Faults:

Glovebox rattle - fixed under warranty but came back.

Air Conditioning failure - fixed under warranty.

Aerial failure - fixed under warranty.

Passenger seat won't slide forward - needs to go in for repair under warranty.

Paint is not very thick, stone chips on the bonnet within days of ownership.

General Comments:

It's a pretty little car inside and out; I still turn and have a last look at it when parked

Ride is harsh on some surfaces and steering is woolly and vague unless in dynamic mode.

The twinAir engine is great fun once you get out of 1st gear, which has no range; the engine is screaming for 2nd almost instantly. I should have test drove the 1.4 unit for comparison.

Nice comfy seats in the front and had no complaints from rear passengers.

Some of the interior plastics used in the rear are a bit flimsy.

Limited rear visibility; you need the parking sensors!

Boot space is OK for shopping, but a struggle with suitcases or large loads.

Uconnect stereo is pretty decent, but is let down by poor speakers; they're OK at normal volumes, but get a bit boomy when the volume is pushed.

On the whole I love the car and the feeling when driving, but it's been let down by the faults, and the depreciation in value is not good after 2 years of ownership; it's worth less than half its list price.

Faults:

Some interior rattles, but I don't really mind about that to be honest.

There was a bit of a problem with the audio. Got frozen once, but it never happened again since then.

General Comments:

My first impression of Alfa Romeo is when I test drove my mate's Brera and I absolutely fell in love with it. I never really recognized this brand before. When I first heard of Alfa Romeo, I was like, "Romeo?". But I was about to discover the truth and wonder of Alfa Romeo.

A couple of weeks later, I decided to test drive the MiTo, and like the Brera, I was in love. I kept thinking about that car day by day, and that I might trade my 4 year old BMW 330 for this little hatchback.

After months of thinking and consultation with Alfa owners, I decided to give up my BMW and buy the MiTo.

Owning an Alfa is an incredible experience. I love driving, and my car is a perfect love match.

I love the looks, outside and inside. Every night I put a chair in front of the car and I sit there staring at it. I always wonder why I'm so in love with this car.

The driving itself is the best moment. The way this car goes, the way it turns into a corner is just sublime. My BMW was fantastic too, but this is something else. It even still feels exciting in a traffic jam. Every road is a friend when I'm in the Alfa. The interior is the best place to live. It's just eye refreshing to stare at. Great quality too. My BMW seems to look boring compared to my Alfa! I have never been a serious fan of cars until I owned this car. I get crazy about cars, especially Alfas and other Italian cars. It's becoming a lifestyle.

There are also Alfa communities around the world, and they are really friendly and useful in obtaining information about the cars. It seems Alfa owners are really serious about their cars. They even know things that not many people know, like the serial number of certain parts and certain small details in certain models of the year. Just amazing!

I've heard of reliability issues with some Alfa owners, but I've rarely heard of any with this particular model. Only small rattles is the problem.

Speaking of problems, the only problem I had is my fault. I bought the wrong colour. Yes, my black Mito is already a stunning looking piece of beauty, but the red one, wow, it's just wow.

This is what I love about the brand, it's made with love instead of love for money making. I feel like they really put an effort into making this car, not just the design, but also the way this car goes. It feels more expensive than the actual price. Will my next car be a Alfa Romeo? Yes, yes, and yes! If I can rate this car from 1-10, I will rate it 1000!!!

Faults:

Annoying trim rattle.

Seat belts cannot be adjusted for height, and the inertia-reel locks too easily, pinning you to your seat!

Hard bumpy ride with 18 inch low profile tyres.

Tyres puncture and wheels kerb far too easily.

Temperamental Windows-Mobile based Bluetooth/MP3 system.

General Comments:

A wonderfully schizophrenic car; quiet and docile in "Normal", fast and furious in "Dynamic".

The styling is controversial, but gets admiring glances from everyone.

Fit and finish is generally good, and the leather trim is great, but the glovebox can rattle sometimes, and despite several attempts by the dealer to rectify, it still is a problem; the only solution I have found is to drive with the glovebox empty!

Rear seats are adequate for short journeys, but small windows mean it's rather claustrophobic for rear passenger, but no big deal. Boot space is way better than a Mini.

Faster than a Mini Cooper S.

Overall, a fast and exciting practical car that's more interesting than a Mini, and with a reasonable boot.