After a long wait, we’ve been able to test the Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon for the first time. To say this car is important for Alfa is an understatement, in fact Harald Wester, Head of Alfa Romeo and Maserati, declared it “make or break”, because it’s all-new platform will form the basis for at least eight new models, including Alfa’s first SUVs.
In the Giulia it delivers a car with a longer wheelbase than the BMW 3 Series, Jaguar XE and Mercedes C-Class, rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic gearbox, with prices expected to start from around £32k. It will also get four-wheel drive, although whether this will come to the UK is still in contention.
Stunning design
What isn’t in debate is the Giulia’s design. Stepping off the coach at Alfa’s Balocco proving ground, we were greeted by a row of Giulia’s looking knee-tremblingly good, seemingly regardless of trim level.
For a four-door saloon, the Giulia looks fairly petite, with a low-slung stance, evocative triangular grille, delicious curves and a splendid selection of alloy wheels. For the ultimate ‘Alfisti’ appeal, you need to go for the ‘Teledial’ alloys which could only ever be fitted to an Alfa.
Normally, opening the door on a modern-day Alfa is tinged with slight disappointment, but not so here. The Giulia has easily the best Alfa cabin to date, with a tactile steering wheel, bold gauges and sweeping dashboard. Another highlight is the glass panel which seamlessly hides the infotainment screen.
Trim levels will include a standard Giulia with autonomous emergency braking and cruise control, while a ‘Super’ trim will add highlights like leather upholstery and 17-inch alloys. To tailor the car further, expect to find a Sport Pack, Driver Assistance Pack and Business Pack in the configurator with various aesthetic and technology add-ons.
It’s comfortable too, with seats which feel more sporting than most rivals. The compact theme continues in here too, with a noticeably smaller windscreen than most of the hatchback’s many will be used to, although headroom still seems fine thanks to a low seating position.
There’s room in the back for two adults, but it feels more on a par with the relatively cosseting Jaguar XF than the spacious Audi A4. Boot space is good, with 480 litres, matching most of the competition.
I’m sure if you’re an Alfa fan, what you really want to know is; how does it drive?
Well, there’s good news, because the diesel we tested felt like the best Alfa road car for years. It’s the first rear-wheel drive saloon since the Alfa 75, and not only that, but it has a perfect 50:50 weight distribution.
You can feel it in the first corner, through the lovely steering feel and the sensation of the whole car taking a neutral stance through the corner. Will the ultra-responsive steering – it has the quickest ratio in the class – to dig the front tyres deeper into the apex and you can feel the rear tyres take more of the strain. You are unlikely to trouble the rear rubber too much in the diesel (you need the 503bhp Quadrifoglio for that), but the sensation of weight transfer is very Jaguar-like.
It’s comfortable too. Alfa has been at pains to fit an advanced suspension set-up, which retains the tyre’s geometry and contact patch with the road even under high lateral loads. Thanks to this precision, the suspension doesn’t have to be too stiff, so the Giulia still has a fluid ride which can shake off bumps, despite its sporty handling.
We were expecting the 2.2-litre to be somewhat gruff, but while there’s no masking the fact it needs filling with the black nozzle, it’s actually smooth and quiet. The power delivery has a smooth progression, so the turbocharger doesn’t feel like an on/off switch, and it’s well complemented by the eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
While the Giulia will be available with a manual on the continent, right-hand drive models haven’t been re-engineered with it, so the automatic is standard. While normally this would be something to moan about, the eight-speed is so good, it’s actually a highlight of the car.
In ‘Normal’ and ‘Advanced Economy’ driving modes, shifts are so smooth you barely notice them, while in ‘Dynamic’ they are surprisingly quick for a diesel. This feeling is accentuated by the large aluminium paddle shifters, which feel like they’re straight out of a Ferrari. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 7.1 seconds,
Economy is rated at a BMW 320d-matching 67mpg, while CO2 emissions are 109g/km, with a sub-100g/km “Eco” version coming next year.
Fit for your driveway?
We’ll need to drive the Giulia in right-hand drive and in the UK to make our final judgement, but first impressions are important, and the Giulia certainly makes a strong one. It feels like a leap in the right direction for Alfa, who at last have a model which should appeal to its fans.
Here is a car with real character, and for once, a chassis good enough to back up its looks.