Since helping to bring the Italian carmaker back to the United States seven years ago, the Alfa Romeo Giulia hasn’t changed much as it enters its eighth year of production. And why tamper with a winning formula? Two new trims have been introduced to the inventory for 2023, with modest upgrades to performance and interior amenities. However, neither diminishes the power of the top-of-the-line Giulia Quadrifoglio’s twin-turbo V6 engine, which Ferrari inspires.
The new “Estrema” package adds adaptive dampers, a limited-slip differential from the Quadrifoglio, gobs of carbon fibre, and some of the most excellent wheels on the market. It is a performance upgrade based on the Veloce trim, last year’s top non-Quadrifoglio option. “Lusso,” on the other hand, improves the Ti trim with unique “Crema” leather seating surfaces, additional leather on the console and upper doors, and a 14-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system.
The Sprint ($45,875) is the first vehicle in the range, followed by the Ti ($48,575), Veloce ($53,915), and Estrema ($57,415). Across the board, adding four-wheel drive costs $2,000. Of course, the Quadrifoglio ($83,555) only has a rear-wheel purpose. A $1595 destination charge is included in each pricing, but any potential discounts are not included.
But the 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 that powers the Quadrifoglio’s 505 horsepower to the back wheels of an astonishingly flexible and responsive chassis still makes it stand out. Every other model comes standard with a 2.0-litre turbo-four engine with 280 horsepower, which appears to visibly lose power on the way to a depressing redline of 6,200 RPM. Column-mounted paddle shifters control the eight-speed ZF automatic transmission; Alfa claims it can shift in as little as 100 milliseconds. However, even though the changes are made quickly, there are long delays between the paddle input and the transmission receiving the message, which makes using the manual shift mode less enjoyable.
Sadly, but not unexpectedly, Alfa also decided to forgo a full manual option for the American market. Instead, the balanced and communicative chassis screams for the power of the Quadrifoglio. At the same time, a flat-bottom steering wheel bolstered seats, and go-fast goodies like a carbon-fibre driveshaft and aluminium pedal covers hint at performance potential throughout the spectrum.
However, the Quad is around $25,000 more expensive than the next-highest Estrema trim and isn’t available with all-wheel drive, unlike the rest of the range. Along with the Stelvio SUV (and later the 4C sportscar), this aged beauty’s styling probably assisted in reintroducing Alfa Romeo to American consumers as a historically athletic brand. Suppose cost and reliability issues stay out of the equation. The Giulia, which will probably end its useful life, can compete with vehicles like the BMW M3, Mercedes-AMG C63 sedan, Audi RS5 Sportback, and Lexus IS500.
Performance: Alfa Romeo Giulia
The Giulia lineup’s strong foundations allow for an enjoyable driving sedan that is quick and tight without compromising comfort. Each model except Quadrifoglio has a 2.0-liter inline-four turbocharged engine with 280 horsepower and 306 pound-feet of torque. All vehicles use a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission that distributes power to the rear or all four wheels (apart from the Quad), enabling 0-60 speeds of 5.5 seconds for vehicles with rear-drive and 5.1 seconds for those with AWD. However, while driving aggressively, the early torque curve and the low redline of the 2.0-litre engine give the impression that power is receding.
The Quadrifoglio’s significant power boost, which it provides with a bit of assistance from Ferrari, is wholly deserved, given its stunning appearance and comprehensible chassis. Only the back wheels of the Quad’s twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6 generate 505 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of peak torque, yet it still manages a 3.8-second dash to 60 mph.
Fuel efficiency: Alfa Romeo Giulia
According to the EPA, despite having a strong engine, the Giulia QF only gets 17 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Giulias with four-cylinder rear-drive perform much better, achieving 24 cities and 33 highway mpg, compared to 23 cities and 31 highway mpg for AWD-equipped vehicles.
For comparison, the BMW M3 gets 16 city and 23 highway mpg, but the AWD M3 only gets 22 highway mpg. However, the 2.0-litre turbo-four in the 330i sedan boosts performance to 26 cities and 36 highway ratings.
Safety & Driver Support
Most safety and driving assistance features do not come standard on the Giulia, which subtracts some points from its stunningly high price. Every grade only has Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning-Plus. However, Alfa equips a broader range of ADAS features for up to Level 1 and 2 autonomy on higher-spec vehicles. These features include Intelligent Speed Assist, Highway Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, L.Ane Keep Assist, Active Blind-spot Warning, and Driver Attention Alert.
Comfort and Space
The Giulia nevertheless provides a remarkably comfy and well-trimmed interior for a relatively compact car that has so far refrained from growing in size with the competition. Particularly supportive but not unduly aggressive bolsters and plenty of fore and aft adjustability can be found on the front seats. The roominess of the back is sacrificed for the spaciousness of the front. Taller passengers must, however, call “shotgun.” A few potential buyers of the Giulia are probably weighing rear seat space when choosing. The BMW 3-series has 35.6 inches of legroom, while the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has 36 inches. Nevertheless, the Giulia delivers a remarkable 35.1 inches of legroom.
A contemporary, if not futuristic, dash and centre console design maintains most functions within easy reach and prevents swollen knees. The Giulia’s interior may be most appreciated for its absence of outside noise, which ultimately causes tire hum and wind noise to disappear regardless of the road surface.
Infotainment: Alfa Romeo Giulia
Compared to more recently updated rivals, the Giulia’s standard 8.8-inch touchscreen may seem tiny. Still, despite its wide-and-low layout, it offers simple access to most of the vehicle’s features. In addition to navigating many menu displays, the climate control, volume, and driving mode knobs on the dash and centre console provide tactile operation. Both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported. However, there may still be connectivity problems. Given the cabin’s feeling of calm, the optional Harmon Kardon sound system performs passably but won’t wow audiophiles.
The dashboard of the Giulia is comparable to that of the BMW. Still, the next-generation 2023 Mercedes-AMG C63 has a centre console dominated by an 11.9-inch touchscreen that is vertically oriented, along with a vast gauge cluster and just a few physical buttons apart from those on the steering wheel.
Storage & Cargo Space:
Although the Giulia’s outward design tricks the eye into believing it is more significant than rival models from BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, the inside is relatively modest due to its compact appearance. However, Alfa Romero did an excellent job packaging the Giulia, so the trunk’s load space is a respectable 13.4 cubic feet. That is more than the Mercedes-AMG C63 sedan’s 12.6 cubic feet, and the Lexus IS 500’s 10.8 cubic feet are on level with the BMW M3’s 13.0 feet.
The trunk opening is unexpectedly tiny due to the sleek Alfa Romeo design, and folding down the back seats to generate additional space creates a pinch point rather than straight lines through to the passenger compartment.
Design: Alfa Romeo Giulia
Few sports sedans in the past have had as sleek of a look as the Giulia, exceptionally when it is equipped with carbon fibre for the hood, trunk, front splitter, and interior trim, as it is on the Estrema and Quadrifoglio models. Alfa Romeo’s Italian ancestry is quite apparent compared to the more contentious M designs from BMW or the increasingly swoopy lines from Mercedes and Audi. This explains the unaltered profile since 2016.
The interior layout has remained the same for eight years despite not being nearly as sleek or basic as those of BMW, Mercedes, and Audi. The Lexus IS 500 is a grade behind the competition, but unlike the more costly LC 500 and RC F, it at least features a touchscreen with CarPlay.
The Alfa Romeo Giulia 2023: Is It Worth It?
For consumers who even have a chance of being able to afford Quadrifoglio’s $82,805 price tag, nothing else should even be considered. With the possible exception of dependability issues, the more powerful Ferrari engine makes for an unmatched combination of such a popular design and superb handling. However, the Quads costs more than a BMW M3 or an Audi RS5 Sportback.
The Estrema, which costs $56,665, would be alluring to individuals who value aesthetics but are willing to give up some functionality. But given that an Audi S5 with a twin-turbo V6 sticker price of $56,395 and a V8-powered Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance starting at only about $500 more than that, the high price for a “base” Sprint or even the mid-level Ti and Veloce variants creates somewhat of a problem.
How Much Does an Alfa Romeo Giulia Series Insurance Cost?
Giulia’s insurance premiums are pricey, but that appears to be par for the course. Our statistics show that the standard Giulia’s average yearly premium for a 30-year-old female driver with a clean driving record is $2,988, while Quadrifoglio’s average annual premium jumps sharply to $4,588. Comparatively, the BMW 3 Series costs about $2,700, while the M3 costs $4,300. The high-performance S4 variant of Audi costs around $3,392, while the A4 Quattro Prestige costs about $2,828.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Generations
Second Generation
2016 to Present
The “Type 952” Giulia, which debuted in 2016, was the first item produced by the Milanese business to employ a rear-wheel drive base since 1992. It symbolized a return to Alfa Romeo’s history. To commemorate the event, the corporation resurrected a well-known moniker from the past, dressed up in contemporary fashion by designer Marco Tencone. Alfa Romeo eventually added the possibility of all-wheel drive. Power comes from either a 505-horsepower 2.9-litre V6 that is distantly related to the V8 engines used in the Ferrari 488 and Maserati Ghibli or a 280-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine on the high-performance Quadrifoglio (Cloverleaf).
First Generation
1962 to 1978
The first-generation “Type 105” Giulia featured looks reminiscent of a cubist contemporary art sculpture, yet handled like an expensive sports car. Fans of the 1969 movie The Italian Job, in which Giulia police vehicles pursue Mini Coopers through Turin’s streets, may be acquainted with this original Giulia. With its twin-cam engines, five-speed transmission, four-wheel disc brakes, and sports car suspension, the square-rigged sedan was as sporty as a mainstream sedan could get in the 1960s. The Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider, made famous by another movie, The Graduate, and the race-winning Alfa Romeo GTV coupes with Bertone styling were built on the same technical components and chassis.
Verdict
Alfa Romeo’s Giulia sedan maintains the magnificent appearance it had when it first entered the US market in 2017. The top-of-the-line Quadrifoglio continues to provide remarkable driving qualities with a twin-turbo V6 developed from Ferrari combined with exceptional chassis calibrator to make essential four-cylinder vehicles more competitive for 2023, new “Estrema” and “Lusso” packages will include external, interior, and mild performance components from the Quadrifoglio. The Giulia, which now comes in six different trim levels, offers a sporty attitude and traditional Italian design in a four-door that is just (almost) spacious enough to accommodate the whole family.
