Alexandre
The launch of theAlfa Romeo Junior is crucial for the Italian brand. This small B-segment SUV is a new addition to the range, is responsible for representing around 40 % of total Alfa Romeo sales. But who are the Junior's rivals in this segment? Let's find out.
A competitive segment, especially for hybrids
The Alfa Romeo Junior is in a hotly contested segment, that of premium B-segment SUVs. A segment dominated by combustion and hybrid combustion models.
Here are the main ones competitors 100 % electric that the Alfa Romeo Junior must keep a close eye on:
- Volvo EX30 This small Swedish SUV, which is directly comparable in terms of dimensions, is only available in electric versions, with prices starting at 38,990 euros. Buyers can choose between two battery options offering 344 and 475 km of range respectively. More than 8,600 units were sold in March 2024 in all the countries where it is marketed. Not bad.
- Smart #1 This model is also a direct competitor, made in China, just like the Volvo EX30. It offers 270 hp for a price of €36,315. Interesting? Yet only 300 were sold in France in the first two months of 2024. Image problem?
- Jeep Avenger the direct cousin of the Junior. This SUV from the American Jeep brand is also made in Poland, and offers an attractive price starting at €38,000 for the 100 % electric version. Stellantis won't give precise figures, but the electric version is said to account for only 20 to 40 % of sales, depending on the month.
It's probably in the car market hybrid thermals that Junior will have the most volume to do. And there, in B-SUV Premium, competition is almost non-existent.
- Lexus LBX: the brand-new small premium SUV from Lexus aims to sell 3,500 units/month worldwide. Made in Japan, it starts at €35,300.
Another point is that the Alfa Romeo Junior is made in Poland (in case you haven't heard of it), while some of its rivals, such as the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1, are produced in China. This can influence consumer perceptions, even though brands like MG don't have such a bad perceived image linked to manufacturing location. In the case of Lexus, the place of manufacture is very much in line with the brand's identity.
| B-SUV Premium cars | Starting price | Place of manufacture |
|---|---|---|
| Alfa Romeo Junior MHEV | 31 500 € | Poland |
| Alfa Romeo Junior BEV | 40 500 € | Poland |
| Volvo EX30 BEV | 38 900 € | China |
| Smart #1 BEV | 36 315 € | China |
| Jeep Avenger BEV | 38 000 € | Poland |
| Lexus LBX MHEV | 35 300 € | Japan |
BMW doesn't offer a B-SUV, and Audi doesn't offer a hybrid version of the Q2. An electric Q2 100 % won't arrive until 2026.
The success of the Alfa Romeo Junior will depend on its ability to stand out from the crowd. competitive and complex market segment, where internal combustion, hybrids, plug-in hybrids and 100 % electrics are all mixed together, with some products getting old and others brand new.
A segment not occupied by premium brands
If JATO's figures are to be believed, the B-SUV segment accounts for 18 % of sales in Europebut on closer inspection, the top 10 in this segment is not occupied by premium brands but rather entry-level and mid-range. Top of the list are Volkswagen with its T-Roc, the Ford Puma, the Peugeot 2008, the Dacia Duster, the Renault Captur, the Toyota Yaris Cross, the Volkswagen T-Cross, the Hyundai Kona, and the Opel Mokka and Crossland. Customers more attracted by the best price, or the best price/performance ratio.
Audi, the only premium brand in the top 20 with its Q2sales were down by 20 % in 2022. Mini's Countryman, outside the top 20, has not exceeded 20,000 units, and is also in decline. Perhaps it's not for nothing that BMW or Mercedes have no products in this segment. Nothing is set in stone. If Lexus and Volvo go there, Alfa Romeo may also try to make a place for itself. However, in our opinion, for the Junior to achieve 40 % of Alfa Romeo's sales, it would have to quickly occupy the segment's top 5 to exceed 60,000 units per year, or more than 5,000 cars per month. Too ambitious? The volume of the Junior will be decided strictly on the hybrid version, at around €30,000. The electric version, priced at over €40,000 in the B segment, will be exotic.
Why should I pay 31,000€ for a CMP platform with no technical refinements (mcpherson front, torsion bar rear, cantilevered front engine). Whereas the Dongfeng Yixuan, with exactly the same base, costs only 9000USD?
In the list of competitors (but not premium, if that means anything), the most interesting is Ford Puma, which offers ST models in 200 hp and 170 hp. Otherwise, I suppose the Lexus LBX is well finished and probably good.
The Yaris Cross is a hit from what I've heard, while the VW T-Roc/Audi Q2 is exactly the same.
The Alfa Romeo Junior would be interesting with more powertrains, especially if they're not PureTech.
voilà, all is said " if they are not puretoc engines " with the 1.3, I am sure that it would have less critics this junior in spite of its appearance renault/kia
I rented a Toyota Yaris Cross for a week, my 2nd hybrid in 12 years, a Prius at the time.
The same punishment, but a little more dynamic and with better lateral pitching.
But the noise of the 3-cylinder is certainly a little less vibrating than the puretech or tsi vw of the Polo I've rented in recent months, while the old Fire 1.2 4-cylinder of my Panda 3 that I use in my holiday home is a delight of flexibility and discretion next to it, without consuming more, I don't understand its abandonment.
So in concrete terms, Imparato is betting the medium-term future of "his" brand on "hybrid" PureToc, lol...
When's the mercato?
For the Junior, having such a range of internal combustion engines on offer will be prohibitive for sales, not to mention the design, while the electric version will be sold on a confidential basis.
The puretech was in a Citroën C3 aircross, a nice suspension comfort by the way and I forgot a lot of vibrations of the furniture inside the Yaris, while my Pana is of a solidity without reproach in its interior!
Yes, the only thing you need is no puretech... it's true that the interior is magnificent, but I'm still missing a very Alfa-like front end... (the three lights and the famous chrome V)... but I'm waiting to see it in person, maybe I'll change my mind.
The Alfa Romeo JUNIOR sports a sparkling design. Its engine should follow when you open the hood! Like an Alfa signature ... from the past!
And why not a wooden steering wheel? impossible...and some chrome counters for a wow effect?
The price positioning should be all-inclusive...fed up with the caviar options added by premium manufacturers...So I dream of an Italian-style identity.
Wooden steering wheels have long been banned by safety standards.
Why is it that only Lexus and Toyota manage not to delocalize and remain competitive, while Stellantis supposedly cannot produce in Italy?
Because the YEN rate is extremely low (€1=167 Yen), which is a considerable advantage when exporting from Japan.
When will they understand that Alfa customers want real ENGINES? Certainly not 1200 pure tech !!!! And high-performance diesels please.
I've had some very nice 1600 and 1300 cc Alfa and Lancia Beta......s that were ripping off " ...... there's a big demand for real cars.
The problem is that there aren't enough Alfisti out there any more. The commercial failure of the Giulia proves it: it's the best sedan in its segment, a dream design, a perfect chassis, and in the end few sales.
I can understand Alfa Romeo's desire to broaden its customer base, because Alfa enthusiasts don't respond well to the offer of a Giulia.
Maybe the Junior will be fun to drive, but don't be prejudiced. Even if the PureTech engine in an Alfa Romeo is appalling.
You're forgetting about the environmental impact of asking for bigger engines. Let's face it, few people are willing to put their hand in their pocket for that. A carmaker has to sell cars and make money before indulging himself with models that sell by the bucketful. It's a question of survival.
We could debate the subject endlessly. There's what makes people happy and then there's the reality of the market. If we could, we'd all be driving a Stelvio or Giulia QV, but that's not possible, so the brands do what they think is right to sell. It has to be said that Peugeot has always known how to design chassis with a compromise between comfort and roadholding, so we can't say that the CMP base is bad. If Alfa Romeo can add a little something extra, that'll be great, and will go some way to silencing the critics. As for the engines, let's just say that the advantage of PSA's bad period will be the modified and therefore more reliable versions. All in all, if Junior allows Alfa Romeo to continue raking in the cash to bring us new Giulias, Stelvios and sexy new models, I vote for it.