Anyone who is a fan of stylish and gorgeous looking cars doesn't have to look anywhere else other than the Alfa Romeo Giulia in 2021.
The Giulia, thankfully, reappeared on the market in 2015 and brought back that Italian car design that every gear head enjoys. The Giulia has to be the best looking when compared to its rivals the BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A5 Sportsback, Kia Stinger and the Genesis G70. So, if you are just looking for good looks, the Giulia is your option - especially when in Alfa Romeo red. Alfa has always been known for impeccable beauty when it comes to its range of cars.
The Giulia range comes in three different models and at increasing prices. The baseline model is the Sprint which starts at $40,745. The mid-range model is the Ti at $43,995. And the top of the range, the Ti Sport comes in at $47,195. This price range is of course very similar to that of its rivals like the Mercedes, Audi and BMW especially. The Genisis and Kia start off at lower prices.
Let's find out what is underneath that beautiful Italian designed body.
What's New?
Between the top two specs, the Ti and the Ti Sport you now have panoramic sunroofs and built-in navigation. Technically speaking, other than the engines we'll discuss later, the Ti Sport also comes with a limited-slip differential. The whole Giulia range gets a new selection of colors to make that car body to stand out even more than it already does. As mentioned the Giulia only comes in 3 versions whereas in previous years you have had the option between 5. This can be a good thing if you enjoy the simplicity of choice. With the new range, new standard equipment has been brought in for the 2021 models.
For those purists out there, the BMW 3-Series no longer has the option for a manual transmission. Whereas you can still get the Giulia or a version of, with a manual transmission. Which is music to the ears of any gear head.
The interior is equipped with an 8.8-inch infotainment screen in the center console, which is a touchscreen. But you can also use the rotary knob on the center console to control the infotainment system. You will also be happy to hear that a 14-speaker Harman/Kardon audio system is an optional extra if you ever get bored with that engine sound.
What Are The Specs?
One of the main selling points for the Giulia is its screaming Italian beating heart. There is only one powertrain available for all models. It is a wonderfully sounding 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder which gives you 280 bhp. But Alfa does provide the option for either rear-wheel-drive or all-wheeled-drive. Each achieves a different 0-60 mph time, the RWD does it in 5.7 seconds and the AWD does it in 5.5 seconds. Many other cars achieve it in under 5 seconds, yes, but few look as good as the Giulia.
This is just the standard version of the Giulia if you are looking for the bigger and louder version. Alfa has the option of a Quadrifoglio version which has a four-cylinder twin-turbo V6 that holds 505 bhp. A very nice option to have indeed but you will have to fork out $76,345, which is about $29,000 more than the Ti Sport Giulia model.
As standard, the Giulia comes with automated emergency braking. With available options like lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist. And to help with driving comfort, the Giulia comes with the optional extra of adaptive cruise control with a semi-autonomous driving mode, for when you get a bit bored.
Overview, What's Good And What's Bad?
The Guilia range includes an RWD and an AWD option, both types have a different MPG rating. The RWD models attain a combined MPG rating of 27 ( 24 city, and 33 highways). The AWD models attaining slightly less at 26 MPg (23 city, 31 highways). This isn't bad at all when compared to the BMW 3-Series which achieves a similar rating, 25-28 MPG depending on which model.
Due to the price range of the Giulia, it has a limited range of interior features. It includes a lot of plastics, however, the Italian exterior design filters into the interior with genuine wood and metallic finishings. Leaving you with enough style and grace to along with that engine noise.
Overall, the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia offers enough of a range to whet your appetite. It's handling is up to the task of handling the warm-blooded beating heart underneath the hood. And due to Alfa's notoriety with reliability, they do offer enough servicing options to keep that worry a little bit quieter.