Summary
The Alfa Romeo Mito was a compact three-door supermini that arrived in the UK in 2009 as an alternative to premium rivals like the Audi A1 and Mini hatch – built on the same platform as the third-generation Fiat Punto.
Named after Milan, where the car was designed, and Turin, where the car was manufactured, the Mito range consisted of several petrol engines, the most expensive being turbocharged, and a more economical diesel engine. Both manual and automatic transmission models were sold.
Discontinued in 2018 with no direct replacement, the Alfa Romeo Mito received average to poor review scores over its lifetime. Some reviewers commented that the hatchback aged gracefully, while others asserted that it was a flawed model that never really lived up to the Alfa Romeo badge.
With its triangular grille and offset number plate, What Car? praised its distinctive styling that stood out in a very crowded supermini class, but concluded that “it’s all a little disappointing, with uninspiring performance from most of the engines, vague steering and an unsettled ride that for most of the time is downright uncomfortable.”
Several outlets, including What Car?, also added that, while the Mito was well-equipped for a car of its age, the interior “build quality feels disturbingly slack and space in the front and back is fairly limited” when compared to other premium superminis.
Parkers asserted that the turbocharged petrol engines at the top of the range were a highlight, while the diesel option “saps the fun” out of the driving experience. Lastly, some reviews questioned the reliability of the Mito – citing Alfa Romeo’s patchy history of reliability and a 2012 Mito recall that was triggered by braking system issues.
As of August 2024, the Alfa Romeo Mito holds a Used Car Expert Rating of D, with a score of 59%.
Mito highlights
- Distinctive exterior styling
- Lively turbocharged engines
- Decent fuel economy
- Well-equipped
Mito lowlights
- Uncomfortable suspension
- Cramped rear seating
- Cheap interior materials
- Questionable reliability
Key specifications
Body style: Three-door hatchback
Engines: petrol, diesel
Price when new: From £12,705 on-road
Launched: Summer 2009
Last updated: Autumn 2016
Replaced: Winter 2018/19
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: 2010-18
Score: 6 / 10
“The Alfa Romeo Mito is a stylish premium supermini, but it falls well behind the class best.”
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Model reviewed: 2010
“The Alfa Romeo MiTo should be a hugely enticing buy, with its distinctive styling, semi-premium badge and smart cabin.”
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Autocar
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Alfa Romeo Mito is a usable, fun package, even if its DNA drive modes can prove frustrating.”
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Business Car
Model reviewed: Twinair
Score: 7 / 10
“The Alfa Romeo delivers petrol class-leading emissions, and adequate performance.”
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Car
Model reviewed: Quadrifoglio Verde (2014)
Score: 6 / 10
“The changes to the Alfa Romeo Mito for 2014 cannot transform a car that lacks a hard enough edge for enthusiasts to be drawn away from some brilliant rivals, yet it doesn’t have the polish to pass a performance-luxury offering.”
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Model reviewed: TwinAir (2014)
Score: 4 / 10
“Much as we love Alfa Romeos, and appreciate the Mito’s distinctive looks and game engine, its all-round ability simply isn’t convincing enough against newer, sharper opposition.”
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Model reviewed: 1.3 JTD Veloce (2010)
Score: 8 / 10
“The Mito is a flawed gem, with stunning looks but lacklustre dynamics.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Alfa Romeo MiTo is a stylish and well-equipped supermini that should prove fairly cheap to run.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“If you find MINI’s too common and the Audi A1 too sensible, the Alfa Romeo MiTo’s stylish looks could be right up your street.”
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Carwow
Model reviewed: 2010-18
Score: 5 / 10
“From the classic grille to the offset number plate, this is a car that could hardly be more distinctive, but the suspension is lumpy and there’s no sharp handling to compensate.”
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Daily Mirror
Model reviewed:
“The Alfa MiTo is great fun to drive.”
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Eurekar
Model reviewed:
“The Alfa Mito is a stunning and very distinctive three door with a lovely shape in the Italian marque’s tradition; and decent to superb performance from engines with a wide range of power outputs.”
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Evo
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Alfa Mito TwinAir is one of those car that loves to be driven flat out at every occasion, and thanks to the very quick steering it’s not long before you find yourself having a ball.”
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Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Alfa Mito is willing enough, competent, but also rather plain and unmemorable.”
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Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: 1.3 JTDm-2
Score: 9 / 10
“The Alfa Romeo Mito is small and light, and has responsive steering, even though it may not be super-precise. Its chassis adds to the fun, providing agile handling and decent levels of grip.”
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Heycar
Model reviewed:
Score: 5 / 10
“The Alfa Mito has great looks and some very perky engines.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed:
Score: 2 / 10
“If style is your top priority then it’s tricky to top the MiTo, but it falls short in too many other areas.”
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Motors.co.uk
Model reviewed:
Score: 4 / 10
“The Alfa Mito has great styling, a good level of equipment, and is a good size for the city.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Alfa Mito is a stylish small premium car that’s ageing gracefully.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed:
“The MiTo is a stylish alternative to other hot superminis like the Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 GTI and Renault Clio RS. But it is also more expensive and that will hold it back.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: 1.3 JTDM-2 95HP Speciale
Score: 6 / 10
“The Alfa Romeo a car you could love, despite its irritations, as long as you’re not too fussy about the way it drives.”
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Top Gear
Model reviewed: 2010-18
Score: 5 / 10
“The Alfa MiTo has a decent engines, but good value it is not.”
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What Car?
Model reviewed:
Score: 2 / 10
“The Alfa Mito’s reputation for less-than-stellar reliability is somewhat off-putting.”
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Which?
Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Alfa Romeo MiTo is first and foremost a driver’s car that combines excellent engine performance with sporty handling in a package that delivers a five-star safety rating.”
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Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
The Alfa Romeo Mito was originally crash tested by Euro NCAP back in 2008, and was awarded five stars for adult occupant safety. However, this rating expired in January 2014 and is no longer valid as the car no longer meets the standards required for such a rating. This is normal practice, as Euro NCAP reviews its ratings on most cars annually with most ratings expiring after about six or seven years.
However, if you are comparing a used Mito to vehicles of similar age, whose ratings will have probably also expired, its safety rating score is still useful.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
The Alfa Romeo Mito preceded Green NCAP by about a decade and ended production before Green NCAP commenced, so it was never tested during its production cycle.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
Total claims: 76
Average repair cost: £416.14
Last updated: August 2024
Reliability score
All data based on MotorEasy average workshop costs for extended car warranty claims
As of August 2024, the Alfa Romeo Mito has a below-average reliability score of 62%. This score applies to all Mito models in MotorEasy’s database, registered from 2008 to 2018.
The average repair cost to date is just over £400, which is more than the cost of a used car warranty, so that’s certainly worth keeping in mind.
The most common problems to data relate to suspension issues, with an average repair bill of only £180. However, engine and gearbox problems are significantly more expensive, with an average repair bill of more than £1,000.
If you’re looking at a used Mito, make sure that any used car warranty covers all of the potential problem areas shown above.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Alfa Romeo Mito
Date: November 2017
Model types: All
Build dates: 09/2016 to 03/2017
Number of vehicles affected: 352
Defect: Due to a potential non-conformity in the supplier’s production process the front seat belt pretensioner could malfunction and the front seat belt pretensioner may not function as intended in the event of a deployment. The locking mechanism operates independently from the pretensioner therefore locking mechanism functionality is still guaranteed.
Remedy: Fit new seat belt assembly to either the driver or passenger front seat or both. The seat belt assembly to be replaced will be determined on the vehicle VIN/ chassis number which will be checked against a list to ensure the correct operation carried out.
Date: December 2012
Model types: All
Build dates: 06/2012 to 09/2012
Number of vehicles affected: 268
Defect: A connector on the brake servo pipe may fail and cause a loss of vacuum assistance necessitating the driver to include additional effort when braking.
Remedy: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to fit a new brake servo pipe.
As of August 2024, there have been two DVSA vehicle safety recalls on the Alfa Romeo Mito. These cover seat belts and brakes. These date from 2017 and 2012, respectively, so any required remedial work should have been done long ago.
Not all vehicles are affected by recalls. You can check to see if your car is included in any of the above recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Alfa Romeo dealer.
If your car is affected by a recall, the vehicle must be repaired and you should not be charged for any work required. If you are buying a used Mito, you should insist that any outstanding recall work is completed before you take delivery of the vehicle.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
No data yet
As of August 2024, we don’t have independently verified data available for the Alfa Romeo Mito. Check back again soon.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Alfa Romeo Mito has received
2010
- What Car? Awards – Best Supermini
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Alfa Romeo Mito, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Audi A1 | Citroën C3 | Ford Fiesta | Mazda 2 | Mini hatch | Peugeot 208 | Renault Clio | SEAT Ibiza | Skoda Fabia | Volkswagen Polo
