2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Review

　　

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Review

byCameron RogersManager, News

　　Cameron Rogers has worked in the automotive industry since 2013. He has tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Today, he leads the news team in developing cutting-edge news articles, opinion pieces and sneak peeks at upcoming vehicles. Favorite cars that he's driven during his tenure at zzdcar include the 991-era Porsche 911 Turbo S, Rolls-Royce Ghost and several generations of Honda Odyssey (really).

　　You have plenty of good choices for a small luxury sedan. But when you really get down to it, these well-intentioned four-doors can seem a bit stale. Handsome but derivative styling? Check. Well-appointed but soulless interior? Yep. Sanitized driving experience? Drive one and you've driven them all. But there is one sedan that stands out: the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$168/mo  for Giulia Sprint

　　Giulia Sprint

　　Sprint 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $40,350 MSRPSprint 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $42,350 MSRPTi 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $43,200 MSRPTi 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $45,200 MSRPTi Sport 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $46,400 MSRPTi Sport 4dr Sedan AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $48,400 MSRPQuadrifoglio 4dr Sedan (2.9L 6cyl Turbo 8A) - $75,250 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　Partially by virtue of Alfa's small vehicle lineup, the Giulia's interior looks like nothing else on the market (well, except the Stelvio SUV with which it shares a common platform). Equal parts high-tech and sporty, the cabin looks every bit worthy of the Giulia's premium price tag. And even a short stint behind the wheel reveals the Giulia's sport sedan credentials, with superb steering feel and responsive handling. There's also the Quadrifoglio with its bonkers 505-horsepower V6. The Giulia isn't faultless — check out our Expert Rating to read our in-depth analysis — but its personality is a perfect antidote to small luxury sedan blandness.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Giulia drive? Even powered by the standard turbocharged four-cylinder, the Alfa Romeo Giulia feels like a proper sports sedan. Its 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds is among the segment's quickest for a base engine-equipped vehicle, and it feels even quicker thanks to the significant punch of acceleration once the turbo engages. The steering wheel is nicely weighted, and the body responds quickly to steering inputs. Handling is superb, with little body roll and razor-sharp accuracy. Be sure to opt for summer tires if you want a good time; selecting the all-seasons severely degrades driving pleasure.

　　A few faults drag down this score. The brakes clamp on pretty hard at the top of the pedal stroke and again right before coming to a stop, making smooth stops virtually impossible. The transmission also isn't quick to downshift when you really dig in for more speed.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Giulia? Though the Giulia is a sport sedan first and foremost, it's also reasonably comfortable. The front seats are well shaped and have plenty of adjustments to dial in the right position. The rears are also pleasant, with good lower back support. The ride rarely feels rough and is never skittish. Only cracked road surfaces transmit hard thunks into the cabin. And we love the sound of the Giulia's throaty exhaust.

　　But most of these highlights are balanced against pitfalls. The seats have intrusive, unyielding thigh bolsters, and most drivers will rest their legs on top. The interior also lets in a lot of tire noise, and the engine that sounds great when wrung out is also hollow at low rpm. The automatic climate system underestimates airflow needs.

　　

Interior

7.0/10

　　How’s the interior? Some controls are oddly placed, and though the infotainment system supports both touchscreen and dial inputs, the latter can't control everything displayed. You'll have to use the screen to select a radio preset, for instance. The Giulia is hard to get in and out of because the middle pillar is pushed far forward — which hampers front access — and wheel arches that intrude into rear passenger space. And once you finally do get inside, headroom is tight especially in the back.

　　The driver is the focus here, as evidenced by the attention to detail placed on this position. The seat and steering wheel are highly adjustable, and the armrests are at the perfect height for relaxed cruising. The metal shift paddles attached to the steering column are deeply satisfying to pull. And visibility is pretty good despite the compromised over-the-shoulder view due to the position of the middle pillar.

　　

Technology

6.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The Giulia's tech falls short of class leaders. The voice controls, in particular, are seriously deficient compared to more comprehensive Audi, BMW and Mercedes systems. The system appears to support natural language recognition until you say something it doesn't understand and a structured menu list pops up. Navigation input is cumbersome, and point-of-interest search rarely works. And while there are plenty of ports and pads to charge your devices, phone integration is poor. Bluetooth is slow to connect, so if you had a podcast at high volume playing when you turned off the car, upon restart, the radio will absolutely blast you away.

　　There are a few highlights. The available Harman Kardon audio system sounds crisp and punchy, and the driver safety aids, while a little too sensitive, work well overall.

　　

Storage

6.5/10

　　How’s the storage? Utility takes a back seat to performance, but the Giulia isn't a mere weekend car. At 13.4 cubic feet, the trunk offers more ultimate storage than most rivals, and there are enough storage spaces inside the car to stash your everyday gear. Numerous cubbies and pockets, though small, are spread throughout the cabin.

　　As usual, the negatives come down to execution. While the trunk itself is large, the top edge of the trunk is almost in line horizontally with the bottom edge. So you don't drop items into the trunk as much as you bend over and slide them in, like you do with an oven. Put anything as far forward as the rear seatbacks, and you'll have to climb into the trunk to retrieve it. And though car seat anchors are easily accessible, the small door apertures and tight rear space will require moving the front seats to make a child safety seat fit.

　　

Fuel Economy

6.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? The all-wheel-drive Giulia gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined (23 city/31 highway). This is typical for a compact luxury sedan with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive, but once you consider its superior acceleration, the Giulia gleams a little brighter. However, it earned 25.9 mpg on our 115-mile evaluation route; typically we see results between the combined and highway numbers. A BMW 330i xDrive on the same route averaged 31.3 mpg, for instance.

　　

Value

7.0/10

　　Is the Giulia a good value? The Giulia starts just north of $40,000, and our Ti Sport AWD test car, with all manner of bells and whistles, stickered for more than $55,000. It's actually not bad compared to the cost of similarly equipped rivals from Mercedes and BMW, though other sedans from Acura, Lexus and Volvo are generally priced lower.

　　Its cabin design is attractive and distinct, with ample use of leather, aluminum and soft-touch plastic. It seems like you get what you pay for. Still, our test car had a persistent rattle and wonky phone integration system.

　　Like most in the class, Alfa offers four years/50,000 miles of coverage for both its basic and powertrain warranties. Roadside assistance is covered for four years/unlimited miles, and the first maintenance visit is free. Many Alfa models have shown questionable reliability, though, so proceed with caution.

　　

Wildcard

9.0/10

　　The Giulia has personality in spades. While the back end looks a little anonymous, the avian front end is distinctive — in a good way. Its interior, likewise, doesn't look like anything else out there. Satisfying steering, sublime handling, grippy seats, a rorty four-cylinder ... there are perhaps no other cars (with base engines) in this segment more engaging or fun to drive. Wonky brakes and a slightly laggy transmission are the only blemishes in an otherwise faultless driving experience. With the Giulia, you will likely know right away if it's the car for you.

　　

Which Giulia does zzdcar recommend?

We like the base Sprint model; it comes loaded with features that often cost extra on rivals, making it something of a bargain. But the Giulia's wealth of customization options really opens up on the Ti and Ti Sport trims. Both turn this well-equipped luxury sedan into something truly special.

　　

2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia models

The 2021 Giulia is available in four main trim levels: Sprint, Ti, Ti Sport and the high-performance Quadrifoglio. The first three are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine (280 horsepower, 306 lb-ft) matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional. The Quadrifoglio is rear-wheel-drive only and uses a turbocharged 2.9-liter V6 engine (505 hp, 443 lb-ft).

　　Sprint

　　The base Giulia Sprint starts you off with:

　　17-inch alloy wheels Xenon headlights Keyless entry and ignition Dual-zone automatic climate control Driver-seat memory settings Leather upholstery 8.8-inch touchscreen Eight-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Parking sensors (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)Ti

　　Upgrading to the midlevel Ti adds:

　　18-inch wheels Panoramic sunroof Navigation system Front parking sensors Heated steering wheel and heated front seatsTi Sport

　　On top of the Ti's equipment, the Ti Sport adds:

　　Limited-slip rear differential (can enhance traction when accelerating) 19-inch wheels Extendable thigh cushion and side bolster adjustment for front seats Sport front seatsQuadrifoglio

　　In addition to Ti Sport upgrades, the high-performance Quadrifoglio includes:

　　Summer performance tires Adaptive suspension dampers Upgraded brakes Torque-vectoring differential Active aerodynamics Carbon-fiber body panels Auto-dimming outside mirrors Carbon-fiber interior trim Faux suede seat inserts 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio systemThere are a few key option packages to look out for, including:

　　Active Assist 1 package Auto-dimming exterior mirrors Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing) Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the Alfa Romeo and the car in front) Front parking sensors Active Assist 2 package Active Assist 1 package Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued) Lane keeping assist (steers the Giulia back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker) Lusso package Extended leather trim Wood veneers Air filtration system Premium package Heated rear seats 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system Wireless charging pad Sun and Sound package Panoramic sunroof 10-speaker audio system

　　

2021 Giulia Highlights

Type: SedanQuadrifoglioSedan

　　Trim: SprintTiTi SportQuadrifoglioSprint

　　

Base MSRP	$40,350
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	27 MPG
Cost to Drive	$168/month
Seating	5 seats
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles