Supermini Shootout: Alfa Romeo MiTo Cloverleaf

The Italians invented the mid-engined supercar when a few bright sparks at Lamborghini came up with the outrageous and outrageously beautiful Miura, but they're arguably more famous for thinking up legendary small cars, like the original Fiat 500, AlfaSud, and Fiat Panda. So, isn't it great when they take their love, and talent for building fast cars, and distil it into one of their trademark tiny superminis? Adnan already checked out the mighty but tinny Abarth Punto Evo, and I meanwhile went for a pedal in the (deep breath) Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 TB MultiAir Quadrifoglio Verde.

The bloated name, and rather bloated face of the MiTo didn't make the greatest first impression - the attempt to sprinkle some Alfa 8C magic on the Punto-based MiTo hasn't been entirely successful to these eyes, with only the pert rear showcasing genuinely decent proportions. However, the MiTo then began its fightback for my affections with some seriously impressive kit on board the test car.

Firstly, there's the all-important engine. Alfa's MultiAir technology is a brilliant system which regulates air volume and pressure as it's combusted in the engine, so you get good fuel economy when you're cruising, and serious poke from a relatively small engine when you fancy getting a shift on. The 1.4 turbo unit produces 170bhp in Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf) trim, making this MiTo a very serious warm hatch. The huge sticky 215-section tyres put the turbo-boosted power down with ease, and through the turns of the Hill Route, nothing else I drove at SMMT resisted understeer so well.

The grip from such massive rubber on this little car is immense, like the magnet on the bottom of a Scalextric car which sticks it to the track at speeds way beyond what it should be capable of. It needs big boots - this is a 136mph car, capable of running to 60mph in 7.5 seconds; the Mini Cooper S had better watch its back. There was no danger of being flung out of the seat at speed either, because the test MiTo contained two quite gorgeous carbon fibre bucket seats. For sense of occasion and driver support, they are fantastic. Incidentally, the Mito also has especially excellent air-conditioning. But will that help its Car Throttle Cool Factor?

I'd love to be able to stop there and simply recommend the MiTo Cloverleaf as a very fast and funky sports-supermini that rightly shrugged off my criticisms. But there is one hell of a 'but' to consider before I sign off, especially as Car Throttle is dedicated to young drivers. The fact is, this completely loaded MiTo is very, very expensive. If you want the hottest 170bhp engine (you just do - its power and turbo wastegate noise are wonderful) then you need to find £18,760. That brings you the two-tone 18" rims, and the wide rubber that's pricey to replace. The test car also wore 425 quids' worth of special Gardenia White paint. And those lush carbon racing seats? £2,000.

Two. Thousand. Pounds.

That is an unacceptably large amount of money to drop on a small car. Fair enough if you fancy spending a few hundred quid accessorising a Mini with a Union Jack roof, or bigger alloys on your Fiat 500. But two grand for carbon seats in what starts out as £12,500 car is utterly mental. We're used to press cars being loaded so heavily with options they sag in the middle, but it's my duty to tell you the main reasons I enjoyed this car were some very pricey extras. I'd have to try a poverty-spec MiTo before I could be totally sure it's the great little hatch its tidy handling and upmarket interior promises. £21,595 is a lot of money for a supermini, whatever the badge, or spec. Hell, it's almost Focus ST money.

Still, if you've got the notes and want to see that sexy Alfa Romeo badge every time you pick up your keys, why not go for the MiTo? It's quick, cool, and quite covert for a warm hatch. Just be totally sure you don't want something cheaper and just as fun before you blow your dosh.

Car Throttle Cool Factor: 7/10