Alfa Romeo 4C (2013 to 2020)

Key specifications
Image gallery
Media reviews
Auto Express
Auto Trader
Honest John
Motors.co.uk
The Sun
The Sunday Times
The Telegraph
Top Gear
Safety rating
Eco rating
Reliability rating
Similar cars
Buy a used Alfa Romeo 4C
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Summary

The Alfa Romeo 4C was a mid-engined sports coupé and convertible (Spider) which rivalled the likes of the Lotus Elise and Porsche 718 Cayman before it was discontinued in 2020.

First unveiled at the 2013 Geneva motor show, the sports car’s name, ‘4C’, referred to its turbocharged four-cylinder engine which produced 240hp and a 0-62mph sprint time of 4.5 seconds.

“The looks, engine and badge to make it a superb sports car”, Carwow commented, while praising the 4C for its agile handling that was aided by its lightweight chassis.

That said, Carwow and many other outlets concluded that the 4C was dynamically flawed, with a lethargic throttle response and unruly driving manners that made the car difficult to keep in a straight line. “It’s way too demanding, exhausting and, at times, downright scary”, Auto Express explained.

While some journalists found the 4C’s driving dynamics problematic, almost all reviewers expressed their disappointment with the sports car’s interior, which Top Gear said displayed a “lack of attention to detail”, while pointing to the interior’s “plasticky trim and numerous exposed screw-heads”.

With interior comfort and quality lacking, it is of no surprise that the motoring media also took issue with the 4C’s price tag, which Autocar called “absurdly expensive”.

No longer in production, the Alfa Romeo 4C holds an Expert Rating of 52%, based on 22 reviews published by British media sources.

4C highlights

Alluring exterior looks
Impressive performance and engine soundtrack
Sharp handling

4C lowlights

Uncomfortable and unruly on the road
Underwhelming interior quality
Expensive price tag

Key specifications

Body style: Coupé and Convertible
Engines: petrol
Price when new: From £45,000 on-road

Launched: Autumn 2013Last updated: Summer 2015
Discontinued: Summer 2020

Image gallery

Alfa Romeo 4C Coupé

Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10“While the Alfa Romeo 4C’s looks caused a sensation and marked a revival of the brand as a thoroughbred sports car manufacturer, the reality is that this Alfa doesn’t deliver the kind of driver involvement and engagement that a pure-bred Italian sports car should serve.”
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Model reviewed: SpiderScore: 6 / 10“Alfa 4C Spider looks sublime, and gets some mechanical updates too – but it costs £8,000 more than the coupe.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: (2017)Score: 4.8 / 10“While some will find the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider’s driving manners to be engaging in a very raw, energetic and intense way, far more people will find it way too demanding, exhausting and, at times, downright scary.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: Spider (2015)Score: 6 / 10“Alfa’s niche coupé now comes as a convertible, and while it still lacks the road refinement of a Porsche or the engagement of a Lotus, it delivers on track.”
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Model reviewed: Score: 9 / 10“The 4C is Alfa’s first true driver’s car for decades, and it shows how brilliantly a small turbo four can go and sound in a lightweight package.”
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Model reviewed: Score: 6 / 10“The 4C improves, and the Spider is a good conversion, but it remains dynamically troubled and absurdly expensive.”
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Car

Model reviewed: Spider (2015)Score: 6 / 10“The Alfa Romeo 4C, even in evolved Spider form, remains a car that feels like it’s yet to realise its full potential. That said it’s one that manages to gloss every journey with a pretty priceless sense of occasion.”
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Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10The Alfa Romeo 4C is special and exotic – and that exposed carbonfibre monocoque is a constant reminder of both.”
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Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10“The 4C has its faults, but it’s also an exciting, scintillating little sports car that proves Alfa Romeo still has the ability to make a vehicle to excite the enthusiasts that have so long believed in it.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Score: 5 / 10“The Alfa Romeo 4C is blisteringly quick, but a handful to drive.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: SpiderScore: 5 / 10“The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider has the looks, engine and badge to make it a superb open-top sports car. The trouble is, it isn’t much fun to drive, is uncomfortable and has a low-rent interior.”
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Evo

Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10“Removeable roof and styling tweaks add a new layer to the Alfa Romeo 4C’s appeal, but the Spider is still a flawed sports car.”
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Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10“No doubt the Alfa Romeo 4C is a quality item. Beautiful, and beautifully put together, it feels worth every penny of its £45,000 asking price.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: 4CScore: 1 / 10“The Alfa Romeo 4C offers impressive performance from 1750 turbocharged engine; exotic specification of carbon fibre tub construction; and good looks and rarity.”
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Motors.co.uk

Model reviewed: Score: 7 / 10“Weighing less than most city cars, the 4C is designed to make the most of its 1.7-litre 237hp turbocharged petrol engine – and with that comes good performance, impressive handling and good fuel economy.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10“While the 4C’s looks caused a sensation and marked a revival of the brand as a thoroughbred sports car manufacturer, the reality is that this Alfa doesn’t deliver the kind of driver involvement and engagement that a pure-bred Italian sports car should serve.”
Read review

Model reviewed: Score: 8 / 10“The Alfa Romeo 4C is incredibly stiff and lightweight, and enthusiasts will appreciate being able to see the bare carbon weave of the tub from inside the car.”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: “The Alfa Romeo 4C Spider is a sexy, slightly flawed genius.”
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The Sunday Times

Model reviewed: Score: 5 / 10“As a car the Alfa Romeo 4C gets two stars; one for having a fabulously clever stereo system and one for being very economical. But as a thing, I’d give it six.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: SpiderScore: 6 / 10“Beautiful to behold and with an exotic specification, but the Alfa 4C Spider leaves you feeling a bit disappointed.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Score: 5 / 10“The Alfa Romeo 4C is everything we wanted a lightweight Italian sports car to be, right down to the traditional Alfa flaws.”
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Safety rating

No safety rating

Due to its price tag and very small sales volume, the Alfa Romeo 4C was not crash tested by Euro NCAP during its life cycle.

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Alfa Romeo 4C was not lab tested by Green NCAP durign its production life cycle.

Reliability rating

As of July 2022, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Alfa Romeo 4C to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the 4C, we’ll publish the score here.

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Keyword: Alfa Romeo 4C (2013 to 2020)