Review: Alfa Romeo Giulia

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia was a long time coming, writes Brian Byrne. I remember seeing it at several motor shows in prototype and final production form long before it actually hit showrooms in Europe. So when it finally got to launch in Ireland in March, it just didn't seem like a new car.

The name recalls a series of mostly well-considered saloons built by the sporty-oriented brand between 1962-1977. And the model was at the time aimed at the ordinary family motorist.

The new one isn't. It has moved up in size, and aspiration. And even though it could be considered the spiritual successor to the 156 that arguably saved the brand from extinction in 1996 and the following decade, it is beyond the owners of those cars too.


The company has a lot riding on this one, with BMW in its sights, specifically the 3 Series. So the designers built a rear-drive architecture to satisfy the driving purists. Offered decent performance from the start. And, as Alfa has always done, provided a very high performance version under the pulse-raising Quadrifoglio label.

The style is elegant with the kind of thoroughbred tautness of a top-class racehorse. There's no doubt about the pedigree, with the distinctive Alfa grille, and the offset front numberplate.

My review car had very nice alloys, which are rather vulnerable to kerbing (and despite my best efforts I mortifyingly did leave marks on one from an encounter in a very narrow street in County Kilkenny).

Inside is the kind of leather and trim that you'd expect for where it is positioned. The instruments are a good mix of analogue and digital, with a mid-dash screen area the functions of which are managed by a rotary knob on the centre console. I appreciated the simplicity of the climate controls.

The car comes only with an 8-speed automatic, which can be manually managed either by the centre shifter or by big paddles behind the steering wheel. I initially expected that they'd get in the way of the indicators and wiper controls, but that didn't actually become an issue.

The power in the review car came from a 2.2 diesel with 180hp, a unit designed for the car and which proved quite a punchy performer. It worked exceptionally well with the autobox, and the overall driving experience was very refined. Switching the driving mode into 'dynamic' did things to the engine and suspension responses that were useful on twisting country roads.

I enjoyed the car. But is it a real competitor to the 3 Series? Short answer, not yet. The Alfa has a bit more sporty flair than the 3 Series. Which is actually an advantage, because for that you will forgive it the things that keep it where it is.

Now, when I have the Quadrifoglio, all bets are off.

PRICE: €39,995-€99,945. EQUIPMENT: 2.0 and 2.9 petrols, 2.2 diesels; standard auto; lots of safety tech. RATING: 4.2/5.