Alfa Romeo research reveals dating app fatigue among 60% of daters, while 91% of women want greater control over date plans

• 60% of daters are experiencing ‘dating app fatigue’
• 91% of female daters say having the freedom to shape or change their date plans is important to them
• 49% would prefer to meet a potential romantic partner more naturally
• Alfa Romeo has partnered with award-winning dating and relationship coach Kate Mansfield to create Guida all’Amore, a guide to meeting in-person and making lasting memories together on the road
• 44% of UK daters would choose a shared experience such as a drive or daytrip, over a traditional dinner or drinks date
• A scenic drive is the preferred date idea for 35% of daters once they have got to know each other
• With a range of 255 miles (WLTP) and rapid charging up to 100kW, the Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica is the perfect companion for a romantic road trip
• To download the guide visit: https://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/news/love-thy-romeo

New research from Alfa Romeo* has revealed that almost half (44%) of UK daters would be more likely to agree to a date which involves a shared experience, such as a drive or day trip, than a traditional dinner and drinks date. With experiencing dating app fatigue, it’s perhaps no surprise that almost half (49%) would prefer to meet potential romantic partners more naturally.

Alfa Romeo has partnered with award-winning dating and relationship coach, Kate Mansfield, to create Guida all’Amore, a guide to dating in-person, making meaningful memories together, and discovering five of the UK’s most romantic road trip destinations.

Inspired by Alfa Rome's Italian heritage, where passion and emotion are woven into everyday life, Guida all’Amore offers practical tips and expert advice for creating meaningful connections beyond the world of dating apps, celebrating the joy of spending time together and supporting you on your dating journey.

As daters look for more natural ways to connect, 35% of daters believe they are more likely to build an emotional connection with someone new through a shared experience, compared with 24% who would choose dinner. Doing something together can help take the pressure off, creating a more relaxed setting where conversation can flow naturally. 

Yet Alfa Romeo's research shows that chemistry still has a firm place in our hearts when it comes to dating, with 86% of UK daters saying that a spark or sense of chemistry is important when meeting someone new.

Passion has always been intrinsic to Alfa Romeo and the Junior Elettrica embodies performance, style and excitement. Equipped with a 54kWh battery, offering a range of 255 miles (WLTP). With rapid charging, the Junior Elettrica can recharge from 20% to 80% in just 30 minutes, providing added peace of mind on those memorable road trips.

Featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Alfa Connect Services and a 400-litre boot capacity. Ambient lighting, with a choice of eight colours can be customised via the 10.25-inch infotainment screen to suit your mood or cabin atmosphere, with Junior Elettrica, even the journey can feel like the beginning of something special.

Jules Tilstone, Managing Director, Alfa Romeo UK said: "Dating apps have transformed the way people meet, but our research suggests singles are now looking for a more authentic way to connect. A scenic drive or an impromptu road trip offers the chance to step away from the traditional dating scenario and share a more natural experience together. Junior Elettrica is the perfect date companion for a romantic escape, combining performance with passion and style, rooted in its Italian DNA – together with the romantic road trip inspiration, and expert tips in our Guida all’Amore “you can focus on making lasting memories together in a more natural setting.”

In collaboration with award-winning dating and relationship coach, Kate Mansfield, the guide features expert advice on building authentic romantic connections, as well as five of the UK’s most romantic road trip destinations, and date ideas designed to take dating beyond apps and into the real world.

Kate specialises in helping high-achieving women move from app-based dating towards confident, values-led, connections in real life, with an emphasis on boundaries and feminine empowerment.

Kate Mansfield, dating and relationship coach said: “Real-life dating works best when it feels less like an interview and more like an experience you are sharing. Online dating can be a useful way to meet, but a profile or message only tells you so much. When you are together in person, you can notice the rhythm of the conversation, whether you can laugh, how someone responds to the world around them and, most importantly, how you feel in their company.”

The Alfa Romeo research also highlights women wanting more agency when it comes to their dating lives – 91% of female daters said it was important for them to be able to shape or change a date plan, while 52% said that knowing they could leave a date easily would help them to feel comfortable, comparted to 29% of men. Making their own travel arrangements was also an important consideration when date planning for 42% of women.

When it comes to planning a date, 60% of women said they would prefer to plan it together in contrast to 11% of women who said they would prefer to plan it themselves and just 2% said they would prefer the other person to take the lead. Being involved in the planning also helps women feel their boundaries are respected, with 42% identifying this as an important factor.

Representing Alfa Romeo's distinctive blend of style and sportiness in the compact SUV segment, Junior is available with a choice of two electric powertrains. Elettrica, TI and Sports Speciale variants feature a 156hp electric motor and up to 250 miles of range (WLTP) on a single charge. At the top of the electric line-up Junior Veloce embodies the full spirit of Alfa Romeo in an electric vehicle with a 280hp electric motor, Torsen limited slip differential, lowered suspension and sportier steering geometry delivering the style and driving dynamics expected of an Alfa Romeo.

The Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica is also eligible for the UK Government Electric Car Grant (ECG), giving customers an additional £1,500 saving on Elettrica, TI and Sport Speciale variants.

For more information on the Alfa Romeo Junior range or to locate your nearest retailer please visit www.alfaromeo.co.uk or to book a 24-hour test drive visit vip-event.alfaromeo.co.uk/junior-elettrica-event.

For romantic road trip inspiration and to download Guida all’Amore click here

ENDS

*Survey of 1,000 UK single people actively dating, conducted by OnePoll, September 2026