Say what you will about small two-door sports cars, but there’s nothing quite like the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. With a carbon-fiber monocoque construction and all the best features of a sports car boiled down to a minimalistic platform, it’s all about the road you’re traveling on. Because trust us, in the 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, you’ll feel every contour beneath those staggered wheels.
Whether you’re just window-shopping or actually looking for that Sunday fun-day driver, the 2020 4C Spider has a lot to offer. If you’re even the slightest bit interested, check out the details below. It’s a great chance to research your decision before you make it.
Performance Specifications
Alfa Romeo fits the 2020 4C Spider with a singular turbocharged powerplant. Don’t be fooled by this tiny 1.7-liter 4-cylinder engine, though. It’s very capable of 237 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The 2020 4C Spider comes from the factory in rear-wheel drive and (to the disappointment of some) only with a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. Driving purists would have loved a manual option. However, Alfa Romeo did see fit to affix steering wheel-mounted shift paddles for those looking to score a bit more haptic feedback while driving.
Available Colors
Alfa Romeo offers the 2020 4C Spider in the following colors.
- Black
- White
- Alfa Rosso
- Basalt Gray Metallic
- Rosso Competizione Tri-Coat
Trimlines and Pricing
As far as trim levels go, well, there’s really only one. The model starts at $67,150 and includes standard features like leather interior trimming, Bluetooth, a manually-operated soft top, and keyless entry. Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential, 17- and 18-inch wheels, and leather seating fill out this small standard features list.
Optional features include a microfiber steering wheel, carbon fiber mirror caps, an Akrapovic dual-mode exhaust, and an Alpine sound system. There is also a limited-edition Alfa Romeo 4C Spider Italia. That model is “distinguished by an exclusive blue paint color, piano-black exterior trim and aluminum interior trim,” according to Edmunds. However, availability of the Italia model is extremely limited.
Safety Features
The 2020 4C Spider has not yet been rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). That said, we’re not sure it will even be tested by these organizations either. There’s not much on this Alfa Romeo as far as safety equipment goes, beyond the bare bones.
Standard safety equipment includes basics like a rearview camera, cruise control, and rear parking sensors. You can count on just enough airbags to meet safety standards. Besides that, you’ve got stability and traction control, along with hill-start assist. The rest, as it were, is up to you. Or rather, up to fate, given the smaller Spider wouldn’t fare much better in an accident than a SmartCar would.
Fuel Efficiency
With a small-displacement engine, miniature monocoque body, and a maximum two-person capacity, the 2020 4C Spider does pretty well when it comes to fuel efficiency. The EPA estimates that you should see about 24 city and 34 highway miles per gallon (MPG). Keep in mind that you’re probably not going to be taking this car on long trips like you would your daily driver. It’s much more of a toy. However, if you do plan on a lengthy jaunt through the mountains or down the coastline, you won’t have to stop for gas every hour.
Drawbacks?
There’s a lot to love about the 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. And a little bit to not love at all. Drivers typically choose one side or the other, based on basically the same characteristics. You either love it, or you hate it.
Customers who hate the 4C Spider can’t stand its harsh ride. There’s not much between you and the road, so the Spider lets you feel every bump and crack. “Few creature comforts and extremely limited cargo capacity” turns off a lot of folks, especially those who want to have their sports car and use it too.
Transmission choice is limited to automatic, there’s (barely) room for two occupants, and power steering? Please. Room for such contraptions are dedicated to, well, everything else Alfa Romeo has to fit into the tiny speeding bathtub they call the 4C Spider.
Alfa Romeo has discontinued the coupe version of this lovable go-cart. So you’ll have to work with the “rollable fabric roof” of the convertible. “Poor rear visibility” joins the lists of reasons why you probably don’t want to daily drive this car. In the end, U.S. News suggests it “gives up too much refinement in its pursuit of performance.” For many, it’s just too hardcore.
Competitors
For others, the 2020 4C Spider is a “hardcore sports car that offers unparalleled driver control and feedback at an elevated, but not exotic, price.” It has “razor-sharp handling,” according to Edmunds, which puts you back into the driver’s seat. The days of nodding off while cruise control does all the work fly away faster than you can say “4C Spider.” CarAndDriver names it one of “only a handful of modern, affordable cars that make every trip feel truly special.”
Some of those modern cars include the Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Toyota Supra, and the Fiat 124 Spider. The Audi TT and BMW Z4 live in the segment as well, along with the Jaguar F-Type, Lotus Elise, and Chevrolet Corvette. It’s worth a look — and a test drive — to see if any of these other sports cars suits your fancy.
The Last Word
Love it or hate it, there’s no denying the impressive presence of the 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. From the staggered wheels to the squat stance, this bare-bones sports car takes no prisoners. It will definitely take you along for a memorable ride too. Choose your riding partner wisely, since they may or may not thank you for the experience afterwards.
Either way, we recommend test-driving the 2020 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider. Cruise over to your local Alfa Romeo dealer and at least sit in this speed machine. Those gripping seats might just have you signing on the dotted line and driving your own 4C Spider home.
Source: Alfa Romeo
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