Super Giulia is the best Alfa in years
A great alternative to German rivals
Last year, we tested the new Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon after waiting rather a long time for the company to build it.
That was the headlinegrabbing, tyre-spinning Quadrifoglio version with a 500bhp V6 engine. It’s a fantastic car that’s the best machine that the company has built in decades.
But we all wondered how good the less powerful and more affordable models would be. And, after another sizeable wait, those versions have at last arrived in the UK.
We’re testing a Giulia Super powered by a 2.0-litre petrol engine. The Super is one up from the entry-level model that simply carries the name Giulia. Further up the range are the Speciale and the Veloce.
There’s a diesel engine available, too, which Alfa Romeo says 80% of customers will choose. There are several reasons why I wouldn’t.
Firstly, it sounds rattly, and particularly so from the outside. Secondly, an Alfa should have a sporty petrol engine for historical and emotional reasons. And thirdly, even though it’s Euro 6 compliant, the knives are out for diesel.
Alfa also reckon not many British buyers would want a manual gearbox in their Giulia so they’ve decided to only offer an eightspeed automatic gearbox here.
That seems a shame, and possibly shortsighted, as the Giulia is going to appeal to enthusiasts who want something different to an Audi, BMW or Merc. The good news is that the traditional torque converter-equipped automatic box is a very good one.
Alfa Romeo has made sexier looking cars than the Giulia but this car still looks more exciting
After the first few yards you know this is special
and distinctive than both its German rivals and Jaguar’s XE.
It’s the same story inside with a very driver-focused instrument panel, sports seats and an elegant steering wheel with a nice slim rim – unlike the Cumberland sausage of last week’s BMW 5-Series.
In the past, Alfas seemed to be designed only for stereotypically proportioned Italians with short legs and long arms, meaning they were uncomfortable for the rest of us.
The otherwise fun and entertaining Alfa 75 from the 1980s was a real pain to drive for this reason. The Giulia, however, has an excellent driving position and plenty of legroom front and back, despite its sloping roof making getting into the rear a bit of a squeeze. After the first few yards in the Giulia you know you’re driving something pretty special. This is mainly down to the steering which is light at low speeds and then builds up weight. It’s also very accurate.
Our car had optional run-flat tyres which are likely to not help the ride but, even so, the Giulia tackles bumps well. On standard 17in wheels and tyres it should be even better.
Alfa will launch another 2.0-litre petrol-powered version with 280bhp which will slot in nicely between this 200bhp model and the Quadrifoglio.
Not that the performance of our test car was disappointing, managing a sprightly 6.6sec to 62mph which is faster than its rival BMW 320i, all thanks to the smooth auto box, which is always in the right gear. Paddles for changing gear are standard on the Super and up, but are an option on the basic model.
The on the road price for our Giulia Super has been lifted from £31,180 to £41,330 by the addition of lots of optional extras. Clearly if you want luxuries like leather, you’d be better off buying a Veloce in the first place rather than adding kit to the Super.
The adjustable suspension, labelled DNA by Alfa, is worth having as it also comes with a limited-slip differential.
Alfa is expecting to sell only 3,900 Giulias a year. I doubt they’ll have much trouble achieving that target as it is not only the best Alfa Romeo in years, it’s a fine choice if you’re bored with owning German saloons and want something a bit different.