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Alfa Romeo Giulietta vs Abarth 595

What's the difference?

VS
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Alfa Romeo Giulietta

$12,990 - $20,990

2016 price

Abarth 595
Abarth 595

$24,488 - $29,990

2018 price

Summary

2016 Alfa Romeo Giulietta
2018 Abarth 595
Safety Rating

Engine Type
Turbo 4, 1.7L

Turbo 4, 1.4L
Fuel Type
Premium Unleaded Petrol

Unleaded Petrol
Fuel Efficiency
6.8L/100km (combined)

5.8L/100km (combined)
Seating
5

4
Dislikes
  • Poor cabin storage
  • Turbo lag
  • No reversing camera

  • Terrible driving position
  • Ride not great around town
  • No reversing camera
2016 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Summary

Richard Berry road tests and reviews the new Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce hatch with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

Nobody just buys an Alfa Romeo, in the same way that nobody goes out and just buys a top hat. Yes it's functional and yes you'll looking amazing in it whether you're male or female, and people will pay you compliments - possibly question your judgement, too, but it's not the obvious choice and buying one is a conscious decision. See, you don't even know if I'm talking about the top hat or the Alfa any more.

At backyard barbecues and dinner parties throughout Australia you'll overhear people saying: "My heart says yes but my head says no." They're not discussing robbing the convenience store on the corner after dessert, but they're more likely to be talking about buying an Alfa Romeo. See Alfas are famous for their stunning beauty, their racing pedigree and their performance, but in the past they've been infamous for their reliability issues. You knew that, right?

The top-of-the-range Giulietta Veloce with the dual-clutch auto is the best reference to the brand's performance pedigree. This version has only just arrived on the market, and follows a major styling and technology update to the Giulietta in 2015.

Like most test cars, we lived with it for a week. Is it too small to be a family car? What's wrong with the glovebox? Is it as racy as it looks? What's with all the water? And is it just me or are my hands too small to drive this car? We'll even be able to point you in the right direction for a guide to Giulietta's reliability.

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2018 Abarth 595 Summary

Since 1949, Abarth has been giving the venerable Italian brand, Fiat, a patina of performance, based largely on giant-killing feats in small modified cars like the Fiat 600 of the 1960s.

More recently, the brand has been revived to boost the fortunes of the smallest Fiat on sale in Australia. Known formally as the Abarth 595, the tiny hatch packs a bit of a surprise under its distinctive snout.

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Deep dive comparison

2016 Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2018 Abarth 595

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