New Alfa Romeo budget SUV confirmed for South Africa – Details

Alfa Romeo has confirmed that the Junior SUV is on its way to South Africa.

The Italian carmaker’s local division recently posted a teaser on its Instagram profile showing a silhouette of a car with an accompanying text reading “launching soon in South Africa.”

While the Junior is not explicitly mentioned by name, the vehicle’s distinctive shape and daytime running lights leave little to the imagination, and the company previously told TopAuto that the model was under consideration for our market.

No official release date has been provided yet, but considering that we’re entering the second quarter of the year, it’s possible that the Junior could arrive by the end of June if we’re lucky.

An Alfa for everybody

Alfa Romeo’s contemporary roster is rather small and quite pricey, as its two headline acts are the R1.1-million Guilia and the R1.2-million Stelvio.

Right now, the “cheapest” model is the R811,900 Tonale, but this will change with the arrival of the Junior.

Interesting to note that Junior was originally called the Milano, but the Italian government struck down this name because the car is made in Poland, meaning it cannot bear the name of an Italian city.

In any case, the Junior is a B-segment crossover that serves as the spiritual replacement for the Mito hatchback, making it the brand’s new entry-level vehicle.

That being said, the Alfa is likely to be one of the more premium models in its segment when it reaches South Africa, as it is available as both a mild hybrid and an electric vehicle (EV).

The hybrid option combines the familiar Stellantis 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 48V battery and a front-mounted 21kW electric motor to produce a total of 100kW.

This is then sent down to the front wheels via a six-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox.

Alfa also recently launched a “Q4” all-wheel-drive version of the hybrid overseas, which adds another e-motor over the rear axle to achieve a slightly higher output of 107kW.

The EVs, meanwhile, offer a choice of either a 115kW or 207kW e-motor, though both options are powered by a 54kWh battery.

The less powerful units can travel for 410km between recharges, which is reduced to 347km if you go for the more intense drivetrain.

Charging the Junior from 10 to 80% can be done in just 30 minutes using a 100kW DC socket, and the electric models feature a built-in navigation system that keeps track of its battery and range status to locate charging stations in real-time.

It’s obviously too soon to say which options are heading to South Africa, but considering there isn’t much demand for EVs right now, it’s reasonable to assume these units won’t appear at launch.

Then again, given Alfa Romeo is already a niche brand in our market, the electric Junior may be able to find an audience, especially if it is competitively priced.

In the United Kingdom, the electric Alfa is similarly priced to the Volvo EX30, which is by far and away the most successful EV in South Africa to date owing to its (relative) affordability, so we’ll just have to wait and see what the company ultimately decides.

Regardless of which powertrain we get, motorists can look forward to the Junior’s eye-catching styling and features.

At the front, there’s a small V-shaped grille which displays either the carmaker’s name or a cut-out of the cross-and-serpent logo, depending on whether it’s the hybrid or EV, respectively.

The crossover also has a pair of “3+3” LED daytime running lights and headlights, flared wheel arches, 18-inch alloy wheels with red brake calipers, and a hands-free tailgate.

Inside, the design language is similar to Alfa’s other cars, with a telescopic 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch infotainment screen angled towards the driver, and Quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover) aircon vents.

It also comes with Sports seats, vinyl/fabric upholstery, keyless entry and start, a leather multifunction steering wheel, ambient lighting, aluminium pedals, climate control, a wireless charger, and a Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance System with 360-degree cameras and parking sensors, depending on the model.

Alfa Romeo Junior