2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Review

Buying a mid-engine Italian sports car might seem a quaint fantasy for most car buyers, short of looting one's retirement account or children's college fund. But you'd be surprised that Italian flair can be had for a relatively modest sum with the 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider.

Unlike Italy's more expensive hardware, the 4C is a no-frills two-seater, which shares more in common with today's Lotus Elise than a Ferrari. After climbing over a wide doorsill, the driver drops into a thinly padded seat and similarly spartan cabin accommodations.

Alfa's obsession with keeping the 4C's weight down extends to its all-aluminum engine and exposed carpet-free, carbon-fiber tub. The 4C Spider is more notable for what it doesn't have, such as a central infotainment display. It doesn't even come with a solid removable top. You'll need to make do with a rollable fabric roof. It's all a testament to the 4C's mission of being a shockingly agile and reflexive handling machine.

For 2020, the 4C carries over unchanged, with the exception of the ultra limited-edition 4C Spider Italia variant, which offers an exclusive blue color and unique trim details. It's limited to just 15 units.

Ultimately, the 4C adds up to a hardcore sports car that offers unparalleled driver control and feedback at an elevated, but not exotic, price. You'll pay for it in other ways, however. A rough ride, heavy steering, and difficult entry and exit make simple tasks like going to the grocery store a challenge. Combined with a clunky transmission and almost nonexistent storage space, the 4C asks a lot of its driver, while rivals such as the Chevrolet Corvette, Jaguar F-Type and Porsche Boxster are far more accommodating.

The 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C is powered by a turbocharged 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine (237 horsepower, 258 lb-ft of torque) paired to a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels.