BACK in 2009 you could have be forgiven for thinking that Alfa Romeo had pretty much lost the plot. 

That great Italian marque famous for beautifully-sculptured sporting machines was dishing up something akin to a lowly city car.

God, I hear you all say, what was the world coming to?

Well, Alfa would have been the first to admit that things were not going at all well for them in the UK.

Sales figures for 2008 failed to hit the 6,000 mark, a near 20 per cent drop compared with 2007, but in fairness, not the worst by any stretch of the imagination.

However, Alfa came up with a plan they hoped was going to  turn things around big style.

They took a bold decision to produce a true competitor to the MINI and just as Alfa got their MiTo ready to hit the marketplace, the global credit crunch hit.

And that turned out to be really great news for the MiTo, for low and behold, a huge percentage of Joe Public started to look at downsizing.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

So not only did Alfa have a car that was just the perfect size for those troubled times, the car also looked and performed great, so much so that it helped change the fortunes of the legendary brand.

First of all it was an Alfa, and that meant it screamed style. At the front, the shield-shaped grille sat imposingly at the end of the short sculptured V-shaped bonnet.

Flared wheel arches, a high waistline and short overhang at the rear also gave the the car the impression of power.

Alfa offered the choice of five engines - three 1.4-litre petrol units and 1.3-litre and 1.6-litre diesels - while the MiTo also came in four specification levels, all offering above-average, if not class-leading, mod-cons.

Pick of the bunch for me was the 1.6-litre oil-burner which delivered no less than 120bhp and a whopping 320Nm of torque from 1,750 revs.

With lashings of power on tap, the MiTo turned into a proverbial flying machine, hitting 62mph from standstill in under 10 seconds and having a top speed in excess of 120mph.

However, fuel consumption was a not-to-be-scoffed at 58mpg while emissions were kept in check at 126g/km, placing the car in VED Band C.

Out on the road the MiTo performed just like you would expect an Alfa to perform. Thanks to its wide track there was massive amount of grip, while the stiff springs gave a firm yet nicely balanced ride.

One thing that was a bit different about this Alfa was its superior build quality. The carbon fibre-look dashboard coupled with a satin-finish centre console and hooded dials really added a touch of class to such a compact car and the figure-hugging seats completed the sporty feel to the cabin.

Alfa Romeo also gave top priority to on-board safety issues, with the MiTo specifically designed to score maximum points in NCAP tests thanks due to the long list of high-tech electronic systems which also helped made the Alfa one of the safest city cars on the market.

As a used buy, the MiTo is a great little machine. Sensibly priced and with a comprehensive specification list, it is also very affordable to run.

Oozing Italian flair by the bucket load this little cracker appeals to both heart and head and to young and old alike.

Expect to pay between £5,675 and £7,100 for a 2009 58-plate 1.6 JTDM Lusso and from £7,200 to £8,300 for a 2010 model in similar trim.

A 2009 58-plate 1.4-litre 16-valve petrol Turismo should cost between £4,500 and £6,215 depending on condition and mileage, while the same model in entry-level Junior trim will be £200 to £300 cheaper.