Anyone well versed on Italian cars or motorcycles will understand that, quite often, you need to see through their idiosyncrasies to truly enjoy their appeal.

This much is true with the new two-cylinder, three-door Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir.

The latest Alfa Romeo incarnation is unapologetically Italian, from a marque with a proud history in full-blooded (and aptly quirky) sports cars.

The MiTo’s name – a conjunction of the cities Milan and Torino – points to where it was designed and built. In case you lose sight of this, not-so-veiled Italian references appear as reminders throughout the car, including on the fuel (bento), temperature (acqua) and tacho (giri) gauges.

The TwinAir is largely based on the first generation MiTo introduced in 2008, but with sprinklings of other parts borrowed from within the Fiat group.

Recent changes to Alfa Romeo's distribution in Australia – from a private importer to Fiat Chrysler – have helped make the MiTo cheaper than before. The newest offering starts at $22,500 plus on-road costs – about $8000 less than what the base model cost only 18 months ago.

Headlining the TwinAir’s features is a turbocharged two-cylinder 875cc engine, the same fitted to the Fiat’s 500 and Panda variants. It comes mated exclusively to a six-speed manual gearbox, with Alfa Romeo cleverly deciding against offering a much-maligned robotised manual option found in Fiat models.

Power is rated at 77kW and torque at 145Nm and fuel consumption is claimed at 4.2L/100km – achieved partly through the use of stop-start technology at idle.

The TwinAir MiTo can sprint to 100km/h from rest in a claimed 11.4 seconds, and onwards to a top speed of 184km/h.

On the road, the two-cylinder engine is a spirited jigger. Under about 2500rpm it struggles to inspire, but it is a free-revving unit beyond that – all the way the 6000rpm redline. Real-world fuel use hovered at a respectable 6.0L/100km during our time with the car.

The accompanying six-speed manual is also more comfortable at higher revs; you’ll only really need top gear for highway speeds, for instance.

The two-pot emits a rather endearing burble but one that can infiltrate the cabin at higher speeds, along with noticeable road and tyre noise. The noise is never overly intrusive though and builds on the MiTo’s European charm.

The MiTo carries over with Alfa Romeo’s DNA electronics, offering three different vehicle characteristics: Driving, Normal and All-weather. We found the D guise most enjoyable, with a little extra poke off the line and more purposeful dynamics through corners.

In all three driving modes, the MiTo’s steering feels a tad heavy and dull, particularly at low speed. But the car is light and nimble enough in city traffic.

Despite rolling on 15-inch alloys with thick-walled Bridgestones, the base model MiTo suffers from a firm ride, thudding its way over sharp bumps and inconsistencies in the road.

The MiTo’s build quality is strong. Aside from a frameless door-glass construction which feels flimsy at times, there are no squeaks or rattles in the cabin.

Hard-wearing, durable plastics adorn much of the dashboard, broken up by some soft-touch and matte silver materials, while cloth seats are standard. There aren’t any roof-mounted grab rails and only the front passenger seat is afforded a vanity mirror.

Cabin space is fairly liberal for front seat passengers, though the rear seat is less thoughtful with tight leg and head proportions and no air vents or opening windows.

It’s a similar story in the boot which, while rated at 270L, is deep and very narrow – meaning it would struggle to fit more than one large suitcase. It’s one small trade-off for having a space-saver spare tyre.

A new five-inch touchscreen fitted with Chrysler’s UConnect software is a vast improvement over the predecessor MiTo’s mono display. It offers important trip information and operates with voice commands.

Steering wheel controls and Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity are now standard fare, but reverse sensors are an option and there’s no availability for front parking sensors, a reversing camera or hardwired satellite navigation (there are apps available). 

Also available as part of the re-positioned MiTo range are three other models fitted exclusively with a familiar 1.4-cylinder petrol engine producing 99kW and 206Nm.

The manual Progression starts at $24,500 plus on-roads (six-speed automatic is $2000 extra), while the range-topping Distinctive (auto only) starts at $28,000 plus on-roads and comes standard with rear parking sensors, 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and automatic headlights and windscreen wipers.

The entire MiTo range comes equipped with a five-star ANCAP rating, seven airbags, a hill holder function, ABS and brake assist.

The MiTo TwinAir is comprehensively outscored in certain areas by some of its more mainstream, volume-selling rivals. But it remains a healthy alternative to the similarly-minded Audi A1 and Mini Ray.

Suffice to say, the omission of the MiTo’s once-hefty purchase price is one idiosyncracy that aspiring Alfa owners will happily live without.

Nuts and Bolts

Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir

Price: From $22,500 plus on-roads

Engine: 875cc turbocharged two-cylinder petrol

Power: 77kW

Torque: 145Nm

Fuel consumption: 4.2L/100km (claimed) and 99g/km C02