Alfa Romeo Giulietta Reviews

For some mysterious reason Alfa Romeo went all German for a while with its model names, using boring numbers instead of proper names. That aberration is thankfully a thing of the past and we have must spent a most enjoyable week road testing an Alfa Romeo Giulietta.We did our best to put an Italian accent into our voices when talking about ‘our’ Giulietta, all the more so when it sat alongside our own Fiat 500C bambino in the garage downstairs. Both Italian machines were bright red – there is no better colour for any Italian sports machine. The two little Italians seemed to enjoy each other’s company.VALUEPrices start from $36,990 (manual) and $38,990 (TCT automatic) for the MultiAir 1.4-litre five-door hatch. Followed by $40,990 (TCT automatic) for the JTDm 2.0-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch and $41,990 (manual) for the QV 1.8-litre five-door hatch.DESIGNAlfa Romeo Giulietta is all about style, particularly at the front where the bonnet flows upwards from the Alfa-shield grille. The five-door hatchback has been styled to look like a sports coupe thanks to cleverly hidden rear door handles. The result is a sporting look that hides what is in reality a practical family hatch.The Giulietta’s interior is reasonably spacious, although there are some compromises. Unless tall front-seat occupants are willing to give up some legroom those in the back seats will find themselves cramped. Headroom can also be tight for tall rear seat passengers, though it depends on body shape.As always, try for yourself by taking along potential passengers during your private pre-purchase road test. Though the Giulietta is configured as a five-seater, in the real world it is better suited to four, with an adult using the middle of the rear seat only in emergency situations.With no fifth passenger in the car, the armrest with fold out drink holders gives a feeling of luxury. The rear seats have a 60/40 split fold for when extra cargo area is needed above the standard 350 litres. Behind the rear seat centre armrest is a ski hatch.These days Alfa Romeos aren’t built only for drivers of Italian dimensions, rather multiple settings are offered in the way of a height adjustable driver’s seat and a steering column that can be adjusted in four directions. We had no trouble in finding driving positions to suit each of our road test crew.TECHNOLOGYAlfa Romeo imports Giulietta to Australia with a choice of two engines. Our test car had the 1.4-litre turbocharged MultiAir petrol unit with 125 kW of power. It can power the Giulietta from a standstill to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds – again emphasising the sporting nature of the little car.Those who want even more performance can get a Giulietta QV with the turbocharged petrol 1750 TBi engine that produces up to 173 kW of power. Even more importantly this engine has torque of 340 Nm when the driver selects Dynamic mode.This torque reaches its peak at just 1900 rpm so there’s urge all the way through the range. Alfa Romeo Giulietta sprints to 100 km/h in just 6.8 seconds. There’s a 2.0-litre diesel engine if you feel that way inclined, can’t say we do...We found the consumption of the 1.4-litre Alfa petrol engine to be about six to seven litres per hundred kilometres on the highway and it seldom got over nine litres per hundred kilometres in town. These are impressive numbers for a car of this size with the performance characteristics that we love.Our test Giulietta was fitted with Alfa Romeo’s Twin Clutch Transmission (TCT), a self shifting manual gearbox with dual clutches for lightning fast gear changes.However, the response and actions of the TCT at very low speeds, particularly in stop-start traffic is frustratingly slow and lumpy at times and isn’t helped by turbo lag and a stop-start system that also gets in the way of decent response.Though we are great believers in minimising pollution we have to admit to turning off the Alfa’s stop-start. Give us a six-speed manual gearbox any day.DRIVINGThe moment you get behind the wheel the gorgeous little Giulietta feels just right. This is a true drivers’ car thanks to the willingness of the engine once it’s past the turbo-lag stage. There’s some torque steer under hard acceleration in first gear, but we rather enjoy this in a performance car.In hard cornering there’s a hint of understeer, as you’d expect from a front-wheel drive, but less than we had expected. The dash layout is contemporary. We liked the main switches that run across the centre of the dash for easy access. The tacho and speedo are large and easy to read, which is just as well with the free-revving engine, and Australia’s obsession with speed laws.SAFETYAlfa Romeo Giulietta has a EuroNCAP five-star safety rating thanks to a multitude of passive safety equipment. Even better is the crash minimisation technology. This includes ABS brakes with Brake Assist, Vehicle Dynamic Control, cornering brake control, dynamic steering torque and brake assist. Like many new cars from the Europe, the Alfa Giulietta has daytime running lights.VERDICTAlfa Romeo Giulietta is a great looking Italian machine from a company with a rich sporting heritage and will appeal to those looking for more than mere transport in their family hatch.Alfa Romeo Giulietta MultiAir 1.4-litre five-door hatchPrice: from $36,990Warranty: 3 years/ 100,000 kmWeight: 1290 kgEngine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder, 125kW/250NmTransmission: 6-speed manual and TCT Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 litresTowing Ability: 1300 kg with braked trailerThirst: 7.8L/100km0-100 km/h Acceleration: 7.8 seconds

We thought the 1.4-litre Giulietta was going to be a bit of a doddle after the fire-breathing 173kW QV.How wrong we were. This car is outstanding, easily the best Alfa we've driven in a long time.VALUEThe Alfa Romeo Giuletta 1.4 TB MultiAir is priced from $36,990 before on road costs.DESIGNThe Giulietta is a replacement for the beaked 147 model and continues a return to names instead of numbers to differentiate models.It's actually a bigger car than its predecessor and this is reflected in an increase in luggage space. At 350 litres it has 16 per cent more capacity than the 147.  It's also 21 per cent wider.TECHNOLOGYThe MultiAir engine which made its debut in the smaller Mito is unique, with cutting edge technology that will do for petrol engines what high pressure, common rail injection has done for the diesel.With no throttle valve and cylinder-by-cylinder, stroke-by-stroke direct air intake control, the technology cuts fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10 per cent while producing 10 per cent more power and 15 per cent more torque than conventional engines.The unique 1.4-litre TB MultiAir engine produces 125kW of power and up to 250Nm of torque in dynamic mode, yet uses only 5.8 litres of petrol per 100km. The dash from 0-100km/h takes 7.8 seconds, just one second slower than the more powerful QV.DRIVEWe clocked up almost 700km in the 1.4-litre turbocharged tyro this week and came away impressed by its styling, performance as well as the ride and handling, the ride is quite unexpectedly supple, nothing like the jarring encounters we've had with other Alfa’s in the past.From the driver's eat the MultiAir engine feels strong and smooth, especially with the DNA system switched to dynamic mode which boosts torque from 230 to 250Nm at 2500 revs. The DNA system features Normal, Dynamic and All Weather modes and is standard across the range.The change from Normal to Dynamic is perceptible. It acts on the engine, brakes, steering, suspension and gearbox to allow drivers to hone the car's responses to the conditions.Couple with a six-speed manual, the drive experience is sharp and sporty with plenty of electronic aids thrown in to keep you firmly planted on the road. At the end of our test program the trip computer on our car was showing 7.3 litres/100km.VERDICTNow, if the car can stand up to the rigours of our harsh Australian climate the Italians could well be on to something with this one.ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA 1.4 MULTIAIRPrice: from $36,990Engine: 1.4-litre TB MultiAirEconomy: 5.8 litres/100km.Outputs: 125kW / 250NmTransmission: Six-speed Manual

You've got to hand it the Italians, they know a thing or two about style. Nowhere is this more evident than in Alfa Romeo's new Giulietta, a replacement for the aging 147. It simply oozes the stuff.VALUEPriced from $41,990, this car certainly has what it takes to steal some hearts from Volkswagen.DESIGNHere's hoping the Giulietta breaks the mould, that it proves to be every bit as robust as the Volkswagen Golf with which it competes. The name Giulietta is a borrowed from Alfa's heyday, a series of compact, sedan, coupe and convertibles built over a decade during the 50s and 60s.Unlike its namesake however this one is a five-door hatch, but like the 156 before the rear doors feature concealed door handles, giving it the appearance of a sportier three-door. Finished in white with elegant 18 inch charcoal alloys, our test vehicle bore more than a passing resemblance to the smaller Mito with its beak like grille and wide-eyed stare.The interior, with its metal gear knob and prominent, large round climate controls is a work of art. Standard features are generous. The Cloverleaf model gets 10mm lower sports suspension, sports seats in mircofibre and leather with red stitching, Bose sound, tinted windows, red brake callipers and dark titanium 18 inch spoke alloys.TECHNOLOGYGiulietta comes in two guises, powered by two different engines, a 125kW 1.4 or 173kW 1.7-litre four - both of them turbocharged. Our test vehicle, the top of the line Giulietta QV clover leaf edition reminded me strongly of the oft lamented 147 GTA - a real ball tearer of a car.The figures are similar too. The GTA's 3.2-litre V6 produced 184kW of power at 6200 revs and 300Nm of torque at 4800 revs. In comparison the Giulietta's 1750 TBI engine delivers 173kW of power at 5500 revs and 340Nm of torque at 1900 revs in dynamic mode.The two share a similar top speed of about 240km/h, but the GTA was still a little quicker from 0 to 100km/h, at 6.3 seconds versus 6.8. The good news however is that the QV uses just 7.6 litres per 100km - the GTA used twice that figure on a good day.SAFETYAlfa's DNA dynmaic ride control is standard, letting you choose between normal, dynamic and all-weather modes. In dynamic mode extra torque is available lower in the rev range and the electronic stability system is less intrusive, the throttle is also more responsive, the steering becomes heavier and the electronic diff is activated.The Electronic Q2 differential and the Vehicle Dynamic Control are standard on this model, along with six airbags and a five-safety rating.DRIVEJumping into the car for the first time we discovered it has the same feel and propensity for spinning the front wheels, but none of the GTA's heaviness or awkwardness. The 1.7-litre engine is hooked up to a six-speed manual that is generallty easy to use but baulks at going into first occasionally.The car sits well on the road and cruises easily and frugally in top gear, with plenty of torque to keep it there. Slipping it into dynamic mode, you can feel the difference immediately, as the front wheels fitht to maintain contact with the road. You can drive it hard or you can drive it easily, it's a car for both occasions.VERDICTWe love driving Alfas but take comfort in the knowledge that at the end of the day we can take them back. If only they were more reliable.ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA QVPrice: $41,990Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assistResale: 65%Service interval: 20,000km or 12 monthsEconomy: 7.6 l/100km; 177g/km CO2Safety: six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC.Crash rating: 5 starEngine: 173kW/340Nm 1.75-litre turbo-petrolTransmission: Six-speed manualBody: 5-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 4351 (L); 1798mm (W); 1465mm (H); 2634mm (WB)Weight: 1320kg.

THE map of the human heart contains a topography of passion, pain, pride and prejudice. In fact, it outlines all the emotions of owning an Alfa Romeo. The latest map from the Italian, however, marks a different route than those previously followed.Its new car, the five-door family-sized Giulietta, details an Alfa that has less of the pain and prejudice, more of the pride and invokes almost as much passion as its predecessors. The third incarnation of the Giulietta nameplate is undoubtedly beautiful, surprisingly functional, has elements that indicate durability but in becoming a better car, had to give up some of its larrikin ways.It's more for the family - but it still goes like stink.VALUENot cheap. The Giulietta (pronounced Julietta, as if you have to be told) is tested here as the top-spec QV - Quadrifoglio Verde - is $41,990 plus on-road costs. Comparing that to its rivals (see below) shows it up as being a bit expensive. But take the feature list into account and its reasonable value for money.Standard gear includes the turbo engine, six-speed manual - sorry, no auto yet - and a really sophisticated, tight and beautifully tied down chassis.Safety is paramount, there's a Bose audio to rip your ears off, 18-inch spidery black alloys to make your eyes water and a top-notch infotainment unit. Did I mention that it also goes like stink?TECHNOLOGYThe QV gets a turbo-petrol engine but there's a cheaper Giulietta with a clever 1.4-litre with solenoids controlling the intake valves. Smart! But I digress.The QV is less technically endowed in the engine department but makes up for it with a chassis plugged into every electronic aid known to NASA, including a three-mode management nanny that acts like varying cup sizes of espresso.Called DNA, it's a console switch that acts on the engine, brakes, steering, suspension and gearbox. Flick it to Dynamic and it's a three-espresso hit with instant engine response and a firmer steering feel (done by easing off the electric assistance - while Normal is a single espresso and is still pretty enthusiastic while "all-weather" is a frontal lobotomy designed to sluggishly get through snow.There's also an electronic diff that uses the electronic stability control to mimic the actions of a conventional limited-slip differential.STYLEThis thing is beautiful. It's logical to compare this car with the Volkswagen Golf but, seriously, the Golf is crisp and functional like Kiera Knightly while the Giulietta is sensual and rounded like Monica Belluci. No contest.But that's the outside. The cabin is a tad convoluted with insufficient thought to the size and placement of switchgear. Yes, you get used to it but - back to the Golf - there's a clumsiness that could have been avoided. Note the big glovebox with a lid that will shave your partner shins; the too-small centre console holes; and the hard-to-read numbers on the gauges.Cabin room is reasonable with the claustrophobic sensation due to the high waist and narrow glass. Room in the back is good and only marred by small and awkwardly designed door openings, while the boot matches its rivals for space.SAFETYThis gets a five-star, six airbags (Alfa says you don't need a seventh for your knees because of the seat design) and every conceivable device to stop you safely and get you around corners quickly. For those who don't like clutches, it even has a hill-holder.DRIVINGForget the other switches, go straight to the Alfa DNA's Dynamic mode. It makes the QV sharp and so much fun. There's a lot of the Golf in this chassis. Punch it into a corner and the rear follows the line - there's no pushing at the nose (understeer) like you're pulling a caravan and the steering is unusually positive for an electric unit.The gearchange is pretty good, tending to work better when the car was being hurried and the ratios are a good balance between tight stuff and cruisey highways. The ride is close to superb. No noise from the suspension, even when it's working hard, and the QV will hold its line so well - better than the superseded 147 which was actually damn good.But the gem is the engine. It has so much torque that it feels ready to pounce in any gear. It makes driving tis thing so easy and makes it so much fun, specially when accelerating out of a corner.But there's no theatre. The engine noise is there - muffled but there - while the exhaust is practically inaudible. As I said, like a Camry. Shame on you Alfa - you harp on about Giulietta's history and forget the soundtrack.VERDICTCome to the front of the class, Alfa! The Giulietta - finally - strikes a superb balance of day-to-day practicality with a chassis and engine that invites enthusiastic driving. It's dulled by a bland exhaust note and a lack of an automatic option will lose punters but it's still a great car.OWNERSHIPPrice $41,990Warranty 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assistResale 65%Service Interval 20,000km or 12 monthsEconomy 7.6 l/100km; 177g/km CO2Safety six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC.Crash rating 5 starEngine 173kW/340Nm 1.75-litre turbo-petrolTransmission Six-speed manualBody 5-door, 5 seatsDimensions 4351 (L); 1798mm (W); 1465mm (H); 2634mm (WB)Weight 1320kg

ALFA Romeo is one of those brands that seems to promise a lot but deliver little.  It has pedigree and tradition; it's been around 100 years and has racing written into its DNA. It used to make cars of sensual beauty, full of fizzy exuberance. Like Berlusconi parties on wheels.The 156 was like that. I still check the classifieds for a pre-loved sedan or wagon when the urge to buy is overwhelming.  I know it would put me on first-name terms with the local mechanic, but the gorgeous leather seats alone are worth the price of entry.My irrational longing has struggled with more recent cars. Flawed is one thing, but the 156 replacement, the 159, was simply flabby and that was unforgivable, even though it was a looker.The Mito, a tiny hatchback based on the Fiat Punto, doesn't do enough to disguise its origins in the cheaper car. It looks like a hasty attempt to get something out there, rather than a proper Alfa.There's worse, because as often as not Alfas have simply failed to appear at all. There's been no replacement for the 166, the patrician flagship that passed on a few years ago, neglected and alone. An on-again, off-again SUV has never been on-again for long enough to materialise.The GT went and left a gap. The 159, Brera and Spider have either gone, or are about to.  A sign of how long we might be waiting for their successors comes in the shape of the Giulietta, which replaces the 147. It has only just arrived, although the 147 has been on sale for a decade. That's a lifetime in the small car market.The GM tie-up ended happily for Alfa's parent Fiat, which got $US2 billion from the divorce settlement. Then there was a brief spell when Fiat was single. Even the GM money wasn't enough to keep its entire stable of brands pumping while simultaneously mending its balance sheet.Discount the Mito, and I do, and the Giulietta is the only real Alfa developed for ages.Now Fiat is back in a relationship, this time with Chrysler. So it's also back to shared platforms that must work for all sorts of different cars.  The next Alfa off the drawing board should be the Giulia, the replacement for the 159, although no one's entirely sure when that will appear. Or how much Chrysler baggage it will be carrying.DESIGNThe Giulietta revives a favourite nameplate for the brand that will stir memories among those too doddery to drive if they still have any memory left. For most potential buyers, it will mean nothing at all. But the return of a Giulietta should, by rights, be worth waiting for.It starts in an unpromising fashion by adopting a similar design to the smaller Mito, which looks like a startled lemur. The Giulietta is better, because it's only mildly surprised, but there's still an absence of aggression. Luckily, its rear end is fabulous, especially with the distinctive LEDs switched on.VALUEThe Giulietta enters premium small car territory around the level of the more expensive Volkswagen Golfs, or the cheaper Audi A3s and BMW 1 Series. When the 147 appeared this was a much less competitive segment than it is now.Happily, the Giulietta has been equipped for the task. It has new underpinnings with proper independent rear suspension, hi-tech turbocharged four-cylinder engines and a decent amount of kit.Inside, there's some Italian flair to separate it from the sombre Germans. There are big fat aircon controls, deep-set dials and the retro detail de jour: toggle switches. There's just enough shiny bits to make it feel premium. And unlike in previous Alfas, you don't need to sit with knees crunched to your chest to reach the wheel.There's evidence of engineering care also in the thinness of the A-pillars, which allow vision through corners. The B-pillars, however, are so wide they can hide three lanes of traffic when turning right.It's also a shame that the seats are covered mainly with something called microfibre, even when they're supposedly "leather". They're nowhere near as inviting as they used to be and the average Italian must have put on weight, because they're too wide.DRIVINGAt least, at about 1300kg, the car itself isn't obese. It goes around corners with an eagerness that I don't recall in an Alfa since the 147. The chassis feels keen and alert and refuses to be fazed by mid-corner bumps. Alfa has also remembered to make the steering quick, the gearbox pleasing and the clutch vague, so it feels exactly like it should.At least it does in the 1.8 turbo, or QV as Alfa likes to style its "cloverleaf" editions. It gets the flashier wheels and is better tied down. The 1.4 gets along respectably enough, but the 1.8 has more character and lots more torque. That's reflected in a decent 6.8 second time to reach 100km/h. Which may be only a smidge quicker than a Golf GTI, but it's faster than any Audi or Beemer this sort of money will buy.VERDICTSo against the 1.4, it would be worth finding that extra five grand. That's if you haven't already bought a Golf GTI, which you probably have.If you haven't, you still won't be swayed by the 350 litres of cargo space, which can match a Golf, or Alfa Romeo graphs showing how many more large people can fit in the back.  And if you want a dual-clutch transmission, rather than a six-speed manual, you'll have to wait until the end of the year. And then it's only on the 1.4.But if, in a fit of irrationality, you buy the Giulietta 1.8, you'll be getting something that the world hasn't seen for a while: a convincing Alfa.  More's the point, we may not see its like again. The reason the 159 was too heavy was because it was a compromise, engineered to please both Alfa and General Motors. The engine bay needed to be strong enough to carry a Detroit V8.ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTAVEHICLE: Premium hatchbackENGINES: Turbocharged four-cylinders, 1.4-litre or 1.8-litreOUTPUTS: 125kW at 5500rpm and 250Nm at 2500rpm (1.4 TB); 173kW at 5500rpm and 340Nm at 1900rpm (QV)TRANSMISSION: Six-speed manual, front-wheel drivePRICE: From $36,990 (1.4 TB) to $41,990 (QV) plus on-road costsONSALE: Now

It’s a truism that the Alfa Romeos eulogized by the Alfisti, the marque’s hardcore fans, tend to be at least 40 years old.Sadly, for this was a once great auto house, the impact of recent Alfas has been minimal; 914 local sales in 2010 tell its own sad story. But then, apart from a few worthy variants of the unfairly overlooked 159, Alfa hasn’t deserved much better.Named for an old classic, the Giulietta, a medium hatchback that in Europe has been favourably compared with Volkswagen’s perennial Golf, represents nothing less than the most important car in the brand’s 101-year-old history. If it doesn’t succeed, Alfa Romeo sinks.No pressure then.The newcomer is remarkable for excelling in those areas recent Alfas haven’t, dropping the ball in one which Alfa usually has, but mainly in providing what few Alfas the past decade have so much as hinted at: substance.VALUETwo variants are available now, both with cutting edge turbo petrol engines. A diesel follows later in the year, as does a twin clutch automatic transmission.The sole gearbox to be going on with is a six-speed manual, which will retard sales as surely as if the cars all came painted pooh brown. Pity, because the engine transmission match is great.The 1.4 TB MultiAir retails at $36,990; the 1750 TBI with the famous Quadrifoglio Verde (QV) four leaf clover badge at $41,990. The latter stands visually apart for that prominent emblem, lowered suspension and dark 18-inch alloys.Both variants are well equipped with standard features including the Q2 electronic differential and the DNA selective drive switch that enables drivers to choose between dynamic, normal and all-weather modes.A premium pack (including radio/mobile controls on the steering wheel, folding door mirrors and parking sensors) is optional on the 1.4 and standard on the QV. So too is the sport pack with smokey alloys, 10mm lowered sports suspension, aluminum pedals, leather steering wheel and upholstery.TECHNOLOGYA tour de force. Or is that “forza”? Whatever, the latest DNA setting is no gimmick; all modes are genuinely unique and useful, though you’ll be poking the switch to dynamic at every opportunity. Optimum fuel consumption occurs in Normal, to which the Giulietta defaults when the ignition key is turned.Using turbo-charging, a twin overhead camshaft and direct injection, the 1750 TBi’s seemingly small capacity outstrips almost all four cylinder engines to obtain nigh on three litre performance for four pot economy. Using scavenging technology to make optimum use of the turbo charger, it produces its maximum 340Nm torque from only 1900rpm.The supposedly lesser engine is arguably more impressive; one Alfa claims is as important to petrol engines as the common rail it developed for diesels. An electro-hydraulic variable valve actuation technology controlling air intake, it produces 125kW and 250Nm, the latter from barely above idle, but emits only 134g/km.Propeller headed as all this appears, the result is instantaneous performance that belies capacity. The cost is measured in premium unleaded petrol.DESIGNSo fine without. So poor within.This is one great-looking, completely distinctive five door. Even better in the metal than on the page, there’s not an angle from which the Giulietta, especially the QV, doesn’t work.Coupe lines, accentuated by hidden rear door handles, mean quite some compromise in rear passenger space (do not option the panoramic roof if you intend to transport adults), but the days of Alfa’s driving position being for orangutans (ludicrously long of arm and stubby of leg) are over.What a weeping pity the interior design isn’t matched by materials of quality.Around the eye line, it’s not bad, but too many surface materials are substandard, even downright cheap. The switch controls are sweetly ’60s retro, but you don’t for a moment believe they won’t snap off at some point.In the QV, with its handsome leather thrones, the cut-price nature of the lower cabin plastics isn’t so obvious; in the MultiAir it’s glaring. Surfaces are too easily marked and give no confidence as to long term.In our 1000km-old QV, the bonnet release handle came off in our cameraman’s hand. In our MultiAir, the driver’s wing mirror pane vibrated not quite to the point of falling out.  At this money things needs to be better. At half the money there is better. It makes me think long and hard about spending my money.SAFETY The good news resumes with best in class ratings in European crash testing. It’s down to fixtures including collapsible pedals and steering column, progressive chassis deformity, double front seatbelt pretensioners to curtail “submarining” and removing the need for driver’s knee airbag, and enhanced side impact protection.Add to this daytime running lights and the full raft of active safety acronyms. Go forth in confidence.DRIVING And when you do, rejoice in a choice of two such brilliant engines.  The QV is almost atypically Alfa; controlled, composed and refined to the point of being inaudible. Where’s the fizz, the crackle, the brio?Some (any) aural indication would be welcome, because the QV can accelerate seamlessly from high gear at low speed to a license shredding extent and you’d hardly know it. Like the truly well sorted car it is, it seldom feels as fast as it’s travelling.Yet, more atypically, the ride is completely accomplished, even on 18s and lowered suspensions. Transferring torque to the front wheel with most grip, the electronic Q2 diff seems almost to claw you around corners. If you’re not horrified by the notion of changing gear for yourself, here’s a worthy rival of the all too common Golf GTI. It’s not better or worse as such, rather it’s of a different flavour, as though the hatch body was incidental and you are driving a five door compact grand tourer.Though the QV makes the 100km/h mark from standing a second quicker at 6.8, the MultiAir is its equal if not better, not least in terms of ride and getting the output it has to the tarmac. Can an Alfa be this indifferent to road irregularities? It has the composure of something bigger and softer, yet the intimacy and chuckability of something smaller and more fun. Super direct electro-mechanical steering abets the game.VERDICTAlfa gets there at last.ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTAPrice: $36,990 (MultiAir); $41,990 (QV)Engines: 1.4L 4-cylinder turbo petrol  (125kW/250Nm); 1.75L 4-cylinder turbo petrol (173kW/340Nm)Transmission: 6-speed manual; front wheel driveThirst: 5.6L/100km (MultiAir); 7.6L/100km (QV)