In-depth reviews

Alfa Romeo Giulia review

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is seductively stylish, offering rear-drive thrills and plenty of Italian charm

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

Price
£42,614 to £75,334
  • Sharp handling
  • Stunning looks
  • Great engine
  • Firm ride
  • Increased list price
  • No manual in UK
Find your Alfa Romeo Giulia
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
From:£13,989 cash
PCP finance available
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

The Alfa Romeo Giulia could be a superb choice for compact executive saloon car buyers, as it offers a brilliant mix of gorgeous looks, fun handling and decent running costs. Like the Jaguar XE, it’s a welcome alternative to rivals from the German manufacturers, and has a unique character.

The Giulia's petrol engine is excellent, and while it’s a shame we don’t get a manual option here in the UK, the eight-speed automatic gearbox is very good. Fans of Mercedes and Audi interiors might find the Giulia's cabin isn't quite up to the same standards, but there’s so much to like about Alfa’s compact executive saloon that it could still win them over.

About the Alfa Romeo Giulia

Cars like the Alfa Romeo Giulia provide a breath of fresh air in the new car market, as it offers a great alternative to the mainstream executive norm. Alfa's four-door saloon sits in the compact executive saloon sector, with its many rivals including the the BMW 3 Series, which offers great handling and a plush ride, the Mercedes C-Class that puts luxury to the fore and the Audi A4 which is a tech-lovers dream.

Elsewhere in the class, the Jaguar XE has the all-round ability to compete, the Volvo S60 adds a slice of Swedish style and comfort to the mix and the Volkswagen Arteon offers style that means it's knocking at the door of the executive class. 

Meanwhile, the 503bhp, V6-powered Giulia Quadrifglio is an alternative to fiery models such as the Audi RS 4 Avant, BMW M3/M4Lexus RC F and the Mercedes C63, although the latter has now turned to petrol plug-in hybrid power to help it to a mammoth 671bhp.

While its German rivals are offered in a variety of body styles, the Giulia comes solely as a saloon. But what a shape it has, with taut curves and that distinctive shield grille up front, slender lights and a rakish roof, it's easily the head-turner of the class. The Giulia also received some subtle design tweaks in 2023, including a new 3x3 headlight signature and  ‘Trilobo’ grille. Inside, the Giulia continues to turn on the style with aluminium shift paddles on the steering column, a 12.3-inch digital dash panel and 8.8-inch central touchscreen. If you're after something a bit more practical, Alfa has the Tonale compact SUV and Stelvio mid-size SUV.

The refreshed Giulia is only available with one engine: a 276bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine. The 197bhp version of the same motor was removed from the range in the name of simplification in 2023, and you can no longer get a diesel-powered Giulia either. All Giulias are rear-wheel drive and while European markets have the option of a six-speed manual gearbox, in the UK all models are fitted with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

There are three trim levels to choose from – Sprint, Veloce and Competizione – with prices starting from around £43,000. Standard kit includes 18-inch alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, wireless charging pad, reversing camera, cruise control, blind spot monitoring and Autonomous Emergency Braking, among other safety systems. 

For an alternative review of the Alfa Romeo Giulia, visit our sister site carbuyer.co.uk...

More on Giulia

New Alfa Romeo Giulia 2023 review
Alfa Romeo Giulia - front
Road tests
2 May 2023

New Alfa Romeo Giulia 2023 review

The stylish Alfa Romeo Giulia saloon gets a fresh face and new tech
Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario twins debut
Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario
News
13 Apr 2023

Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio Quadrifoglio 100th Anniversario twins debut

Alfa’s celebrating 100 years of its Quadrifoglio badge with an updated take on its high performance models
Top 10 best executive cars 2023
Best executive cars - header image
Best cars & vans
15 Feb 2023

Top 10 best executive cars 2023

Executive cars might cost a little more, but the best ones add a real touch of class to your motoring experience…
Top 10 best rear-wheel-drive cars 2023
Best rear-wheel-drive cars - header image
Best cars & vans
13 Jan 2023

Top 10 best rear-wheel-drive cars 2023

Rear-wheel drive is supposed to be the drivetrain layout that delivers the most fun. Here are 10 cars that do exactly that
The best long-term car tests 2022
Best long-term tests 2022- header image
Car group tests
30 Dec 2022

The best long-term car tests 2022

These are our favourite long-term cars from the past year
New Alfa Romeo Giulia facelift: updated tech and revised line-up for 2023
Alfa Romeo Giulia facelift - front
News
6 Dec 2022

New Alfa Romeo Giulia facelift: updated tech and revised line-up for 2023

Alfa Romeo’s BMW 3 Series rival will receive a fresh look and new tech for 2023 as well as a rejigged engine and trim line-up
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio: long-term test review
Two Sean Carsons standing with the Alfa Giulia
Long-term tests
3 Oct 2022

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio: long-term test review

Final report: We bid ‘arrivederci’ to Italian stunner – but we won’t be entirely sad to see it go
Alfa Romeo leasing deals 2022
Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce
Best cars & vans
13 Sep 2022

Alfa Romeo leasing deals 2022

The best Alfa Romeo leasing deals available right now
All-electric Alfa Romeo Giulia will come with 500-mile range
Alfa Romeo Giulia EV
News
6 Jul 2022

All-electric Alfa Romeo Giulia will come with 500-mile range

The Alfa Romeo Giulia will ditch combustion engines for EV power by 2027
New Alfa Romeo Giulia Estrema 2022 review
Alfa Romeo Giulia Estrema - front
Road tests
28 Mar 2022

New Alfa Romeo Giulia Estrema 2022 review

The Alfa Romeo Giulia Estrema adds some sporty trim from the red-hot Quadrifoglio, but is it worth the money? We find out...
Used Alfa Romeo Giulia (Mk1, 2016-date) review
Alfa Romeo Giulia - static
Used car tests
1 Dec 2021

Used Alfa Romeo Giulia (Mk1, 2016-date) review

Read our full buyer’s guide on the Alfa Romeo Giulia, covering the Giulia Mk1 (2016-date)
New Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm 2021 review
Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm - front
Road tests
11 May 2021

New Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm 2021 review

We power up in the limited-edition and track-focused Alfa Romeo Giulia GTAm
BMW M3 Competition vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
BMW M3 Competition vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Car group tests
27 Mar 2021

BMW M3 Competition vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Can the Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio fend off the new BMW M3 Competition in this sports saloon shootout?
F1 road cars: performance cars from the 2021 Formula One teams tested
F1 road cars header
Features
26 Mar 2021

F1 road cars: performance cars from the 2021 Formula One teams tested

We put the performance products of seven Formula One teams through their paces on track
New Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce 2020 review
Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce
Road tests
4 Sep 2020

New Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce 2020 review

Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce ready to attack compact executive segment with new technology and kit
New Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2020 review
Road tests
26 Aug 2020

New Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio 2020 review

Changes made to the new Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio have made it better than ever
Updated 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio arrives with tech and safety tweaks
News
7 May 2020

Updated 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio arrives with tech and safety tweaks

The range-topping Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio super saloon has been updated for 2020, with a handful of cosmetic, technology and safety upgrades
Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and GTAm: Alfa’s new super saloons explored
News
6 May 2020

Alfa Romeo Giulia GTA and GTAm: Alfa’s new super saloons explored

Alfa Romeo celebrates its 110th birthday with the special edition Giulia GTA
Long-term test review: Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce
Long term review - Alfa Romeo Giulia - Batch balcony
Long-term tests
15 Apr 2019

Long-term test review: Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce

Final report: Life with our Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce was a drama full of comedy and tragedy
Jaguar XE 300 Sport vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce
Jaguar XE 300 Sport vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce - header
Car group tests
12 Feb 2019

Jaguar XE 300 Sport vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce

Sporty four-cylinder saloons do battle as the Jaguar XE 300 Sport meets the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio review
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - front
In-depth reviews
8 Feb 2019

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio review

Alfa Romeo super saloon is a convincing rival to the Mercedes-AMG and BMW M establishment
Mercedes-AMG C 63 S vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Mercedes-AMG C 63 S vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio - header
Car group tests
6 Feb 2019

Mercedes-AMG C 63 S vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio

Muscular flagship premium saloons face off with identical power as the V8 Mercedes-AMG C 63 S meets the V6 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
Five-year Alfa Romeo warranty introduced on selected models
Alfa Romeo Giulia long term test - first report front
News
10 Jul 2018

Five-year Alfa Romeo warranty introduced on selected models

New '5-3-5' package available on the Giulia, Giulietta and Stelvio, and includes servicing and breakdown cover too