Business Car Manager verdict

Changes to the car are few and far between, with much of it remaining the same as on the outgoing Alfa Romeo MiTo.

But flick the DNA switch to Dynamic, unleash all 104bhp, and the MiTo becomes a joy to drive, darting from one corner to the next.

And it does this for £32 a month in company car tax – hard to match.

The engine ‘thrumbles’ away excitedly, while the slick gearbox allows you to keep the revs in the power band, although you’ll be needing to change gear very frequently.

The times when you can enjoy driving like that are few and far between though, which means the car’s DNA switch will usually reside at Normal. This reduces the power and, disastrously, reduces the torque available to just 115Nm.

Reducing it may improve economy, but it removes all character from the MiTo. It becomes lethargic and unco-operative. The lower speeds also highlight that the ride is firm but lacks the body control you might expect, with every undulation being felt through the cabin.

The once-peppy engine starts to produce an aggravating drone while feeding vibrations through to the steering wheel.

At the same time, it’s not balancing that by being particularly cheap. The same money will buy you an Audi A1 1.2 TFSI Sport that will reward you day-to-day in a way the MiTo just can’t.

On the right roads, and with the right weather, the MiTo is a cracking car. For the remaining 50 weeks of the year, there are better options.

The Low Down…

…and what it costs