Just as pretty

In the market for a family hatch that is both good looking and slightly left-field? may have the answer.

Alfa Romeo put the Giulietta under the knife earlier this year, updating the hatch’s already pretty face in the process. A new honeycomb grille features on the car’s nose, while piano black bumper inserts and revised headlamps have also been introduced. Under the hood, the Italian manufacturer’s 118bhp 1.6litre JTDM-2 diesel engine can now be paired with its sixspeed twin-clutch automatic transmission. The Giulietta has always been a looker and Alfa’s most recent updates only serve to maintain this. The grille design and black inserts on the bumper have been introduced to emphasise the car’s close ties to its new Giulia saloon. Even though the Giulietta might look like a three-door coupe thanks to hidden rear door handles – a classic Alfa styling cue – this is in fact a five-door car. That dramatic roofline does cut into rear headroom somewhat and legroom isn’t as abundant as you think it might be from a family hatch. This is where the Alfa starts to make sense. The 1.6-litre, 118bhp diesel engine on our test car felt like it had a fair bit more tug than its numbers suggested. Take the Giulietta away from country roads and plonk it on a motorway and it copes relatively well. The 118bhp, 1.6-litre diesel engine we had in our test car carries a claimed combined fuel economy figure of 74.2mpg and returns 99 grams of CO2 per kilometre, meaning that it is exempt from vehicle excise duty. All Giuliettas come with a fairly good level of standard equipment which helps justify the slightly expensive £18,700 price tag for the most basic car. Standard kit on the entry-level Giulietta includes 16in alloys, an Uconnect infotainment system with a five-inch touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth and smartphone connectivity. LIVE services are smartphone enabled.

IN A NUTSHELL Even though the Giulietta does have its many foibles, it is still entirely likeable and rather fun to drive. With the right engine, it’s pretty economical, too.