An Alfa EV that actually feels like an Alfa. We find out if the Junior Elettrica Veloce is worth the R1 million price tag.
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An Alfa EV that actually feels like an Alfa. We find out if the Junior Elettrica Veloce is worth the R1 million price tag.
Seeing an Italian brand that’s been built on a century of combustion engines launch an EV is almost unsettling. It’s like Andrea Bocelli announcing a rap album. It doesn’t sound like it ends well. But these are the times we live in, and a manufacturer without an EV in its range is living on borrowed time.
Alfa Romeo also needed one to keep emission regulations off its back. The result is the Junior Elettrica Veloce, a compact crossover SUV that still looks every inch an Alfa but without an engine to give it that which we consider soul. So, is it still worthy of the crest?
Let’s talk power. The Junior Elettrica Veloce uses a 54kWh battery pack to power a front-mounted e-motor with 207kW and 345Nm. The 0-100km/h silent sprint takes a brisk 5.9 seconds.
The usual Alfa DNA driving modes are here: Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency. In Natural and Advanced Efficiency, power arrives without drama, while in Dynamic, the 20-inch front wheels struggle for traction when you plant your right foot at low speeds. Once they do find grip, though, there’s plenty of veloce on tap.
Alfa clearly didn’t want to build an EV with all the excitement of watching paint dry. This is an EV with driver enjoyment as its top priority. A compact SUV that, deep down, wishes it could be a sportscar. The suspension is tuned for dynamics over comfort, so if you’re hoping to shake your fillings loose, the Veloce is your car.
Handling-wise, the Junior Veloce really left me impressed. The steering feels responsive and direct. It’s a car that revels at the prospect of being thrown into a corner, and, like a dog being thrown a ball, wants you to do it again and again.
Range? Alfa claims a WLTP range of 334km on a single charge, but you’d be considered disciplined to achieve anything close to 300km.
The interior is where the Junior falls short. There are some decent finishes, but not enough to justify its R1 million price tag. The plastic door cards and the indicator and wiper stalks are the clearest signs of Stellantis parts sharing. Space is tight, particularly in the rear, and taller passengers won’t enjoy an extended drive back there.
There are redeeming qualities. The steering wheel is lovely to grip, and the Alcantara-like door trim adds a sporty touch. Details like the Biscione, the crowned serpent, dotted in and around the car will delight any Alfista. And for a compact car, the boot is surprisingly roomy. Remove the parcel shelf, and you can fit a decent amount of luggage.
EVs aren’t cheap in South Africa, and the Junior Veloce is no exception. Two derivatives are available: the Elettrica from R819,900, and the Elettrica Veloce we tested at R1,019,900.
It’s tricky to determine what the Junior Veloce competes with. It drives like a hot hatch but is closer in size to something like the Volvo EX30. The Volvo’s interior is far superior, but it can’t match the Alfa for driving enjoyment.
The Junior is also a niche within a niche. EVs locally are still a small slice of the local market, and Alfa Romeo is a niche brand. That leaves a small pool of buyers willing to spend just over R1 million on one.
Is the Junior Veloce a true Alfa? I didn’t expect to say this, but I reckon Alfa Romeo has built an EV that still feels and drives like a car worthy of the badge. The design is unmistakably Alfa, and the performance and handling won’t leave you disappointed. Yes, the range isn’t fantastic, and the interior isn’t where it should be in places, but for someone wanting an Alfa, have any of those drawbacks ever been that off-putting? The Junior Veloce isn’t just a thoroughly enjoyable EV. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable car, full stop.
Words & Images: Barrie Ferreira
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