installed the award-winning two-cylinder Twin-Air engine. This pocket-sized, 0.9-liter turbocharged powerplant featured advanced technologies that lower the fuel consumption. It also provided enough torque and power to make the supermini a practical in-city vehicle. The MiTo’s engine lineup also consisted of other gasoline or turbodiesel units, which could provide customers enough energy for their daily activities.