Alfa Romeo Giulia Used executive saloon
We know Alfa’s executive saloon is great to drive, but is a used one a good bet? We’re nding out
YEARS AGO, IN the days before penicillin, I owned several Alfa Romeos. These were not, alas, the Alfas that now command huge money for their racing heritage and extreme rarity. Mine were ancient and rusty Alfasuds and Giuliettas and the like, bought for a few hundred pounds and then, after a year or two of motoring pleasure, packed off on the back of a flatbed to the breaker’s yard.
So, I’ve always had a soft spot for the marque, even if, over the past 30 years, it’s mostly had a soft spot of its own: the cars. But since 2016, my eye has been caught by the Giulia, an executive saloon of rare style and real ability, and I think the only way to see if it recaptures that old Alfa magic is to take one on, big time.
And thus, on my drive now is a Giulia 2.2 JTDM-2 190 Speciale, in Alfa White. Under its curvaceous bonnet lies a 187bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine that’s gutsy enough to propel this wellequipped, rear-wheel-drive car from 0-62mph in just 7.1sec and on to a top speed of 143mph. If diesel doesn’t seem like a natural choice for an Alfa, consider the stats: the official combined fuel economy figure is a highly respectable 51.4mpg, with CO2 emissions of 128g/km. The
Giulia is, then, nearly twice as quick as any of my old Alfas, and certainly twice as economical.
It’s also much better equipped than my old cars. Speciale trim comes as standard with a whole host of desirable goodies, including a set of fancy 18in five-spoke alloy wheels, an 8.8in infotainment system and six-way electrically adjustable and heated front seats. You can add to that leather upholstery, a 7.0in digital instrument cluster and smartphone connectivity, as well as some sporty styling touches, including nifty aluminium pedals.
On top of that, my car has a few options, including a panoramic glass sunroof, a Driver Assistance Pack that brings a rear-view camera and parking sensors, among other things, and some purposeful-looking red brake calipers nestling within those handsome wheels.
All in, my car’s normal on-the-road price of £37,795 is boosted to £41,765, which would be fine were it not for the fact that this figure is just above the £40k limit at which a supplementary luxury car tax becomes payable. This means that on top of the Giulia’s regular annual road tax fee of £145 a year from year two onwards, you’ll need to fork out an extra £320 a year for the next five years.
But my car is also six months old and has 2500 miles on the clock. In fact, while the Giulia was treated to a facelift in late 2019, with changes to the interior trim and infotainment system, my car is the older, superseded model. It’s worth £28,000 now – a useful saving on the new price. So, does it cut the mustard?
Well, first impressions are definitely favourable. Drop into the classy-looking red leather sports seats and you’ll find that selecting an ideal driving position is easy, thanks to electric adjustment. You sit low, which adds to the car’s sporty feel, and the dashboard is pleasingly minimalist. The interior may not be as well finished as an Audi’s, but it’s impressive nonetheless.
Push the starter button and the diesel engine grumbles into life, but any doubts about the car’s refinement are dispelled at higher speeds, when it’s much quieter.
But the standout feature has to be the steering. Quick to respond and quite light, it requires minimal effort to negotiate any turn, from a low-speed roundabout to a high-speed jink. So, it may well be that this modern Alfa has the same spirit as my old ones; I just hope it lasts a little longer than they did.
LOGBOOK Alfa Romeo Giulia
2.2 JTDM-2 190 Speciale
Mileage 3350
List price new (2019) £37,795
Price new with options £41,765
Value now £28,000
Options Panoramic glass sunroof (£1250), Driver Assistance Pack (£550), Convenience Pack (£450), red brake calipers (£450), Alfa White solid paint (£350),Alfa connected services (£395), aluminium gearshift paddles (£275), Climate Pack (£250)
Test economy 39.1mpg
Of cial economy 51.4mpg (combined)
92 May 2020