Released in 2010, The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is a mid-size family hatchback with an exotic twist.
Combining supercar looks with the practicality an average buyer can get on board with proved a successful combination for Alfa Romeo, so much so that the Giulietta stayed on sale looking pretty much the same for an entire decade, and for good reasons too. It proved to be one of their most successful models in years.
Regrettably, the Giulietta never made it to American shores, possibly due to its size more closely representing the desires of European customers who need a more compact platform, but the Giulietta underpinnings have lived on in an American vehicle, the Dodge Dart.
Possibly due to it not being a global vehicle or possibly because Alfa Romeo does not have the market share of premium competitors such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes, the Giulietta is somewhat overlooked, but this should not be the case. As far as modern cars go, this is one of the best around. Let's now explore why this is.
Exclusivity, Design Prowess, And Luxury At Little Cost
One of the best things about Giulietta ownership is those drop-dead gorgeous looks, inside and out. The Giulietta takes heavy inspiration from the curves of the 8C supercar, even going as far as borrowing (and mildly tweaking) those stylish front headlights. The interior very much follows the same ethos with the gauges and dash switches bearing an uncanny resemblance to the supercar as well.
While the design is similar, the cost of these vehicles is most definitely not, with fantastic used examples of the Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf) being available for under $14,000 and end of the line brand new models in dealerships being sold with warranty at huge discounts too.
Because of this, Alfa Romeo have used cheaper materials in the cabin here, but don't let that put you off, as whatever the hand is likely to touch, such as the steering wheel, the seats or the lovely spherical gear knob, premium materials have been used, so it is easier to give the odd bits of hard plastic a pass here.
The German competition, meanwhile will have more premium materials scattered around on the inside, but unfortunately, they cost more, are more common, and less interesting to look at. While that dash may feel better to the touch, there is a certain simple elegance to the swooping dashboard of the Giulietta.
It is pure Italian style, and its seats, whether pre- or post-facelift, are both beautiful to behold and perfectly positioned; you won't have a bad back getting out of this car!
Characterful Yet Sensible Engines
The Giulietta has a big ace up its sleeve under the bonnet, with sensible 4-cylinder diesels available which stand toe to toe very well with their competitors, but the stars of the show are the petrol engines, with a 1.4 MultiAir petrol engine being the most common.
The Multiair engine uses a revolutionary type of hydraulic valve timing adjustment, allowing for far greater efficiency and a boost to fuel economy. This system paired with a turbo allows the tiny 1.4 to produce up to 177.4 HP, an impressive feat indeed.
This 1.4 unit is very Alfa-like in its character with a revvy nature and a nice noise to boot. It’s not all show, and no go either. It has a 0-60 time of 7.5 seconds (hot hatch territory a few years back) and fuel economy of between 30-40 MPG depending on driver input.
If the MultiAir engine doesn’t sound like enough for you, the top-of-the-range Cloverleaf halo model certainly should! This 1750CC turbo four produces 243 HP and rockets the car to 60 in just six seconds.
While fuel economy will drop down to 20-25 MPG, the 1750TBI unit is actually even more reliable than the MultiAir; all it asks for is 9,000-mile (Or yearly, whichever comes first) oil changes to keep the oil going to the turbo clean and undiluted as this is a direct-injection petrol engine, which if neglected, will allow fuel into the oil.
The later all-alloy 1750TBI unit mated to the TCT automatic also gives the owner some bragging rights as it is the same engine used in the remarkable 4C sports car.
Classic Alfa Romeo Driving Dynamics
With lightweight engines and an advanced multilink suspension setup, the Giulietta drives like an Alfa Romeo should on twisty roads. The quick ratio steering rack gives the front end an agile and eager feel when turning in and the body control is excellent. This car has everything it needs to be a modern Alfasud, except the rust.
The Giulietta also comes with a DNA switch on the center console standing for dynamic, natural (normal) and all weather, with each setting mapping the throttle, steering and ECU differently. All weather allows for a softened driver input, perfect for driving safely in icy conditions.
The car is set to natural when it comes out of the factory and dynamic brings the car to life. In dynamic mode, the throttle response is much sharper, the steering has reduced assistance, engine performance is increased, and the electronic torque vector diff (using the brakes) is activated. In dynamic, the Giulietta feels more like a sports car than a hatch, and the DNA switch feels like a one-click remap; it’s a totally different vehicle after that button is pressed.
Reliability And Safety In Spades
Alfa Romeo set out to make a class leader in the Giulietta, and this translates to its safety too. Upon launch, the Giulietta was the safest car ever made in its class, and while that rating has gone down in the newer tests, a lot of this is because the crash test now relies heavily on active safety technology such as autonomous emergency braking and lane departure warning systems. So rest assured, the Giulietta is still a very safe car for you and your family.
The most ironic thing about the Giulietta, though is its reliability. Ever since the great 164, Alfa Romeo has been determined to remove the image of their cars as unreliable rust buckets. The Giulietta has basically wiped the slate clean for the brand. In a survey a few years back, while the cars were still rolling out of the factory, owners ranked Alfa Romeo as the 5th most reliable carmaker; quite an achievement and only beaten by the less interesting but more dependable Japanese makes.
There you have it; a modern, stylish Alfa Romeo that is cheap to buy, safe, fun, and dependable. There really isn’t a compromise to be had here, and its refreshing to know that this is an Alfa Romeo you can buy with your head and your heart.