By Michal
Kieca
Engine: 1.4 Litre 16-valve Petrol. Power: 125kW @
6000rpm | Torque: 250Nm @ 2500rpm
Transmission: Six-speed Manual
Fuel Consumption listed: 5.8 l/100km | Tested: 8.1
l/100km
Price (as tested, exc. on roads): $29,990
Overall
Rating: ★★★★
Plusses: Gorgeous, jaw dropping looks, sweet, punchy and
frugal engine, refined ride, enjoyable handling, Italian charm.
Minuses: Cheap, dated interior, compromised driving
position, brake pedal feel, interior quality issues, not as polished as Golf.
OVERVIEW
Seldom does one find a car with a lineage that can
rival the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. Let alone a hatchback that sneaks in at under
$29,000. Alfa Romeo’s 100 years have produced some truly magnificent cars, many
pre-war when it was a high-end, blue-blooded marque. Alfa has a history peppered with
petrol-head perfection, cars built with passion for enthusiasts by enthusiasts. Owning an Alfa was always a fairy-tale, something special, cherished by many.
Post war (when Alfa Romeo became a mid-market premium
brand) saw the birth of many legendary cars; the 1971 Alfasud, arguably one of
the best front-wheel drive cars ever and the Giulietta’s lineal ancestor that
would be succeeded by the 33 (the best selling Alfa ever), the 145/146 and then
finally the 147.
The Giulietta’s name traces its roots back to 1954,
to a divinely pretty coupé that was a precursor to the ’55 Giulietta saloon. It
is an old name, promising new success for the ailing brand worldwide.
Now the Giulietta is much more
realistically priced in Australia, much better value for money, drives
beautifully and has all of the Italian goodness, charm and flair that one could
dream of. Alfa is back.
DESIGN: ★★★★★
This is an extremely important car for the brand as
well as the entire Fiat Group, after all it must spearhead the renaissance of
‘soul’ and ‘passion’. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s new platform is modular,
allowing flexibility in both body style and mechanical hardware. From the start
it has been designed to make the Giulietta lighter and much safer than the 147.
The platform needs to be good, as it’s providing the base for so many different
cars.
The Giulietta must form the bedrock of Alfa’s business and from sales already seen overseas it certainly has.
Giulietta’s looks could only have come from the
Milanese brand. The car turns heads like few others. Whilst it may not be quite as delicately pretty as the 147
that it replaces, but its more solid presence – both visually and literally –
lends it a quietly stylish confidence.
From the front, Alfa has carried on the tradition of
the pushed out ‘nose’, the trademark grille as well as the sculpted headlights,
inspired by the firm’s 8C Competizione. Design highlights include a quartet of
LED daytime running lights which are vertically arranged within the front
clusters.
The car has many Alfa touches that help lift it from
the run of the mill hatchbacks in terms of styling. The rear door handles are
integrated into the window frame, an arrangement pioneered by the 156 that
helps this five-door resemble a three-door. Red LEDs in the tail-lamps form
a pleasingly distinctive ‘9’ turned on its side. The
entire rear is a thing of beauty; it is bold, sporty and contemporary. I’m sorry
but this is no longer a car but art.
The twin exhausts add a dash of sporting intent. The rather
desirable Alfa badge on the boot also doubles as a convenient keyless electric
tailgate release.
THE
INTERIOR: ★★★
The massive silvered dashboard insert is the most
striking feature of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s interior. The Giulietta’s instruments have been
designed in typical Alfa fashion; they are presented in a hooded binnacle
that’s been an Alfa feature for decades.
A high quality soft-feel moulding can be found along
the edge dashboard, yet other plastics are much harder and brittle. Quality is
definitely not on par with the new Golf, nor is attention to detail inside,
but, overall, the Giulietta’s cabin still looks classy, no doubt lifted by the
piano-black plastics near the gear lever as well as on the armrests.
The driving position is adjustable thanks to a 4-way
adjustable wheel and a driver’s seat height adjuster. Despite all of this the
Giulietta still suffers from long-arm, short-leg syndrome that has plagued many
Italian cars in the past and given drivers just about every ache available.
Yes, those days are still alive and well, even in 2013. Some drivers might even
have their instruments obstructed by the wheel itself, if they want it set lower.
The pedals are grouped too close together and are all too high off the ground,
making heel and toeing rather difficult. What is more annoying however is the
centre console that allows little room for your left foot. Ergonomics are
clearly an issue in the Giulietta.
The cabin is reasonably spacious in the front and in
the back. The back seat provides decent support – if not the class best.
Rear-headroom is not great; blame that lovely coupe roofline. Overall, 4
passengers should be fine for a long trip in the Giulietta.
The boot is much bigger than the 147’s and provides a
bag hook, power socket and recesses to store bottles. Other storage places are
dotted around the cabin, with armrests for both in the front and rear.
PERFORMANCE:
★★★★★
Alfas are all about go, and the 1.4 MultiAir defies
belief. It is one of the best internal combustion engines ever produced. It provides a
solid shove, regardless of engine speed. Performance is effortless over roads
of all kinds, infusing this Giulietta with just the kind of zest that you’d
expect from an Alfa. The car makes real the seemingly impossible combination of
strong power and torque, lively performance and extremely frugal Euro 5
emissions standards. The car is ultra frugal and even on test didn’t slurp too
much (8.1L).
The DNA lever sharpens throttle response and allows
the engine to perform to the best of its abilities, endowing the Giulietta with
unbelievable performance from a 1.4. The gearchange is a delight; smooth and
satisfying, the clutch not too vague. The stop-start works well, killing the engine just before the car halts and then restarting it when you lift of the
clutch.
RIDE AND
HANDLING: ★★★★
Alfas are also about handling and ride just as much
as performance. I’m pleased to say that the Giulietta will be a delight to most enthusiasts. Some recent Alfas have been particularly disappointing, with the
MiTo springing immediately to mind. The Giulietta, with its new platform and
suspension hardware, is the first car in a while to recreate that intrinsic
magic of the Alfasud. The aluminium MacPherson struts up front and multi-link
rear are complemented by a comprehensive suit of electronic hardware -
including the electronic Q2 differential, which emulates the mechanical version
by braking individual wheels.
The DNA switch also changes steering weight and
responsiveness. The car turns in keenly, holds its line and is willing to be
adjusted on the throttle, showing impressive balance.
However, the handling is not what first strikes you
about the Giulietta. If you’re used to current Alfas, you won’t believe what
the engineers have managed to achieve. The ride quality is superb; the wheels
just seem to pommel imperfections in the road into submission with cushioned
pliancy. It’s right up there with the Golf and Focus when it comes to
refinement too, although there is some noticeable tyre roar and wind noise.
The steering is quite good for an electrically
assisted set-up too, even if its resistance is not as seamless as that of the Ford Focus.
The brakes are strong and complete the pleasing
dynamic repertoire, yet the pedal has an awkward wooden feel, just before the
ABS kicks in.
VALUE AND
FEATURES: ★★★
The Giulietta is great value for money, no doubt
helped by the massive $6000 price reduction. It is well equipped and when you
consider the technology on offer, the asking price is very reasonable. The
MultiAir Distinctive gets a decent audio system, Bluetooth connectivity as well
as automatic headlights, wipers and a self-dimming electro-chromatic rear-view
mirror. Let’s just hope that none of all this equipment goes wrong after the
warranty runs out, as Alfa has a lot to prove in terms of reliability. Many have
historically been affected by various gremlins, both electronic and
mechanical, all of which have been expensive to fix.
SAFETY: ★★★★★
The Giulietta comes full of passive and active safety
features. ABS, brake-force distribution and brake assist with ESP and TCS are
standard. The car has 6 airbags and achieved a 5 star EuroNCAP rating. When
tested by EuroNCAP 2 years ago, the Giulietta was the safest car in the segment
and still is, with a score of 97% achieved during the crash-test.
VERDICT:
The Giulietta marks the revival of Alfa Romeo and is
a welcome return to form for the iconic brand. Its new platform delivers on
chassis dynamics, packaging, safety and also refinement, it is a complete car
that also possesses the gob smacking looks of a supercar. Throw in exclusivity,
that Cross and Serpent badge and the Giulietta is a winner. A ‘proper’ Alfa
then, and arguably the greatest since the early 80s.
All images/media © Chrysler Australia
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