Alfaromeogiulietta

Alfa Romeo Giulietta FIRST UK DRIVE Revised hatch is a step forward, but does it go far enough?

ALFA Romeo has never had a problem designing a pretty car, and the revised Giulietta hatchback is the latest in a long catwalk of models for which one look is seldom enough. There’s more to a great family hatch than aesthetics, though, and it’s in some of these other key areas where the Giulietta has stumbled in the past.

That’s partly why Alfa has brought the model in for a facelift. This revamped car boasts increased spec levels, so all versions have air-con, a leather steering wheel, DNA drive selector and the Uconnect LIVE infotainment system. There are also new seats and alloy wheel designs. Of course, Alfa couldn’t resist making the Giulietta a bit prettier just for good measure, too.

Its front end now reflects that of the new Giulia saloon. The cleaner honeycomb grille and reshaped headlights create a refreshed look that the hatch probably didn’t need, but now it’s firmly on the same page as its bigger sister in the fashion stakes.

So it still looks good, but has the Giulietta improved elsewhere? Inside, the addition of Uconnect is a welcome move. It uses a responsive five-inch touchscreen with an intuitive menu system and clear graphics. DAB radio and Bluetooth connectivity are built in, but you need to pay £1,050 – or upgrade to Tecnica trim – to get sat-nav with voice recognition and the 6.5-inch screen.

The Giulietta’s cabin design isn’t as eyecatching as its exterior. And while the dash materials and instrument cluster look good, the plastics used around the gearlever and on the door inserts aren’t great.

A facelift couldn’t help the Giulietta’s practicality shortcomings, however. At 4,351mm long and 1,798mm wide, the Alfa struggles to match mainstream hatches like the Ford Focus for space. Adults will find rear headroom and legroom tight, although space in the front is acceptable. Rivals such

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