Alfa Romeo Giulietta is a car that builds upon tradition to move fast into the future of hatchbacks. In what is the latest version of its most iconic model, Alfa Romeo has not given up on its distinctive style: with the basic version starting just above £14.000, Giulietta’s flair also comes at an affordable price. So what does this price tag get you?
First of all, the car looks great. It is compact and curvy but there is a really good boot and all the seats are comfy. In particular the driver is given loads of leg room. One of our testers is over 6 feet and often finds his knees are squashed up against the dashboard. Not in the Giulietta – there is bags of space. This car is also fantastically sporty with a lively engine & responsive steering which make it a pleasure to drive. The engine range includes some of the most advanced options currently on the market, among which is the award-winning 1.4 Turbo MultiAir 170bhp, named “International Best New Engine of the Year” in 2010.
One of this engine’s most interesting features is the Start&Stop technology, which automatically stops and starts the car whenever there’s a standstill in traffic, thus improving overall fuel-efficiency. We did find this feature a bit unsettling but if it’s not for you all you have to do is press a button on the dash and this feature is disabled. Another key element is the Gear Shift Indicator (GSI), which constantly shows the driver the gear that gives the best efficiency of torque. Such combination of Start&Stop and GSI makes the Giulietta an incredibly fuel-efficient car. I drove it around Northern Italy for a weeks holiday and did not need to fill it up once!
With this car you can have it both ways – amazing efficiency with great performance options such as the 1.6 JTDM-2 105bhp and the 2.0JTDM, either with 140bhp or 170bhp.
In the comfortable yet stylish monochromatic interior, you will find a high level of detail starting from the dashboard and its trademark twin-binnacle instrument panel. Extending all across the front area, the dashboard also hosts top-notch technologies such as Blue&Me, which allows you to play music straight from your mobile, and integrates a navigation system which was specifically designed for Tom Tom.
Adding even more to Giulietta’s great appeal, this car’s safety system has earned it a five-star Euro NCAP rating, a very strong result which makes it the one of the safest minis on the market.
Finally, if the Giulietta sounds like a car you’d love to drive around town, but you’re not yet sure which option best reflects your needs, its four different trims will help you make your mind up. From Turismo, to Lusso, Veloce, Sportiva and range-topping Cloverlift, there is a Giulietta for every different style of driving, no matter if you’re a quiet city driver or a speed addict.
Versatility, technology and class: these are the overall key attributes of Giulietta, a car that is a pleasure to test and discover, day after day. We really liked this car it gets so much right with amazing efficiency but its really fun to drive, full of features you will actually use and the starting price is really good. Well done Alfa!
