Name: Alfa Romeo Giulia Review
Item: Alfa Romeo Giulia
Author: Gumtree.com

First unveiled in 2015, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is a compact executive saloon with incredible looks. It’s available with a range of petrol and diesel engines that all offer sporty handling – it’s great fun on commutes or longer trips. The problem with a premium car is it normally comes with a premium price, though the Giulia represents a fairly good value second-hand buy all things considered. You’ve got a selection of trims to pick from too. For a muscular stance and the best of Italian motorsport engineering, check out the Giulia Quadrifoglio version.

Browse available cars on the Alfa Romeo Giulia model page.

What we think about the Alfa Romeo Giulia

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a compact luxury sedan that can turn corners as fast as it turns heads.

Pros

Sporty handling

Gorgeous looks

Lots of trim options

Cons

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Only available as an automatic

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Diesels don’t get close to their rated mpg

Available with petrol and diesel engines of varying sizes, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is a sporty four-door executive saloon with seats for five. It has a top Euro NCAP safety score, rubber-stamped in 2016, and its efficiency ranges between 33 and 53 mpg depending on the engine you choose.

Driving performance of the Alfa Romeo Giulia

Our Driving Rating8 / 10

Thanks to a rear-wheel-drive setup and a combination of front wishbone suspension and multilink suspension at the rear, the Giulia has impressively sharp handing. It corners accurately at speed and is a fun and involving drive. Passengers might note that the suspension is tuned for cornering not comfort, so you’ll feel those potholes and rough road surfaces. Choose from three driving modes – Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency – to customise the steering and throttle response to your preferences. Initially, it may feel a little hyper-alert, but it soon settles down as you get used to it.

Safety and reliability of the Alfa Romeo Giulia

Our Safety Rating8 / 10

The crash test analysts at Euro NCAP gave the Giulia the maximum five out of five stars in 2016, and it comes with a full set of front and side airbags. Newer models have AEB (automatic emergency braking), speed assistance and lane departure warnings as standard, and buyers can choose to add other gadgets such as parking cameras and blind-spot warning. Parents may notice it lacks Isofix child seat attachment points. Older Alfa Romeo models aren’t well-renowned for reliability, however newer ones score well and the majority of reported issues are fairly minor and easily sorted out.

Under the bonnet of the Alfa Romeo Giulia

Our Engine Rating8 / 10

Alfa Romeo’s UK version of the Giulia is only available with automatic transmission. But the eight-speed gearbox is impressively slick, and there are optional shift paddles if you want more involvement. Base level models come with a choice of 2.2-litre diesel (158 bhp) or 2.0-litre petrol (200 bhp) engines. The Speciale trim adds the option of a 187 bhp diesel that cuts the 0-60 time from 8.2 to 7.1 seconds, while Veloce models are only available with the petrol option. Quadrifoglio variants have a 2.9-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 engine designed by Ferrari that gets from 0-60 in just 3.9 seconds and has a top speed of 191 mph.

What you'll find in the Alfa Romeo Giulia

Our Design Rating9 / 10

Simply put, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is absolutely beautiful. Well-proportioned, sharp lines, distinctive – it turns heads. The base trim is Super, while the luxurious Speciale upgrade adds 18-inch alloy wheels, twin exhausts and xenon lamps. For a sporty look and more engine power, go for the Veloce, and if that’s not enough, the Veloce TI offers 19-inch black alloy wheels and additional carbon fibre inside and out. Nero Edizione models are a special edition petrol version with smart black features. But for muscular looks, racecar engine sound and high performance, it’s the Quadrifoglio all day long.

Comfort and interiors in the Alfa Romeo Giulia

Our Comfort Rating8 / 10

Inside the Giulia you’ll find high-quality materials and a clean, elegant design. It’s true, it’s not quite as out-and-out luxurious as some of its rivals, but the driving position is sporty and offers a great view of the road ahead. There are seats for five, and there’s plenty of legroom for everyone except a middle-seat passenger. Getting in and out is fairly easy thanks to the five-door setup. Boot space is also pretty good for a car of this size, but loading and unloading large items is tricky due to a small opening and high load lip.

What features you'll find in the Alfa Romeo Giulia

Our Features Rating8 / 10

You get a great range of standard kit with the Giulia, including Bluetooth connectivity, USB charging and data connections, a DAB radio and satellite navigation. All this is handled via an easy-to-see screen on the centre console. Every model also has three driving modes, selected using a well-designed dial. Exactly which other features you get depends on trim level and production year. New buyers can choose from upgrade packs that add smartphone mirroring via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (standard on models from 2020 onwards) and a fourteen speaker surround-sound audio setup.

What fuel efficiency to expect from the Alfa Romeo Giulia

Our Fuel Consumption Rating7 / 10

Weighing in at 1559 kg, the Giulia is efficient for such a sporty car. The lower-powered diesel is rated as doing 53.5 mpg, and the faster one is almost as good with 52.3 mpg – both emit 128 g/km of carbon dioxide. You’re unlikely to see efficiency figures that good however, unless you’re a very cautious driver. Petrol engines tend to be more faithful to their ratings, with the standard model doing 36.2 mpg and Veloce versions claiming 33.6. Again, emissions are the same for both, rated at 153 g/km. The Quadrifoglio makes no claims for efficiency and supposedly does 27.2 mpg with 206 g/km of emissions.

Running costs of the Alfa Romeo Giulia

Our Cost Rating7 / 10

The cost of keeping your Giulia on the road is lower than for many other executive saloons, but no, it’s not cheap. New buyers can choose from a range of prepaid servicing and warranty plans lasting up to five years, so ask about those if you’re considering a more recent model. Regarding insurance groups, the least powerful engine and lowest-spec trim are the cheapest in group 24. Faster engines and fancier trims mean bigger prices, with the most expensive being the Veloce TI model in group 36. If you pay extra for the Quadrifoglio model, be prepared to pay for insurance group 46.

Our verdict of the Alfa Romeo Giulia

4.5 / 5 Gumtree rating

If you're looking for an executive saloon with sporty handling and stunning looks, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is certainly a car to consider.

Alfa Romeo Giulia Review