2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 Alfa Romeo Giulietta as a used buy.

The Italians finally nailed it with the Giulietta hatch after years of less-than-ideal makes New Italy has given us some wonderful things — Michelangelo, the Mona Lisa, Pavarotti and pizza — but it has also burdened us with some dodgy cars. For many years now, anyone buying an Italian car such as an Alfa Romeo has

We thought the 1.4-litre Giulietta was going to be a bit of a doddle after the fire-breathing 173kW QV.How wrong we were. This car is outstanding, easily the best Alfa we've driven in a long time.VALUEThe Alfa Romeo Giuletta 1.4 TB MultiAir is priced from $36,990 before on road costs.DESIGNThe Giulietta is a replacement for the beaked 147 model and continues a return to names instead of numbers to differentiate models.It's actually a bigger car than its predecessor and this is reflected in an increase in luggage space. At 350 litres it has 16 per cent more capacity than the 147.  It's also 21 per cent wider.TECHNOLOGYThe MultiAir engine which made its debut in the smaller Mito is unique, with cutting edge technology that will do for petrol engines what high pressure, common rail injection has done for the diesel.With no throttle valve and cylinder-by-cylinder, stroke-by-stroke direct air intake control, the technology cuts fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10 per cent while producing 10 per cent more power and 15 per cent more torque than conventional engines.The unique 1.4-litre TB MultiAir engine produces 125kW of power and up to 250Nm of torque in dynamic mode, yet uses only 5.8 litres of petrol per 100km. The dash from 0-100km/h takes 7.8 seconds, just one second slower than the more powerful QV.DRIVEWe clocked up almost 700km in the 1.4-litre turbocharged tyro this week and came away impressed by its styling, performance as well as the ride and handling, the ride is quite unexpectedly supple, nothing like the jarring encounters we've had with other Alfa’s in the past.From the driver's eat the MultiAir engine feels strong and smooth, especially with the DNA system switched to dynamic mode which boosts torque from 230 to 250Nm at 2500 revs. The DNA system features Normal, Dynamic and All Weather modes and is standard across the range.The change from Normal to Dynamic is perceptible. It acts on the engine, brakes, steering, suspension and gearbox to allow drivers to hone the car's responses to the conditions.Couple with a six-speed manual, the drive experience is sharp and sporty with plenty of electronic aids thrown in to keep you firmly planted on the road. At the end of our test program the trip computer on our car was showing 7.3 litres/100km.VERDICTNow, if the car can stand up to the rigours of our harsh Australian climate the Italians could well be on to something with this one.ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA 1.4 MULTIAIRPrice: from $36,990Engine: 1.4-litre TB MultiAirEconomy: 5.8 litres/100km.Outputs: 125kW / 250NmTransmission: Six-speed Manual

You've got to hand it the Italians, they know a thing or two about style. Nowhere is this more evident than in Alfa Romeo's new Giulietta, a replacement for the aging 147. It simply oozes the stuff.VALUEPriced from $41,990, this car certainly has what it takes to steal some hearts from Volkswagen.DESIGNHere's hoping the Giulietta breaks the mould, that it proves to be every bit as robust as the Volkswagen Golf with which it competes. The name Giulietta is a borrowed from Alfa's heyday, a series of compact, sedan, coupe and convertibles built over a decade during the 50s and 60s.Unlike its namesake however this one is a five-door hatch, but like the 156 before the rear doors feature concealed door handles, giving it the appearance of a sportier three-door. Finished in white with elegant 18 inch charcoal alloys, our test vehicle bore more than a passing resemblance to the smaller Mito with its beak like grille and wide-eyed stare.The interior, with its metal gear knob and prominent, large round climate controls is a work of art. Standard features are generous. The Cloverleaf model gets 10mm lower sports suspension, sports seats in mircofibre and leather with red stitching, Bose sound, tinted windows, red brake callipers and dark titanium 18 inch spoke alloys.TECHNOLOGYGiulietta comes in two guises, powered by two different engines, a 125kW 1.4 or 173kW 1.7-litre four - both of them turbocharged. Our test vehicle, the top of the line Giulietta QV clover leaf edition reminded me strongly of the oft lamented 147 GTA - a real ball tearer of a car.The figures are similar too. The GTA's 3.2-litre V6 produced 184kW of power at 6200 revs and 300Nm of torque at 4800 revs. In comparison the Giulietta's 1750 TBI engine delivers 173kW of power at 5500 revs and 340Nm of torque at 1900 revs in dynamic mode.The two share a similar top speed of about 240km/h, but the GTA was still a little quicker from 0 to 100km/h, at 6.3 seconds versus 6.8. The good news however is that the QV uses just 7.6 litres per 100km - the GTA used twice that figure on a good day.SAFETYAlfa's DNA dynmaic ride control is standard, letting you choose between normal, dynamic and all-weather modes. In dynamic mode extra torque is available lower in the rev range and the electronic stability system is less intrusive, the throttle is also more responsive, the steering becomes heavier and the electronic diff is activated.The Electronic Q2 differential and the Vehicle Dynamic Control are standard on this model, along with six airbags and a five-safety rating.DRIVEJumping into the car for the first time we discovered it has the same feel and propensity for spinning the front wheels, but none of the GTA's heaviness or awkwardness. The 1.7-litre engine is hooked up to a six-speed manual that is generallty easy to use but baulks at going into first occasionally.The car sits well on the road and cruises easily and frugally in top gear, with plenty of torque to keep it there. Slipping it into dynamic mode, you can feel the difference immediately, as the front wheels fitht to maintain contact with the road. You can drive it hard or you can drive it easily, it's a car for both occasions.VERDICTWe love driving Alfas but take comfort in the knowledge that at the end of the day we can take them back. If only they were more reliable.ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA QVPrice: $41,990Warranty: 3 years, 100,000km, roadside assistResale: 65%Service interval: 20,000km or 12 monthsEconomy: 7.6 l/100km; 177g/km CO2Safety: six airbags, ESC, ABS, EBD, EBA, TC.Crash rating: 5 starEngine: 173kW/340Nm 1.75-litre turbo-petrolTransmission: Six-speed manualBody: 5-door, 5 seatsDimensions: 4351 (L); 1798mm (W); 1465mm (H); 2634mm (WB)Weight: 1320kg.