Alfa beater

RECENTLY I FOUND MYSELF IN THE MARKET FOR A NEW car, so I consulted my bible (evo) to narrow down my choice. My first test drive was in an Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce, a 4.5-star car. Although a lovely thing, on the yumping, twisting and poorly cambered backroads of my chosen test route I found it frustrating. The gearbox mapping in D mode was too eager and the traction control intervention left me annoyed.

The second car, a 5-star car, test driven on the same day and roads and from the same dealer network, was a revelation: poised, compliant, aggressively set up and superbly balanced in its chassis and control interfaces. I went back and put an order in there and then. I think the Alfa sales guy thought it was odd that I chose a Hyundai over an Alfa Romeo…

An i30 N DCT will be here soon and I feel so excited – and a bit immature too, as I’m 46!

Thank you evo, your reviews are great. Do all 5-star cars feel this much better than a 4.5-star one?

Elliott Harley