We at the editorial office always get excited about a new Alfa Romeo, and we remain so after the first test of the Junior Veloce.
The newcomer has the appearance a bit against him, because we petrolheads are not necessarily enthusiastic about this type of car. The problem is not so much that the Junior is initially only being launched as an electric model. No, the model does not appeal to us completely. The small crossovers are bought en masse by baby boomers. They can afford them, do not want to go crazy, but do want to sit a bit high. The kukident level is therefore quite high.
The feeling doesn’t necessarily get better when you browse through the model range of parent company Stellantis. Of course (and fortunately) the Alfa Junior shares its technology with a number of sister models. Pour an Alfa Romeo sauce over the Fiat 600e and e-2008 and you’re more or less there.
How does the Alfa Romeo Junior drive?
Especially for us spoiled journalists, Alfa Romeo opened a special part of the test facility in Balocco. The 20-kilometre Langhe circuit had never been accessible to drivers who were not part of the Alfa Romeo development team. All Alfa Romeo road cars were tested here, but the Alfa Corse team tested the race cars that participated in motorsports at this location, from F1 and DTM to Super Turismo. One more successful than the other, although it is also true that Alfa Romeo was the first ever Formula 1 world champion. Das war einmal, as the Germans would say.
By the way, there is a significant difference between the Veloce and the more average Juniors. The Veloce has larger 380 mm brakes with four-piston monobloc calipers, stabilizer bars front and rear and a 25 mm lowered chassis. The icing on the cake, however, is the Torsen limited slip differential, the old days of the Alfa 147 Q2 revived. Kudos Alfa Romeo.
Using the right ingredients is one thing, but making something tasty out of them is another. You always hope that the Italians make something good out of it and in this case they fortunately succeeded.
The litmus test came when Alfa Romeo’s PR manager picked us up for a few extra laps around Balocco, Alfa Romeo’s proving ground. The cool Italian instructor’s instructions consisted of the epic words: “Follow the green car.” Then we sped off in his Stelvio Q on a route that combined the regular circuit at Balocco with the “provincial” roads of the Langhe track.
The train of Juniors had to pull out all the stops and it is often at these moments that a car falls through the cracks. Not the Junior: we ram full on over kerbstones, throw the Junior into long bends, sometimes take a piece of grass with us. Here the limited slip differential works wonders: only sporadically does the electronics help out, otherwise everything is fixed mechanically via the Torsen diff.
The temperature of the battery, tires and brakes also remain within limits, while we still complete the equivalent of several laps on a regular circuit. After a quick espresso, there appears to be more time at the end of the day to push the Junior to the limit on the test track. Other journalists were already in the shuttle bus, but we were happy to do another lap on the sweltering Balocco.
It gives me time to adjust my reflexes to the behavior of the Torsen limited slip differential. In a normal front-wheel drive car, the only way to solve incipient understeer is to let go of the throttle, but in the Junior with Torsen diff you can also give it throttle to reduce the understeer. Of course there are limits to that, but it gives you more options during a sporty ride.
Are there any negative points?
Your neighbors will tease you that you actually drive a Peugeot. Luckily, you are mature enough to get over that. According to Alfa Romeo, the same team of engineers works on the 4C, 8C, Giulia Quafrigoflio, Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Giulia GTA. Conversely, it will not be in those press releases that they have also made compact crossovers handle tighter.
More problematic is the electric drivetrain, or more specifically the battery. A bigger battery is simply better, at least to a certain extent. The Junior gets the 54 kWh battery pack that we find in more Stellantis products. The WLTP range is 410 km, of which only 250 km remains under unfavorable conditions.
Charging is OK, at the regular pole the Junior gets up to 11 kW via a kW 3-phase connection. Fast charging goes with a maximum of 100 kW, in 30 minutes the battery of the Junior should be charged from 10 to 80%. After a good 200 km you can then go to the pole again and you can update your espresso addiction.
Oh yeah, and the infotainment system didn’t come across as all that brilliant, but I was too distracted by all the other fun activities to really mind.
By the way, the regular Junior is potentially a completely different handling car, so there is no other option than to save up for the Veloce.
Killer features
It’s an Alfa Romeo, that’s always a nice entrance. People who have never driven an Alfa don’t understand this, but women throw themselves at your feet. And men too, everyone wants to know you when you drive an Alfa Romeo.
Alternatives
Volvo EX30, Smart #1, BMW iX1, MINI Aceman, but also the Cupra Born VZ. If you are looking for the crossover feeling, you can stay in the first row. The Junior does not excel in this, but does not cut a sorry figure either. The BMW is clearly more premium, but the price tag is too.
In terms of sporty character, the Cupra Born comes closest. It has rear-wheel drive, 60 extra hp and is a lot more spacious for a few grand more.
Conclusion
If you can look past the Stellantis genes, there is a fun car that drives incredibly well. In that respect, this first electric Alfa Romeo succeeds. Unfortunately, the range is not that great and the price should be a bit sharper. Rationally, there are probably better cars.
But, the conclusion is a compliment for the Veloce: The Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce is in terms of price, positioning and driving pleasure the electric successor of the hot hatches that are dying out. You buy the Junior Veloce with your heart and you will not regret it. What we thought of competitor Cupra Born VZ you can see here.
