Road Test: Alfa Romeo Mito 0.9 TB TwinAir Sprint 3dr

The trouble with economy specials is they often don't manage the claimed economy unless you drive them not just slowly but in exactly the prescribed manner - see Peugeot's Hybrid4, BMW's ActiveHybrid and Fiat's 500 TwinAir. There's a technique to them. The MiTo TwinAir shares the 500's engine, but it makes life easier for the miser in you.

With the DNA switch in D-for-dynamic, you get 85bhp and 107lb ft, but in N-for-natural it's 78bhp and 81lb ft. You're bound to use less fuel in N because you get less performance. That's a good coaching aid, but insufficient in itself. You also have to remember to change up at crazily low revs. Then the happy little engine chugs away and you realise it wasn't crazy after all.

Forget all that, and it's still a decently enjoyable little car, if hardly quick. But Alfa is being optimistic with the price: it's more than a Mini One. Sure the Alfa has a lot more equipment as standard. And its economy is better, its tax and insurance lower and it's C-Charge exempt. Finally, the MiTo TwinAir gives you ExTra CapiTals.