Flip the calendar back a few decades and those seeking a thrilling little hot hatch with a little bit of Italian flair were almost spoiled for choice, as offerings from Lancia, Fiat, and Alfa Romeo seemed to come around like clockwork. Whether it be the enigmatic Fiat Punto Turbo, the legendary Lancia Delta Integrale, or the snarling Alfa Romeo 147 GTA, there was a wealth of options. In recent years though there have been fewer Italian pocket rockets to get excited about, with only the standout scorpion-badged Fiat 500 being the standout example, its bonkers character further enhanced with the 2022 F595 Abarth.

Yet those that know their cars and love all things Alfa Romeo would no doubt protest as one of the company's finest cooking hatch offerings went almost largely unnoticed. Having been somewhat lost in a wave of similar modern high speed machinery, the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifolgio Verde, or Cloverleaf is a turbocharged Italian wonder. A hot hatch that contains more flair and soul than any other in its class, and these are 10 reasons why we love the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifolgio Verde.

10 It's An Overlooked Hot Hatch

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Released in 2010, the Giulietta was a refreshing alternative to the clinical Volkswagen Golf or commonly seen Audi A3 which had become favorites amongst hatchback drivers worldwide, and promised better build quality and reliability than the previous 147 models.

Red Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde on the road
Via Alfa Romeo

No longer looking to stuff a big 3.2-liter V6 beneath the hood, Alfa Romeo turned to one of its smaller displacement turbocharged units to power the hottest Giulietta, creating a wonderfully balanced and fiercely characterful five-door hot hatch.

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9 More Soulful Than The Competition

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While the German offerings may have Alfa Romeo beat when it comes to reputational comments relating to reliability and build quality, the Italians were keen to ensure that the Giulietta righted history's wrongs and was a far better product.

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Often described as superb tools for the modern age the German cars simply couldn't match the feeling that a driver got from piloting an Alfa Romeo, and with a decent amount of thrust on offer, the Cloverleaf presented itself as a wonderful left-field alternative.

8 It's Quicker Than Most think

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Early versions of the Giulietta Quadrifolgio Verde came were rated at 232hp and 251 lb-ft of torque, which would allow the sleek Italian to rocket to 60 mph in a rapid 6.5 seconds before charging on to a top speed of 150mph.

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With an engine revision arriving in 2014 power increased to 237hp and with the addition of the paddle-shifting automatic TCT gearbox the 0-60 mph sprint time dropped to 6 seconds flat, putting the hatchback into a different league altogether.

7 An Awesome Engine

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Based on the engine fitted in the Alfa Romeo 4C sports car, the 1.75-liter turbocharged engine allows for the power of a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter unit whilst delivering fuel economy usually associated with a smaller, less powerful engine.

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Pulling hard from low revs, the unit has a wide and even spread of torque allowing the Giulietta to perform rapid overtaking maneuvers, pile on speed, and make short work of a twisting road whilst delivering respectable fuel economy figures of circa 38mpg.

Related: Here Are The Most Fuel-Efficient Hot Hatches of 2022

6 Excellent DNA

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Mounted in front of the gear selector is the now well-known Alfa Romeo DNA selector switch, a toggle that allows the driver to tailor their driving experience, with N being Normal, a balanced everyday mode ideal for commuting and city driving.

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Popping the car into D for Dynamic will provide sharper throttle response, heavier steering, and a less conservative ESP system, while selecting A for all-weather dials back power delivery allows for better grip and gives better fuel economy.

5 Loaded With Lovely Equipment

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Integrated into the very stylishly trimmed cockpit, drivers will find everything they need to enjoy their time behind the wheel with a clear-to-read, color satellite navigation screen and infotainment system along with drive mode selector and nicely weighted controls.

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The deeply bolstered monogrammed sports seats, leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, and sports pedals also all nod towards the car's performance orientations, as does the in-dash selectable digital turbo boost readout.

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4 Not Like Alfa's Of Old

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Keen to elevate its products away from the negative associations of poor reliability of old Alfa Romeo have focused on better build quality, higher levels of finish and, with the Giulietta, have ensured customers that it is a long-lasting product.

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Those who inevitably fell in love with the looks, performance, and exclusivity of the Giulietta Quadrifolgio Verde have clearly noted that the vehicle is far superior to Alfa Romeo's past offerings, with very few warranty problems having been reported.

3 It Likes A Modification Or Two

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Thanks to the turbocharged setup of the Giulietta Quadrifolgio Verde engine, getting extra power is as easy as a remap, with an additional 65hp being bestowed on the beast with a quick ECU flash or adding of a pre-programmed plug-in tuning box.

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Those seeking even further thrills can gain inspiration from the special edition Squadra Corsa TCT version which cam as standard with 282hp thanks to a remap, sports exhaust, and tuned gearbox allowing for an improved 0-60mph time of 5.6 seconds.

2 A Family-Friendly Italian Stunner

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Comfortably upholstered in a leather-fabric mix, the Giulietta Quadrifolgio Verde is not only a great performance car but an excellent family hack, its five doors and spacious trunk offering up more practicality than some rivals.

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Designed from the off to always be a safe, family car, the Giulietta Quadrifolgio Verde gained a five-star NCAP rating, making it the safest small production vehicle Alfa Romeo has ever released whilst rating it best in class.

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1 They Don't Cost An Arm And A Leg

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At the time of release, a Giulietta Quadrifolgio Verde sat in line with the more revered Golf GTI and more than an AWD Subaru Impreza WRX, but thanks to hefty depreciation they can now be snapped up at very competitive prices.

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Having not held their money as well as the competition, a used Giulietta Quadrifolgio Verde could present itself as something of a bargain and allows those seeking a break from the norm access to a life of Italian speed, style, and a stirred soul.