2020 Alfa Romeo 4C

Propelling the rear wheels, you'd find a small 1.7L inline-4 turbocharged engine that works in conjunction with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Together you get an output of 237 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque that zips quickly from naught to 60 mph in 4.3s. Due to its small size, the cabin is cramped and there's abysmal but do-able storage capacity. Amidst the competition, we review the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Convertible against the likes of Jaguar F-Type Convertible, and Porsche 718 Boxster. Some may doubt if the Alfa Romeo's racecraft and luxury brand have what it takes against these two marquee's.

Offered in a single trim, the 4C Spider Convertible starts at $66,900 and offers a 1.7L with 4 cylinders and a turbocharged engine. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and the powertrain churns out 237 horses and 258 pulling forces. Propelling the rear wheels, Alfa Romeo's convertible Italian comes with a distinct design and seating only for 2 passengers. It comes in different packages at and each configuration introduces only aesthetic features.

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Coming in only a single trim, the 4C’s optional dual-mode Akrapovic exhaust is a sweeter purchase for it reduces the overall loud sound of the convertible. The rest of the car is just fine.

"With its turbocharged mid-engine layout and high-effort controls, the 4C commands a driver's respect and delivers a high sensation of speed. When driven in its sweet spot, the 4C is rewarding and feels like a modern classic. But you should pick something else if you're looking for a daily driver." -Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

The little Italian beauty comes with a 1.7L inline-4 turbocharged engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Churning out 237 horses and 258 pound-feet of torque, the Alfa Romeo throws all that power to its rear wheels. Its turbocharged mid-engine layout makes for an enthusiastic machine on track, with an excellent weight-to-power ratio. Still, some turbo lag seems to persist which takes away a bit of joy from spirited driving.

The paltry output of the powertrain is but just numbers, as the performance is top-notch and the 4C Spider is anything but slow. But its resonating rumble from under the hood gets invasive after a certain time and can be distasteful for some. The soft top is not really a cruiser or a city driver. Its competition shows mixed results with the 4C at the lowest end of the spectrum in terms of power, whereas the most powerful in terms of output is the BMW M240i.

Acceleration

Quite frankly, the numbers don't do justice to the performance of the 4C. Clocking 4.3 seconds in a 0-60 mph run while taking 13 seconds flat in the quarter-mile, the Alfa Romeo is technically the fastest of the lot. Its 1.7L engine boasts great performance while the rest of the cars in this segment fail to match its performance despite more powerful engines.

The closest that any of its competitors get to the 4C is the BMW M240i, and that car has two whole cylinders in excess. The smaller engine also prevents burning a hole in your pocket as far as the emission taxes are concerned.

Ride and Braking

The Alfa Romeo is a small and zippy car that is bound to entertain on track, and that is true even in its ride and handling. Overcoming challenging tarmac and twisty roads, the convertible takes it all in its stride. The soft top has a stiff ride and as a result, tuned to handle through swooping apexes and corners. Body roll is limited while steering control is unassisted that translates to harder slow-speed car control. However as you attain greater speeds, the car is fluid to take control and provides great feedback. The convertible's lightweight design really works wonders for thrashing the car as you want to tame it.

The Brembo-made brakes on the 4C Spider bring the 2500 pound convertible works like a charm. It brings the soft top from 60-0 mph in a distance of 107 feet which is really impressive. While the competition takes similar times, the Alfa Romeo is still relatively an athletic machine. However, the pedal feels too sensitive and can react unstably especially at higher speeds.

A small car with small engine displacement is proportional to excellent fuel efficiency, one that can resemble any bread-and-butter hatchback. In the city, the 4C Spider attains 24 mpg while a combined 28 mpg gets it the most frugal powertrain in the pack. Its 10.5-gallon fuel tank doesn't seem like much when compared to its rivals but that can still grant it a decent range, making the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider perfect for a cruise of a quiet back road.

The Jaguar F-Type offers stiff competition to the 4C in terms of fuel economy. It does not travel further per one gallon of fuel but its 16.5-gallon fuel tank grants it a good enough range to go a whle without pulling to a gas station. The Jag's premium interior is a bonus to add when you plan a weekend excursion.

"The interior looks nice and minimalistic, but it lacks the friendlier ergonomics of other modern sports cars. Getting in and situated inside the cabin is akin to a warrior donning armor; it's rigid, claustrophobic and meant for business. If you're considering a 4C, it won't be for its touring comfort." -Edmunds

Head inside the 4C Spider and you'd feel claustrophobic just looking around; the small Italian packs a compact and minimalistic design at the same time reminding you that it's meant for track purposes. Comfort was barely in mind when designing this convertible. However, we don't really blame the engineer since he made do with what he could. Leather cum cloth sport seats with manual adjustments and leather-wrapped steering wheel make up the cabin and its materials are excellent in quality along with the trim.

Getting in and out is bound to be difficult since the car is set quite low to the road. Noise cancellation is poor due to the loud engine and the road vibrations easily enter the cabin. Due to the compact size, the 4C has poor visibility with the roof up. You're likely to experience the wind in your hair during most of your drives.

Cargo Capacity

At 3.7 cubic feet, you get at least something if not no storage; the 4C Spider will hold anything but a large suitcase. So, do not expect practicality with this convertible in your garage. Its rivals are way ahead of the Spider. The Ford Mustang holds the highest at 13.5 cubic feet, while the BMW M240i follows through; the rest? Still better than the Alfa Romeo but relatively not as great as the segment leaders.

Interior Features

• Power Windows
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 7" driver information display
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Alpine sound system with CD player
• Tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with wheel-mounted shift paddles

"Curvy and expressive in all the right places, the 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C continues to turn heads like supercars costing multiple times as much." -The Car Connection

Design and Styling

Lotus Elise comes to mind when describing the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Convertible. Its ever-short design alongside a host of curves and sleek profile gives out a rather expressive sports car aesthetic than anything else. Like the quote above, the Spider manages to turn heads in the same way supercars costing tens and thousands of dollars more than the convertible.

Heavily bestowed with deep air intakes on either side of the side profile, the soft top carries only two doors with a passenger and driver seat. Rolling on 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels, the Italian luxury convertible draws sensuous curves and elegance. Bug-like headlights with rounded taillights and dual sporty tailpipes blended with the iconic Alfa-Romeo grille and character lines lay bare its charming yet distinct character. The manually-operated cloth roof tucks inside the trunk when folded. Unlike the rest of the convertibles in the competition, the 4C Spider is as light as a bee and that aids in its performance and handling. It even takes the crown for the shortest car on the track.

Exterior Features

• 17" front and 18" rear alloy wheels
• Halogen headlamps
• Manually-operated cloth rooftop
• Body-color exterior mirrors
• LED tail lamps
• Power-Heated exterior mirrors w/manual fold-away

Dimensions and Weight

No version of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider has been tested by any federal authority for its safety. The 4C is good enough to be considered a low-production European sports car, so it wouldn't be a deal-breaker if there are no crash test results existing for it. It is highly recommended that you exercise caution when driving the 4C because Alfa Romeo has yet to prove itself if the car is safe enough to protect its occupants.

Unlike its German counterparts, the 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider doesn't come with a lot of advanced safety systems in place. So, you can abandon all hope of the car autonomously preventing any collision. Nevertheless, a few notable safety features enable a safer drive for both the driver and the passenger. These include:

• Hill Start Assist
• Rear Back-up Camera
• Electronic Stability Control
• Security Alarm
• Tire Pressure Monitoring Display
• ABS with Driveline Traction Control
• Driver, Passenger and Side Front Door Airbags
• Remote Keyless

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Convertible vs Jaguar F-Type Convertible

Desire an everyday car that comes with practicality? The F-Type is your answer. Compared to the Alfa Romeo, the F-Type has better usability and feels more relaxed and comfortable. The 4C Spider, on the other hand, is purely an athletic machine with a sporty behavior and usage in mind. It all depends on your purpose; mean machine with zero accountability for being practical? Or about the same but with better emphasis on comfort and daily-driver material? Your call.

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Convertible vs Porsche 718 Boxster

Similar to the Jaguar F-Type, one can argue the same with the 718 Porsche Boxster. The German convertible is quite fun, comfortable and luxurious convertible. It is also an athletic being, just like the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. The difference is noticed once you take them out for a spin. The Boxster is much more luxurious and laid back as compared to the 4C. The 4C may be the better pick for the more performance-oriented enthusiast. You can't expect practicality from either of them as both the cars are built with fun open-top driving in mind. The Porsche is much more tamed and thus would suit your extended drives better.

The entertaining Italian is a hard deal to justify. Purely bred for performance purposes, the convertible has zero sense of practicality or comfort. Its rivals are similarly fun and entertaining to drive and have excellent performance under their wheels. While some have cramped interior and less storage space, they make for such shortcomings by delivering on daily-driver material - something the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Convertible massively fails.

FAQs

Why is the Alfa Romeo 4C so expensive?

Alfa Romeo 4C's secret with offering superior performance from a small engine lies in shedding weight. As such, a lot of carbon fiber is used both in the exterior panels and the chassis to make the car as light as possible. Since it is not cheap to build most of the car out of carbon fiber, it rapidly increases the cost of every 4C manufactured.

How fast is the Alfa Romeo 4C?

The Alfa Romeo 4C spider can do 60 mph from a standstill in 4.3 seconds and a quarter-mile run in 13 seconds. On a long straight, the 4C spider can achieve its top speed of 160 mph.

Are Alfa Romeos reliable?

Alfa Romeos are notorious for their terrible reliability, and the 4C is no exception. More than 40% of owners have claimed the warranty in the first two years of their purchase. Most of the faults are in the mechanical components of the car with the suspension and driveshaft most likely to break down.

Can the Alfa Romeo 4C be considered a supercar?

No. The Alfa Romeo 4C has been dubbed the 'baby supercar', though. It is so because the car is capable of remarkable performance from a small engine. It offers the same thrill as you would expect from a Ferrari or Lamborghini, only at a subdued magnitude.