Alfa Romeo reveals new entry-level crossover – And it could be coming to South Africa

Alfa Romeo has officially revealed its next model in the form of the Milano, a compact SUV that will serve as the brand’s new entry-level car.

The Italian marque’s current line-up only consists of three units – the Tonale, Stelvio, and Giulia – all of which are priced towards the higher end of the spectrum with the cheapest option, the hybrid Tonale, costing R787,900 in South Africa.

The Milano, in contrast, is intended to be a more affordable option catering to fans of the company’s past works like the Mito and Giulietta hatchbacks, which were discontinued in 2018 and 2020, respectively.

That’s not all that makes the new crossover interesting, however, as it will also be Alfa’s first all-electric car, but petrolheads needn’t feel left out as the Milano will ship with a turbo-petrol hybrid powertrain as well.

A company representative told TopAuto that the Alfa Romeo Milano is most definitely under investigation for the South African market, however no timelines can be given at this early stage.

There’s a lot going on with the Milano

Alfa Romeo has put a lot of eggs in its new Milano basket, as it marks the brand’s return to one of the most popular vehicle segments in the world.

It’s also the automaker’s first battery-electric vehicle (BEV), and Alfa is claiming that the crossover will deliver sporty performance and “best-in-class” driving dynamics.

Unveiled in Milan, the car is built on Stellantis’ E-CMP platform, the same one used by models like the Jeep Avenger and Peugeot 2008, and measures 4,170mm in length, 1,780mm in width, and 1,500mm in height.

Noteworthy design elements include muscular wheel arches, limited overhangs, a “truncated tail” nodding back to the Guilia TZ, a set of “3+3” adaptive Matrix LED headlights, and a new V-shaped grille that has the carmaker’s cross-and-serpent logo boldly cut out.

Inside, the cabin follows many of the same signature elements as Alfa’s other models, with a telescopic 10.25-inch digital driver display, a compact steering wheel, lightweight Sabelt sports seats, a customizable 10.25-inch infotainment screen, and a quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover) pattern for the aircon vents.

The Milano is equipped with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems that utilizes 360-degree cameras and proximity sensors, and it boasts a 400-litre boot – the best of any BEV in its class – with an additional “frunk” under the bonnet on the electric models to hide the charging cable.

Alfa additionally revealed that its new crossover will have an exclusive “Speciale” top-of-the-range launch edition model, which will be available with both powertrains and features 18-inch “Petali” alloy wheels, Brera Red matte finishes in the cabin, “Spiga” vinyl and fabric upholstery, a leather steering wheel, an electronically-adjustable driver’s seat with a massage function, a hands-free tailgate, ambient lighting, aluminium pedals, an 11kW wireless charger, and keyless entry and start.

Dynamic driving

Elaborating further on the “best-in-class” driving dynamic claim, Alfa Romeo explained that the Milano has specially-calibrate steering, and that the Veloce models have 25mm lower ground clearance, front and rear roll bars to guarantee quick cornering with high grip levels, 380mm front brake discs with four-piston monobloc calipers, and 20-inch tyres designed to provide as much grip as possible.

Furthermore, the crossover uses Alfa’s D.N.A driving modes for Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced, with a spectrum of focusing on performance versus comfort and energy efficiency.

The Milano Elettrica is the fully-electric model, and can be had with two different e-motors providing 116kW or 179kW.

In either case, the compact SUV is powered by a 54kW lithium-ion battery, which can provide between 410km and 590km of driving on the 116kW motor, though the carmaker did not disclose the range of the other more powerful drive unit.

With a 100kW DC fast charger, it will take less than 30 minutes for a 10-80% top-up, and the car features an EV Routing navigation system that keeps track of its charging health and automatically calculates any needed stops along a route while factoring in things like real-time traffic and the user’s driving style.

Those curious about the hybrid can look to the Milano Ibrida, which is available as a front-wheel-drive or Q4 all-wheel-drive model, and uses a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder, 100kW petrol engine in tandem with a variable geometry turbocharger (VGT), a 48-volt battery, a 21kW electric motor, and a six-speed automatic gearbox.

Alfa Romeo Milano