Alfa Romeo

Giulia

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a beautifully crafted four-door saloon that delivers all the very best the Italian marque has to offer. Designed, engineered and crafted by genuine Alfa Romeo sports car enthusiasts it is guaranteed to fulfil the high expectations of the most demanding drivers.

Test Drive

Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce (2023)

Alfa Romeo has updated its four-door saloon Giulia model for 2023 and it adopts a number of new design cues that were first seen in the recently-launched Tonale.

Giulia is available in trim levels called Sprint and Veloce with both models being rear-wheel drive and powered by a 2.0-litre 280hp petrol engine.

Our range-topping Giulia Veloce cost £47,759, although the addition of dark tinted rear windows added a sense of mystique to the car and increased the price by £350.

The Giulia is a beautifully-designed model that boasts a strong road presence. Eye-catching features include the new-look 3+3 headlights that are a nod to the iconic Alfa Romeo SZ Zagato and feature full-LED adaptive Matrix lights. Also new, the front and lower grilles of the main air ducts have been given a unique finish to reinterpret the famous Trilobo grille.

There is a black V-shaped grille, gloss black exhaust finisher, gloss black window surrounds, aluminium front kick plates, smart alloy wheels and the traditionally offset front number plate.

The interior is high-end and packed with on-board technology with the main focal point being an 8.8-inch infotainment system with navigation. Creature comforts include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity, a DAB radio, rearview camera, heated and powered leather seats, a heated steering wheel, along with a smart 12.3-inch digital driver display screen that can be customised into three different layouts called Evolved, Relax and Heritage.

All the systems and readouts are easy to operate on the move and there are physical controls for the air conditioning set-up which is excellent as it avoids driver distraction compared to navigating a touchscreen menu to simply adjust the temperature.

With the 2.0-litre petrol engine delivering 280hp and 400Nm of torque, the Giulia can sprint from 0-62mph in just 5.7 seconds and tops out at 149mph, while delivering a combined 38.2mpg (under WLTP testing) with carbon emissions of 167g/km.

There is a beautifully-timed eight-speed automatic transmission with larger-than-life metal paddles for manual gear changes. And when it comes to performance, the Giulia is as dynamic to drive as it is to look at. There is a constant stream of power and the saloon is well balanced with bundles of grip when fizzing through the twisting country lanes.

The steering offers great driver feedback and this is a car that’s happy cruising at 70mph on motorways eating up the miles. There are drive modes called ‘d’ which stands for Dynamic, ‘n’ for Natural and ‘a’ for Advanced Efficiency to maximise fuel economy – no prizes for guessing which mode is the most fun.

The all-round driver visibility is good despite sitting quite low to the ground and the Giulia proved to be agile and easy to manoeuvre in busier town centres too.

The cabin is well insulated against noise intrusion and the highly effective suspension set-up smooths out all but the roughest of road surfaces.

With a 2.82-metre wheelbase, there is a generous amount of legroom for a couple of adults to sit comfortably in the back, provided the front seats are not pushed right back. But the large transmission tunnel means any passenger forced to sit in the middle seat will find their legs straddling it which is not ideal.

The boot can swallow 480 litres of kit and this can be increased further thanks to 60:40 split-folding rear seats, with anchor points to prevent items rolling around. However, the high lip means loading heavier goods can be quite challenging.

Throughout the cabin are a number of practical storage compartments, including a cooled glovebox, narrow door pockets, front and rear cup holders, seat back nets, a central cubby, trays and a wireless charging pad. And with family escapes to the countryside in mind, the Giulia has a towing limit of 1.6 tonnes.

All in all, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is an excellent family saloon car that’s very big on style and performance. And it’s always nice to get away from the constant stream of German carmakers and stand out from the crowd.

Test Drive

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo

For anyone fancying a blisteringly fast saloon with aggressive styling and performance to match, but who wants to give the German car makers a swerve, then Alfa Romeo may have the perfect solution.

That’s because thanks to its 2.9-litre V6 Bi-Turbo petrol engine delivering a mighty 510hp and 600Nm of torque, the Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio, offers all the firepower to match most hot performance cars currently on the market.

The four-door saloon looks aggressive and muscular, yet still boasts a subtle Italian chic so it isn’t brash in any way. Eye-catching design cues include a dark gloss grille, darkened rear lights, four exhaust pipes, air scoops, deep bumpers, a rear spoiler, tinted rear windows, 19-inch darkened alloys and a dark finish GIULIA badge that looks rather menacing. There is also the traditional Quadrifoglio four-leaf clover emblem on the wings – this is a sign of good luck in Italian.

Move inside and there is a clear sporty theme running throughout with black leather and Alcantara sports seats with red piping, a Quadrifoglio leather flat-bottomed steering wheel, a leather dashboard and door panels, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen with sat nav, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto smartphone links, a wireless charging pad and lots of performance-related data on the seven-inch driver information tft display.

With such a powerful engine you would expect the performance figures to be mouth-watering – and they are exactly that. The 0-62mph sprint time is a rapid 3.9 seconds and the top speed is 191mph. On the downside, not surprisingly the running costs are high with a combined fuel economy figure of 27.2mpg (if driven sensibly) and carbon emissions of 235g/km. So expect regular trips to fill up with fuel and hefty road tax and insurance bills.

But what you gain in return will be worth every single penny because the Giulia Quadrifoglio delivers supercar performance. Push the red ‘start engine’ button positioned on the steering wheel and the car’s V6 engine bursts into life with a mighty roar and the adrenalin rush grows rapidly as you hit the fast-paced country lanes with their sharp twists and turns.

The smooth eight-speed dual clutch transmission rips through the gears and there are huge steering wheel mounted paddles for added driver engagement. The road holding is ultra grippy and this is a rear-wheel drive car that loves to be driven hard into bends and then accelerate away again at pace.

There are three drive modes that alter the manner in which the car reacts called d, n and a which stands for Dynamic, Normal and Advanced efficiency. And there is also a RACE mode that will deactivate the traction systems – this is certainly not for the faint hearted.

The Giulia cruises along eating up the motorway miles for fun and it’s nicely agile in busier town centre settings. But in all honesty, it’s out on those quieter more challenging B roads that this vehicle can truly be enjoyed to its best ability.

The reactions are sharp, the steering perfectly weighted and the driving experience is guaranteed to leave you beaming from ear to ear.

The comfort levels within the car totally depend on how it is being driven and what mode has been selected. In the more efficient and comfortable ‘a’ mode, it’s all fairly calm and the suspension system does a worthy job of smoothing out the bumpy road surfaces. However, switch across to dynamic and expect to feel every tiny pothole send shockwaves through the car.

On the practicality front, the Giulia Quadrifoglio has a boot than can swallow 480 litres of luggage and the rear seats can be split 40:20:40 to carry extra kit. Elsewhere, there’s plenty of handy storage compartments scattered throughout the car, including a glovebox, door bins, a central cubby box with wireless charger and secure phone holder section, cup holders, trays, plus nets in the seat backs.

Passengers in the back have enough legroom provided the front seats are not pushed back too far, but the sloping roof design does mean taller adults will struggle a little for headroom.

Obviously, a car with the pace and power of this Alfa needs to have a comprehensive list of safety equipment to keep occupants and other road users protected. And the Giulia has just that with the likes of autonomous emergency braking, active cruise control, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, a driver alert, a rear view camera with dynamic lines which is handy for parking and a whole lot more besides.

All in all, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio is a truly fabulous piece of kit. It looks drop dead gorgeous, boasts all the on-board technology you could possibly wish for and drives like something possessed. Sadly, these types of cars are slowly becoming a dying breed with cleaner, greener motoring on the horizon, so they need to be enjoyed to their full potential while we still can.

Test Drive

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0 Turbo petrol 280hp Veloce

I always find myself developing a little glint in my eye when an Alfa Romeo is due for testing possibly because you never really know what you’re going to get. They are a bit of a marmite brand, on the one hand renowned for the beautifully sculpted cars with performance capabilities to match but, on the other, historically let down over the years by reliability issues.

In recent times though, the Italian manufacturer has worked hard on its reputation and also resurrected a name that’s a blast from the past. It’s the Giulia and it has been received very well. So, when an opportunity to drive the Giulia Veloce (which is Italian for fast) arose, it was welcomed with great anticipation and excitement.

When it comes to styling, the gorgeous Giulia Veloce is guaranteed to stop onlookers dead in their tracks and may bring out a little green-eyed monster in them too. That’s because the Italian designers at Alfa Romeo have a gift for producing beautiful cars that are the envy of many other manufacturers and this model is another perfect example of that unique skill.

The sleek four-door sports saloon is distinguishable from the standard Giulia thanks to a sports front bumper with enlarged air inlets, bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, gloss black window surrounds, dark tinted rear windows, dual chrome exhaust tips, 18-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels and yellow brake calipers. Even the sportier rear bumper is characterised by a unique rear diffuser to help achieve better aerodynamics. It’s also worth noting the new colour option for the Giulia Veloce – it’s Misano Blue and it looks amazing.

Move inside and the clutter-free interior is clearly designed with the driver in mind with all controls, dials and readouts perfectly positioned for ease of use. The black perforated leather sports seats can be heated and offer excellent support. And there is a wealth of techno treats and creature comforts to be explored, including Alfa Romeo’s Uconnect 8.8-inch 3D navigation infotainment system which is controlled by a rotary dial (not touchscreen) and includes smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, DAB radio, a superb Harman Kardon sound system, dual zone climate control and plenty more besides.

Our test car was powered by a 280hp, 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It carried a price-tag of £38,260 although a number of optional extras such as metallic paint, a climate pack, performance pack, convenience pack, an upgraded audio system and those yellow brake calipers meant the final cost crept up to £43,240.

As one would expect with such a dynamic-looking car boasting such firepower, the performance stats are not for the meek or faint-hearted. The Giulia Veloce can sprint to 62mph from a standing start in a very rapid 5.7 seconds (fast by name and fast by nature) and it tops out at 149mph. On the economy front, combined fuel figures are a reported 46.3mpg with carbon emissions of 141g/km.

Getting comfortable is a quick and simple process with six-way power adjustable front seats along with full steering wheel adjustment and the all-round visibility is good.

But enough facts and figures. After all this is car that is designed to show off its driving capabilities and, believe me, they don’t disappoint. There is a dial with the letters ‘d’, ’n’ and ‘a’ on it and this is where the three driving modes can be selected. The lettering stands for dynamic, natural and advanced efficiency with dynamic really sharpening up the throttle, steering and brakes. At the other end of the scale, select ‘a’ and the Giulia becomes much calmer and somewhat tamed and that means improved efficiency. It’s fair to say this is a car for all moods.

The automatic transmission is perfectly timed and for a little added fun, it can be controlled manually thanks to huge steering column-mounted shift paddles and it soon becomes evident that the Giulia Veloce lives up to its name. It’s fast, but poised and well balanced at the same time and that results in excellent agility into sharp bends.

The acceleration is instant with a constant stream of power on tap, and the steering is both accurate and perfectly weighted. Another feature that impressed was the composure and refinement. The highly effective suspension system dealt brilliantly with rough surfaces and the cabin was well insulated against any noise intrusion from the engine or road surface. There is more engine roar when pushed hard in dynamic mode, but that just adds to the appeal of the car.

When tested for its Euro NCAP rating, the Giulia scored a maximum five stars and is well equipped with safety features and driver aids, including autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic headlights, run-flat tyres, front and rear parking sensors and lots more.

All in all, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce is a fantastic rear-wheel drive, compact saloon that’s brimming over with classic Italian flair and character. It looks stunning, delivers awesome driving dynamics and guarantees you will stand out in any crowd.

Test Drive

Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.2 Turbo Diesel 180bhp Super

The arrival of a new model always gets the jungle drums beating amongst car journalists so when Alfa Romeo offered glimpses of its new Giulia family car it was greeted with considerable excitement.

Now I say new, but in actual truth the original Giulia was first seen back in the early 60s, but the latest incarnation is guaranteed to get all those Alfa Romeo owners club and fan club members hot under the collar.

That’s because this is the Italian company’s first rear-wheel-drive car in 20 years and according to Alfa it is just the start of an almighty range upgrade that will put all its models back into contention when it comes to dynamism, performance and handling capabilities.

And if the drop dead gorgeous Giulia is anything to go by, it should be quite a transformation.

The test car carrying a £32,850 price-tag (£36,580 with options) was a beautifully-sculpted, well-tuned, generously-equipped piece of Italian craftwork that is certain to turn heads wherever it passes. It boasted elegant smooth streamlining, distinctive light clusters, a dual chrome exhaust tip, LED tail lights and dark tinted rear windows to add an air of mystique.

Step inside and the Guilia is truly sophisticated in its layout with a two-tone dashboard and door panels along with a raft of on-board techno treats to explore. Creature comforts include the likes of electrically-adjustable seats that can be heated, an eight-speaker sound system, a heated steering wheel, a cooled glovebox, dual zone climate control and an 8.8-inch infotainment screen that allows access to the navigation system, Bluetooth and media devices.

The car was powered by a 2.2-litre 180bhp diesel engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with steering wheel mounted paddles. It could reach 62mph from a standing start in 7.1 seconds, topped out at 143mph and according to official figures, can deliver combined fuel economy of 67.3mpg with carbon emissions of 109g/km.

Ask any driving purist about the performance of Alfa Romeo cars and they will talk for hours about the company’s ability to develop cars that simply love to be driven and this Giulia is no exception to that rule.

The smooth acceleration through the gears is as quick as you could wish for and the power supply just keeps on giving which helps to make very light work of overtaking.

In busy town centres, the all-round visibility was good and the rear-view camera is handy for parking. Then when the open road presents itself the Giulia certainly obliges and likes to show its true potential as it rapidly gathers up speed. The road holding is ultra-grippy and there is plenty of driver feedback too.

The engine growls a little when pushed particularly hard, which sort of adds to the appeal and then it becomes more refined again when cruising at motorway speeds.

The Giulia features driving modes called dynamic, natural and advanced efficiency (otherwise known as dna) that alter the car’s handling accordingly. Dynamic delivers a sharper throttle, brake and steering response for sportier driving, natural offers a more comfortable ride for everyday motoring, and advanced efficiency enables the cylinder deactivation to maximise energy.

These are good fun to play with as are the paddle shifts. But my only gripe after a week behind the wheel was these steering wheel-mounted paddles. They are massive in size and I was constantly tapping them by accident when reaching for the indicator or wipers stalks.

Elsewhere though, comfort levels within the car are exceptionally good and there is plenty of space for back seat passengers to stretch out in style. Storage limits are also generous with a boot capacity of 480 litres which is increased considerably with the 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats dropped flat.

All in all, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is a most welcome arrival or return to the motoring scene and it will certainly send a few rival German marques back to the drawing board.