Astonishingly for such a short wheelbase, it is almost unflappable even on broken secondary roads.

It might not be to everyone’s taste, some may find the firmer ‘Dynamic’ setting – or even the MiTo Sport’s ‘Normal’ setting – a little too connected for everyday driving, but not me (and probably not you if you like a sharp performance drive).

With such a small capacity providing the ergs through the wide-track front wheels, you would not expect torque steer to be a problem, or even evident. Thanks to the electronic Q2 self-locking differential, it is barely evident, and the little there is assists the feel at the wheel.

Torque steer, when it’s just right, like in the MiTo, is self-centering. If there was no ‘tug’ at all, if it was entirely absent, we’d drive front-wheel-drive cars wrong. Best to get in deep, lift off rapidly, bring the back around, then fire out.

Road and wind noise? Well, yes, there is some tyre noise, but the MiTo is at the top of its class for refinement.

Wind noise is all-but absent, and, while the sound of the tyres on the road is present, it is well-muted and none of the more unpleasant tyre-shearing frequencies find their way into the cabin. (Smart work by the acoustic engineers.)

So, did we love the drive at the wheel of the MiTo?  That’s an “is the Pope a catholic?” question.

This is a car that can get into your head. More to the point, spend a bit of time with it and your heart will also be lost.

The Verdict

Interestingly, the wonderful Alfa Guilia 1300 Ti was just 1290cc… would that the MiTo endure as long in the hearts of car enthusiasts.

It is a luscious little unit this car. Youthful, zesty, and great fun at the wheel, it deserves to succeed, but its fortunes will rely on Alfa Australia getting the word out to a market traditionally suspicious of small capacity engines.

For the MiTo in Australia, that will likely mean finding a new demographic.

Sure, younger buyers who value style and performance will be a likely target. But Alfa will also need to find those ‘category jumpers’ - those who put a premium on the environmental and fuel-efficiency advantages of a smaller powerful engine, but who also value quality and are not shopping at a price-point bottom line.

Here the MINI has a head start, but the stylish and fashionable MiTo is a genuine contender.

Starting at $31,490 plus the various on-road and statutory charges for the entry level model, rising to $37,490 for MiTo Sport, it’s a premium small car purchase.

But with the MiTo, Alfa has produced a small car with irresistible appeal. If style by the bucket-load and razor-sharp driving dynamics is important to you, this is one to put on the list.

It is a car for the ‘pashionistas’, those who want to be reminded – every time they drive – of why they enjoy driving.

Likes:

• Original, high-fashion ‘hug-me’ style
• Fabulous jewel-like turbo-charged engines
• The innovative DNA switchable vehicle dynamics
• Pin-sharp handling and on-road balance
• Astonishing fuel economy
• Interior style and ergonomics

Dislikes:

• It’s no give-away (is quality its own reward?)
• Door plastics a little out of kilter with premium interior
• Slightly rubbery gear-shift
• MiTo Sport needs leather as standard