Drive with us: Alfa Romeo Giulia Review

Should you consider an Alfa Romeo Giulia lease? 

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a saloon car with style. Undoubtedly one of the best-looking saloons on the market, the Giulia also promises impressive driving dynamics on top of those arresting good looks.

Proving itself to be ever-increasing competition to the likes of the BMW 3 Series or the Volvo S60, this Italian saloon car has a lot of fans, but does it have the mass-market appeal of its highly praised rivals when searching for your next lease deal? Let’s take a look…

Engines

If you’re after a diesel saloon then you’re out of luck with the Giulia. It's petrol and petrol only with this car. A 2.0 Turbo with either 200 or 280 horsepower are the options if you’re going for the standard Giulia (model dependent), however one model does offer a little more ‘oomph’. 

The Giulia Quadrifoglio is the wildly acclaimed performance variant and offers drivers a 2.9 litre V6 Bi-Turbo petrol engine with a staggering 510 horsepower. That’s equivalent to the performance in the mammoth Mercedes-AMG C63 S!

Model Lines

Correct as of March 2021. 

Sprint

• 8.8" touchscreen with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
• Satin Finish Speaker Surround
• 18" 5-Hole Dark Finish Alloy Wheels
• Alarm System with Bonnet and Intrusion Protection
• Bi-Xenon headlights
• Lane Departure Warning
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Vehicle Dynamic Control
• Aluminium Sports Pedals and Footrest and Aluminum Kickplate
• Dark Finish Exhaust
• Dark finish 'V' grille
• Dual Exhaust
• Sports Leather Steering Wheel
• Active Cruise Control
• Dual zone automatic climate control
• Rear Parking Sensors
• Sports Leather Gearstick
• Parking Assistance Pack
• Brake Calipers: Black

Veloce (in addition/replacement to Sprint)

• European Map
• TMC Pro
• Wireless charging pad
• 19" Dual 5-Spoke Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels
• Autonomous Emergency Brake (AEB)
• Dusk sensor
• Upgraded Braking System
• Dark Finish 'GIULIA' Badge
• Dark Finish 'Veloce' Badge
• Dark Tinted Rear Windows
• Monochrome Central Wheel Caps
• Sports Front and Rear Bumpers
• 12V Power Outlet
• Aluminium Steering Wheel Paddles
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Heated Washer Jets
• Heated front seats
• Split Folding Rear Seats (40/20/40)
• Cold Weather Pack
• Convenience Pack
• Electrically Adjustable Seats Pack

Veloce Ti (in addition/replacement to Veloce)

• Alfa Connect Box and Services
• 19" Dark 5-Hole Alloy Wheels
• Electrically adjustable 8-way driver and passenger seats
• Front & Rear parking sensors
• Laminated Glass (Additional Soundproofing)
• Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
• Rain Sensing Wipers
• Rear View Camera With Dynamic Grid Lines
• Third rear headrest
• Upgraded Braking System
• Aluminium Sports Pedals and Footrest
• Ambient light
• BADGE TI - DARK MIRON
• Dark Finish Exhaust
• Dark Tinted Rear Windows
• Gloss Black Mirror Covers
• Leather Dashboard, Door Panels And Central Armrest
• Sports Front and Rear Bumpers
• Sports Leather Steering Wheel
• Window surrounds: Black
• Driver Assistance Pack Plus
• Lighting Pack
• Veloce Ti Carbon Pack

Price

How much does the new Alfa Romeo Giulia cost? Well, if we’re talking cash, On The Road prices for the Giulia start at around £35,000 or a few grand shy of £70,000 for the performance Giulia Quadrifoglio model. 

This is pretty expectable of a premium saloon nowadays, however entry-level variants of it’s most popular competitors, the Audi A4 saloon, for instance, are available for just over £31,000.

However, with a Giulia lease you’re looking at a much more affordable monthly payment, which makes the whole process of driving a new Alfa a lot more enjoyable. We’re constantly updating our site with the best Alfa Romeo lease deals we can find, so you can view our top Alfa Romeo Giulia lease deals here.

Drive

This vehicle was tested out by a few members of the team, and the overruling consensus was that the Giulia offered a much more stable and responsive drive than that of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio we tested a few weeks prior. Nor did the lane keeping assistant fight you anywhere near as much (or scare you with the audio warning) as much as it did in the Stelvio.

In fact, as you’d probably expect the Giulia ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to driving dynamics. Where some might default to something like the Volvo S60 for an easy, well-powered drive, the Giulia requires a bit more effort in terms of handling, but the rewards are well worth it. 

The steering is so light that it almost makes the car feel faster, as bizarre as that might sound. But it also requires sharp reactions in order to make sure you don’t overdo it – especially if you’re in one of the higher-powered variants.

We predict that most drivers would be more than happy with the 200hp available in the entry-level Sprint model. No, the performance won’t knock your socks off, but it does go well none the less.

In what ways does the Giulia drive fall short? Well, the car doesn’t exactly flourish when it comes to manoeuvrability; offering a pretty limited turning circle that can at times frustrate.  We’d also say that the gearbox feels a bit unpredictable, and those offered in certain Mercedes-Benz C-Class models offer much smoother transitions.

Technology

All Giulia models get an 8.8-inch touchscreen as standard, which is beautifully integrated into the sweeping dash. This infotainment system gets all the equipment you’d expect on your new lease vehicle, and as standard the entry-level models get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Sat Nav, Dual-zone automatic climate control, Parking Assistance pack and a lane departure warning.

All models also get Bi-Xennon headlights, active cruise control and rain sensing wipers. Go further up the model line and you’ll benefit from tech such as wireless charging, Cold Weather packs, electrically adjustable seats and ambient lighting.

There’s a 7-inch display for the driver, though we’ll often find very few displays offer the same quality as offered in the Audi A4 or certain Mercedes-Benz or Skoda models. There’s also a rotary dial in the centre console which, which works well and looks sleek, however, we’ll always find it hard to find a system that can match the BMW iDrive.

Flaws? We often couldn’t tell whether the grainy looking reversing camera on this car was dirty or well… just not very good. And finally, it annoyed us that the electric wing mirrors only open when the car starts, and not when the car is unlocked as you’d expect.

Space and Practicality

Space in the rear is not too bad at all, and the comfortable seats offer passengers a good amount of support. While the Giulia doesn't provide the most leg room in the world, it is by no means the least.

The headrests are incredibly cushioned and comfortable, a bit of a contrast to the front seats, which are on the firmer side. While this may be a deterrent for some, many drivers prefer a firmer ride so will enjoy the drive of the Alfa.

The seats also offer a good amount of adjustment, as does the steering wheel. Which, now we mention it, is lovely. Really satisfying to hold, with controls that are incredibly intuitive to use. 

We also love that the Start/Stop button is on the wheel. It’s a detail that we didn’t know we wanted, but now we wish all manufacturers followed suit.

The boot is a little bit form over function when it comes to the width of the opening, which is compromised by the narrowing width at the bottom. However, the actual usable space inside the boot is impressive. The Giulia excels with a 480-litre capacity, which is an improvement on both the Audi A4 and Mercedes Benz C-Class.

Final Verdict

The more we look at this car, the better looking it gets. It somehow strikes a wonderful balance between soft curves and angular aggression. The cabin, though not necessarily groundbreaking, is beautiful and certainly feels premium. The car is suitably practical, and though the drive is a lot harder work than its rivals, that hard work is rewarded when you find a road you can really enjoy the Giulia on.

If we had our pick of the bunch, the BMW 3 Series often will win top spot, followed closely by the C-Class – however, both often will come at a premium for the privilege. For a little less we’d happily choose the Giulia or the S60 – however it does all come down to what kind of driver you are and the experience you’re after. One thing is for sure, leasing an Alfa Romeo Giulia certainly wouldn't be a bad choice. 

If you like what you have seen of the Giulia, or any of the other models mentioned in this review, you can check out our latest saloon personal lease deals and business lease offers or get in touch with one of our leasing experts.