After the demise of the combustion-powered Alfa Romeo Mito subcompact hatchback in 2018, the Italian automaker that made a reputation for itself by offering some of the most stylish cars on the market had a hole in its portfolio.
That hole has now been filled with the launch of the new Alfa Romeo Milano, a B-segment crossover that’s based on the same e-CMP2 platform as the Jeep Avenger and Fiat 600.
Get Fully Charged
Alfa Romeo's new urban crossover is also its first EV
The new Alfa Romeo Milano ushers in a new era for the Italian automaker. It's the first-ever all-electric car made by Alfa and a new entry-level model at the same time, slotting under the Tonale crossover.
Just like its Stellantis relatives, the new Alfa Romeo Milano will be available as either an EV or a hybrid that combines a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine with a 48-volt lithium-ion battery and a 21-kilowatt (28-horsepower) electric motor integrated into the six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. In total, the hybrid Milano makes 136 hp.
The all-electric version of Alfa’s subcompact crossover goes by the “Elettrica” moniker and is powered by a 54-kilowatt-hour battery pack that enables a maximum combined driving range of 254 miles on a full charge on the WLTP cycle.
Two versions of the Milano EV are offered. The base model has a 156 hp front-mounted electric motor, while the go-faster Veloce trim ups the output to 240 hp, but the car remains front-wheel drive. Alfa Romeo said that an all-wheel drive version will be available sometime in the future, but only on the hybrid.
Besides getting more power, the Milano Veloce benefits from “extra sporty” front and rear anti-roll bars, a 0.98-inch lower suspension compared to the base version, big brakes, 20-inch high-performance tires and the same limited-slip differential as in the upcoming Abarth 600e. Alfa Romeo says that the Milano also has the most direct steering in the segment.
Gallery: Alfa Romeo Milano
Charging the diminutive EV can be done from a DC source at up to 100 kW, with the Italian automaker saying that going from 10% to 80% state of charge takes less than 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the on-board three-phase charger is rated at 11 kW.
Designed by Alfa Romeo’s Centro Stile in Turin, Italy, the Milano features a rather aggressive front fascia encompassing a so-called “3+3” headlight system with adaptive full LED Matrix lights. On the electric version, the grille features the company’s logo cut into it, while the hybrid variant has a more traditional grille with the Alfa Romeo script.
The Milano measures 164.1 inches long, 70 inches wide and 59 inches tall, putting it in the same league, size-wise, as the discontinued Chevrolet Bolt EV, which is roughly three inches taller than Alfa’s crossover.
Unlike the Bolt EV, however, the Milano will be strictly a European affair, with no plans to bring the souped-up hatchback stateside.
Inside, the new Alfa Romeo features two 10.25-inch screens, one that acts as a digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel and a touchscreen that’s the gateway to the car’s infotainment system. In the EV, the infotainment is connected to the internet and provides real-time information about over 600,000 charging stations across Europe.
The Italian automaker claims the Milano has the biggest trunk in its class–that’s the B segment EV class–with 14.1 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. There’s also a charging cable storage bay under the hood, a 180-degree rear camera and all-around parking sensors, as well as a series of advanced driver assistance features that translate into a Level 2-capable vehicle.
In Europe, customers of the Alfa Romeo Milano Elettrica will get a complimentary Wallbox charger from Free2Move plus an E-card that can be used for contactless payments at charging stations.
Pricing hasn’t been officially announced yet, but company boss Jean-Philippe Imparato hinted for Autocar that the Milano will start at around €30,000 in Italy.
