Alfa Romeo Giulia - TopCarNews

Alfa Romeo Giulia (2016 – present) | Expert Rating [hide]

Summary

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a premium mid-sized saloon, and the first volume rear-wheel drive Alfa in decades. Launched in 2016, it was developed in a separate facility away from the rest of the Alfa/Fiat family, employing a number of seconded and former Ferrari engineers.

The Giulia has received many positive reviews from the motoring media in the UK and around the world. From our analysis of UK reviews, it currently holds an overall Expert Rating that is as good as, if not better than, most of its class rivals.

There is a high-performance model called the Giulia Quadrifoglio. We have a separate page for this car here.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia has received particular praise (and awards) for its driving dynamics, styling and performance. However, criticisms have been levelled at some of its interior fittings and infotainment system, which lag behind the best rivals in this class. A mid-life update has improved these points, although still not to the levels of the best in its class.

Alfa Romeo has often been criticised for poor reliability, but multiple UK surveys in recent years show this has clearly changed and the Giulia has proved solid in the four years that it has been on sale. In a 2020 What Car? survey of the 50 most reliable cars in the UK up to eight years old, the Giulia ranked a very creditable 27th.

Giulia highlights

Styling has been almost universally admired
Praiseworthy performance and driving dynamics
Reliability has proved better than most rivals

Giulia lowlights

Interior quality not to German standards
Infotainment system is also sub-par
Residual values can’t match best in class

Key specifications

Body style: Mid-sized saloonEngines: petrol, diesel
Price: From £33,595 on-road

Launched: Summer 2016Last updated: Autumn 2019
Replacement due: TBA

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Media reviews

Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

The Car Expert

Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 8.1 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia offers enough highlights to make it worthy of consideration for those wanting something different to the regular German rivals.”
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Auto Express

Model reviewed: VeloceScore: 8 / 10“New technology updates and additional equipment make the Alfa Romeo Giulia more competitive, but in Veloce trim it’s still the way in which the Alfa Romeo drives and handles that makes it one of the best saloons on the market – and a worthwhile alternative to its more subdued German rivals.”
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Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 9 / 10“Overall quality is up, the connectivity is much better, and the instruments and infotainment have also been improved.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 9 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a characterful package that offers rear-drive thrills and plenty of Italian charm.”
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Auto Trader

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“Adding a dash of Italian glamour to the otherwise formulaic executive saloon segment, the Alfa Romeo Giulia plays to the brand’s sporting traditions with slinky styling, sporty handling and a smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic on all models.”
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Autocar

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic SprintScore: 8 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia is the most enticing car in its class. Charisma and that fine-handling chassis, only now with added comfort and convenience… it’s a special blend.”
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Model reviewed: VeloceScore: 7 / 10“Interior upgrades aim to help sweet-handling saloon keep up with its fast-evolving rivals.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 8 / 10“If you’re bored with the traditional German establishment you might also find there is much to be commended in an Alfa Romeo Giulia.”
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Car

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol manual VeloceScore: 8 / 10“Handsome, great to drive and sweetly pitched, both in terms of performance for the money and chassis aggression versus refinement, the Veloce is a compelling proposition. It’s not perfect but it’s quite possibly the affordable Alfa sports saloon you’ve been dreaming of.”
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Car Keys

Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel automaticScore: 8 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia retains everything that made it good in the first place — the impressive powertrains, exquisite looks and exciting driving characteristics — and adds a dollop of improved quality to the mix.”
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Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel automatic SuperScore: 8 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia manages to pack an engaging and fun driving experience into a sharp-looking package, setting it apart as a genuine alternative in the mid-size saloon market.”
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Carbuyer

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7.8 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a stylish, luxurious and great-to-drive alternative to established executive saloons like the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.”
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Carwow

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 7 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a sleek, stand-out saloon car that’s spacious and enjoyable to drive. Audi and BMW alternatives beat it on interior quality.”
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Company Car Today

Model reviewed: 2.2-litre diesel automatic Sprint“Style remains unchanged and is still the Giulia’s biggest selling point, although elements have been improved.”
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Daily Mail

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic VeloceScore: 10 / 10“Like most things Italian – the Sistine Chapel, Sophia Loren, Margherita pizza – it’s really quite gorgeous.” (Chris Evans)
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Evo

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 9 / 10“In such a competitive marketplace, the Giulia holds its own and represents Alfa’s best effort in years.”
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Model reviewed: Veloce TiScore: 9 / 10“The regular Veloce is already among our favourite sports saloons, and while the Ti is mainly a visual upgrade, it’s also an opportunity to refresh our memories.”
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Green Car Guide

Model reviewed: 2.0-litre petrol automatic SuperScore: 9 / 10“For car buyers who have been put off diesels, the petrol-powered Alfa Romeo Giulia combines 48mpg economy with a sporty driving experience.”
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Heycar

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 6 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia certainly looks the part. It’s aggressive, sleek and distinctive. What’s more, on paper at least, there is a Giulia for everyone, with the range encompassing everything from efficient diesels to supercar munching V6 petrols.”
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Honest John

Model reviewed: 2.2 190ps“This facelift represents a commendable job of improving the Giulia’s weak points and if you want a car that’ll stand out on the motorway and handle brilliantly, it could be the vehicle for you.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 6 / 10“It has some very likeable traits that make it a genuine alternative to the mainstay of otherwise bland looking upmarket saloons. We should also point out that the Alfa Romeo Giulia boasts superb handling.”
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Model reviewed: 2.2-litre MultiJet diesel automatic“Compromises aside, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is a welcome addition to the premium car ranks. If you can look past its shortcomings, and want an attractive, performance-focused saloon that stands out, the Giulia could be the perfect choice.”
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Motoring Research

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“While most buyers searching for a compact executive saloon opt for something with a German badge, the Alfa Romeo Giulia presents a compelling alternative.”
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Motors.co.uk

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“In an attempt to unseat (or at least unsettle) the German dominance in the executive saloon market, the Alfa Romeo Giulia offers a new angle on the market as it combines great design, fun driving and efficient engines – so basically combining all the good bits from everyone else.”
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Parkers

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 8.2 / 10“Italian flair for the company car park.”
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The Sun

Model reviewed: Veloce“The Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce is a great car and cuts a striking image on the road and on the driveway compared to its direct rivals. If you want to try something a little different, then the Veloce is the sweet spot of the Giulia range.”
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The Telegraph

Model reviewed: Veloce TiScore: 8 / 10“A sublime sports saloon in the finest traditions of the genre, the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce Ti is fabulous to drive in every respect. Yet it’s also spacious and classy enough inside that it doesn’t feel like a compromise, while the five-year warranty should bring much-needed peace of mind.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 8 / 10“Despite a number of disappointing flaws, the best Alfa Romeo in at least a generation.”
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Top Gear

Model reviewed: Range overviewScore: 8 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia, no matter how it’s powered, is a very good looking and capable small sports saloon from Alfa. It’s the first compelling rival to the Germans from Alfa in over a decade.”
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What Car?

Model reviewed: Range reviewScore: 8 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia is great to drive, with genuinely sporty performance and a selection of smooth engines.”
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Model reviewed: (range review)Score: 8 / 10“The Alfa Romeo Giulia is great to drive and a fine alternative to the usual German suspects. Interior quality is below par, though.”
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Which?

Model reviewed: (range review)“With its elegant looks, excellent cabin and generous levels of equipment, the Giulia has plenty of showroom appeal. That’s backed up by very dynamic performance. It’s not perfect, though. For instance, its touchscreen multimedia system lags behind rivals, and the boot is very small for this type of car.”
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Safety rating

Overall rating: 5 stars
Date tested: June 2016

98%

ADULT OCCUPANT

81%

CHILD OCCUPANT

69%

VULNERABLE ROAD USERS

60%

SAFETY ASSIST

Read full Euro NCAP review

Eco rating

No eco rating

The Alfa Romeo Giulia has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. This is a new initiative, launched in 2018 as a sister organisation to Euro NCAP. As yet, very few new cars have been tested for environmental impact by Green NCAP, and inevitably the testing programme was halted in early 2020 by the coronavirus pandemic.

If the Giulia is put through the Green NCAP lab testing programme, we will publish the results here.

Awards

Trophies, prizes and awards that the Alfa Romeo Giulia has received

2019

Auto Express Driver Power Awards – Ride and Handling Award

2018

Auto Express Driver Power Awards – Compact Executive Car of the Year
ADI Design Awards – Compasso d’Oro ADI prize

2017

evo Awards – Sports Saloon of the Year
Autocar Awards – Game Changer
Irish Car of the Year Awards – Best Medium Car

2016

Carbuyer Best Car Awards – Safest New Car
Golden Steering Wheel Awards – Most Beautiful Car
Fleet World Honours – One to Watch

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