2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Review

Although we're fans of the turbo 2.0-liter engine in the base and Ti models, the underlying strength of the Giulia is performance, and the Quadrifoglio exploits that to the fullest. Therefore, it's the model we'd recommend if you're considering the Giulia. The Quadrifoglio comes well equipped, so th...

Both eight-speed automatics shift quickly and react without delay when using the column-mounted paddles. In Dynamic or Race mode, up- and downshifts are tuned to deliver more kick, which elevates the drama to a degree. When upshifting in the wet, it's enough to break the Quadrifoglio's tires loose.

The base-model Giulia's 2.0-liter turbo engine feels responsive and generates ample torque from low rpm. The Quadrifoglio's smooth-revving 2.9-liter biturbo V6 packs a beastly 505-hp punch; Alfa says it's good for a sprint to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Seems realistic based on our seat-of-pants feel.

The Quadrifoglio's brakes are hugely powerful yet easy to modulate in casual driving. They have a natural feel, too, which is impressive because the system operates electronically, instead of being mechanically connected like most systems.

Although the roads were wet and slippery during our evaluation drive, the Giulia's steering didn't feel lacking in feedback or response. Turn-in is incredible due to an ultra-quick steering ratio, and it accomplishes this without feeling darty.

Wet roads meant grip limits were reached much sooner than we'd have liked. But besides the generous torque from both Giulia's turbo engines making the rear tires want to spin freely, the Giulia didn't exhibit any bad habits. A virtually perfect balance of weight front to rear likely helps.

Both eight-speed automatics shift quickly and react without delay when using the column-mounted paddles. In Dynamic or Race mode, up- and downshifts are tuned to deliver more kick, which elevates the drama to a degree. When upshifting in the wet, it's enough to break the Quadrifoglio's tires loose.

Even at the base model level, it's clear the Giulia's focus is delivering a sporty drive. The ride skews firm, and there's an average amount of road noise that sneaks into the cabin. The base model's seats lack cushioning and adjustability, but the sport seats fit like an Italian leather glove.

The base Giulia's seats have short, flat bottom seat cushions and lack of adjustability. Lateral seat bolsters have above-average support, but that's about it. The optional sport seats fix everything wrong in regular Giulia, with loads of support and adjustability, but lack ventilation.

The ride quality with the active suspension in the Quadrifoglio is on the firmer side but offers a decent amount of comfort. The ride in the standard base Giulia is not exactly plush either and isn't adjustable (optional in Ti model), but it strikes a pretty good balance between sport and comfort.

There's an average amount of road noise, which was slightly exacerbated due to wet roads. Wind noise, however, is pretty well isolated thanks to acoustic glass. No interior panel squeaks were detected.

Dual climate control is standard, and operation is straightforward. There's a good amount of cooling capacity, though the fans don't flow air quite like some American air-conditioning systems. The heated steering wheel is effective and warms up quickly; the seats offer three levels of heat as well.

Your interior experience will vary greatly, depending on trim level. The type of seats make the biggest difference when it comes to driving position or getting in and out. We found the rear seat to be tight on legroom and all the controls lacking a little bit of quality heft we expect in the class.

The rotary-dial infotainment system is simple and similar to others in the market, though it doesn't have a touchpad surface like in an Audi or BMW, and the rotary scrolling action is reversed from others. All other controls are nicely within reach, and the column-shift paddles are best-in-segment.

The front doors open wide, and the seats are a nice, accessible height. You'll most likely end up sitting on the outside lateral thigh bolster first, no matter how you enter the car, causing seat fatigue over time. Rear entry is more challenging due to tighter leg space and a sloping roofline.

In the base Giulia, the bottom seat cushion is short and flat and doesn't offer much tilt. The available sport seats, however, offer copious cushioning, tons of support and good adjustability, though we'd like adjustable lateral support too. A manual tilt-and-telescoping steering column is standard.

Lots of space up front, but rear seat room is a bit scarce. The footroom underneath the front seats is limited, and the center drive tunnel is pretty wide, which eats up a lot of middle-seat foot space. It'd be a squeeze for the lower halves of three adults, but headroom doesn't seem to be an issue.

Visibility out front is good, with the nose of the Giulia falling away quick for an open view of the road. Sideview mirrors create the typical small blind spots. Rear headrests are short and unobtrusive, and though the rear roof pillars are thick, the large rear side windows help lessen blind spots.

The air vents, gear selector, and rotary infotainment controls look and feel less substantial than those of class competitors. The nav screen integration is pretty sleek, and higher-model leather-wrapped surfaces, carbon trim and carbon steering wheel all look of very high quality and draw admiratio...

Utility isn't a strong suit of the Giulia, with the exception of the base and Ti trim's split folding rear seats and easy-access car seat anchors (all trims). Small item storage within the cabin is limited, and trunk space is unimpressive.

As in other European sport sedans, there isn't a ton of small item storage options. You'll find a couple cupholders forward of the shifter and a modestly sized bin underneath the center armrest. The door pockets are small and barely fit a small water bottle, and glovebox space is also limited.

The standard Giulia features 40/20/40-split folding rear seats, which are quite useful. The Quadrifoglio seats do not fold down. Trunk volume specs aren't available yet, but based off appearances, the opening is shallow and narrow and likely to be on the smaller side of the class.

LATCH anchors are located on the two outboard rear seats behind easy-to-access plastic flip doors, and there are also three easy-access top tethers as well, so you can either fit two seats in the outboard positions or one in the center.

Integration of the wide 8.8-inch touchscreen is very well done, and the controls, although slightly cheap-feeling, operate intuitively. We didn't have any complaints regarding the base car's stereo system, but the optional Harman Kardon system produces some fantastic sound.

Though the standard audio system is perfectly sufficient, the optional Harman Kardon audio delivers clear, crisp, rich sound without any distortion when the volume is cranked way up. The navigation system is displayed on a sleek-looking 8.8-inch screen and works well.

Bluetooth is standard across all models, as are three USB ports (one of which is charge-only). Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are not offered.