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Alfa Romeo Giulietta Distinctive 2015 review

2015 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Distinctive
EXPERT RATING
7.2
Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Distinctive with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Good news has been very thin on the ground for the Alfisti for what seems like a decade. Sure the stunning little Alfa 4C has been a bright and shining light in a dwindling range as Fiat-owned Alfa's masters dithered about what to do next, but there's not been much for the fan to buy after the demise of the lovely 159.

This is a great pity because when the Giulietta first launched it was very, very promising. With the recent launch of the Giulia, we thought it worth revisiting the Italian answer to VW's all-conquering Golf.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2015: Distinctive
Safety rating
Engine Type1.4L turbo
Fuel TypePremium Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency5.2L/100km
Seating5 seats
Price from$10,120

Is there anything interesting about its design?   8/10

There's a lot of Alfa 4C and 8C in the Giulietta and the style works a lot better than it does on the sad-looking MiTo. There are some lovely shapes in the Giulietta - open the rear doors and look at the shape of the aperture. Very cool and probably very expensive to make.

The Distinctive picks up 16-inch turbine alloys and some very Italian chrome work on the windows. The nose is dominated by that big Alfa shield, with the upward sweep of the shield's lines continuing onto the bonnet. The rear view is pretty good too, with adventurous and distinctively shaped tail-lights that look great at night.

The inside is solidly built and swathed in surprisingly lovely leather. The Tobacco colour of the interior may not be to everyone's taste, but we grew to like it during our time with it. Most of the materials are really good, but the dashboard structure is already starting to look its age and the graphics in the instrument pack were good when it launched but look a bit tired now.

There's nothing of substance wrong, though, and it's a nice place to be.

What are the key stats for the engine and transmission?   7/10

Under the stubby bonnet is a 1.4L turbo-petrol four-cylinder. The Italians really know how to make a small, efficient engine and this one is no exception with 125kW and 250Nm. It will take you to 100km/h in 7.8 seconds and deliver a claimed 5.7L/100km on the combined cycle.

Driven as Turin expects you to, you'll see mid-8s

What safety equipment is fitted? What safety rating?   7/10

Six airbags, ABS, traction and stability control, brake force distribution, brake assist and  tyre  pressure sensors add up to a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

Warranty & Safety Rating

Basic Warranty

3 years / 100,000 km warranty

ANCAP Safety Rating

ANCAP logo

Verdict

The Giulietta was a bit of a hit at launch, hitting the ground running when it came to the competition. The problem is it hasn't kept up - not helped by VW's irritating habit of producing excellent updates like Golf VII.

On its own, though, you've got a car that stands out, looks good and has that emotional connection with a car company that is easy to love - and getting easier by the day. In other words, it's the most interesting car in its segment. It's a good car, so if you can live with pixelly graphics and something that needs a bit more attention than the average car when you're behind the wheel, this is the car for you.

Pricing guides

$13,200
Based on third party pricing data
Lowest Price
$7,480
Highest Price
$18,920

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
1.4 1.4L, PULP, 6 SP MAN $7,480 – 10,560 2015 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2015 1.4 Pricing and Specs
Progression 1.4 1.4L, PULP, 6 SP DUAL-CLUTCH AUTO $8,800 – 12,430 2015 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2015 Progression 1.4 Pricing and Specs
Progression JTD-M 2.0L, Diesel, 6 SP DUAL-CLUTCH AUTO $9,240 – 12,980 2015 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2015 Progression JTD-M Pricing and Specs
Distinctive 1.4L, PULP, 6 SP DUAL-CLUTCH AUTO $10,120 – 13,860 2015 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2015 Distinctive Pricing and Specs
EXPERT RATING
7.2
Design8
Price and features7
Under the bonnet7
Safety7
Driving7
Peter Anderson
Contributing journalist

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