2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia

The 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia derives power from a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline four-banger that produces 280 hp and 306 lb.-ft. torque. All that power helps this beautifully balanced Alfa Romeo tackle curves better than you-know-who can handle mood swings. Alfa has not changed it recipe of success and has not updated its engine and drivetrain. So for sure, we can say that this Alfa comes with the same sharp handling, crisply communicative steering, confidence-inspiring brakes, and rorty exhaust notes as their 2019 versions.

The base 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia starts at $37,995. A 2.0L twin-turbo I4 powers the Giulia and Giulia Ti while the Quadrifoglio is powered by a 2.9L twin-turbo V6 (developed with assistance from Ferrari!). Also, the 8-speed automatic is the only available transmission.

Highly recommended Aluminum Paddle Shifters are available in Giulia sports with $750 sports interior package. It’s part of a $1500 Ti performance package in Ti and Ti Lusso along with active suspension and a limited-slip differential. Ti Sport and Quadrifoglio get them as standard. If all-weather performance is your priority, AWD is available for $2000 on all Giulia except Quadrifoglio.

Infotainment option includes 8.8-inch navigation radio with SiriusXM package in base trim. Moonroof ($1350) and Harman Kardon premium audio system ($900) are available across the range. The star of the range, the Quadrifoglio will cost you $73,500. However, you can drive the price even higher with $8000 carbon-ceramic brakes.

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The Giulia Ti Sport is the most logical choice in the line of Giulia variants. For best driving experience, pair your Giulia Ti Sport with the Driver Assist Static with Front Sensors Package and the Cold Weather Package. While the former adds several necessary safety features, the latter equips this Alfa Romeo with heated seats and steering wheel.

When we hear the name Alfa, we know that its gonna be a driver’s car and this is where the engineers at Alfa excel. A good thing when it comes to cars.

In total, you have four engines to choose from (five, if you count the QV, with its Ferrari-developed V6) – two petrol (a 2.0-litre turbo with 197bhp and 243lb ft and saucier 277bhp number in the Veloce) and a 2.2-litre diesel with either 148 or 178bhp. All are brand-new for the Giulia, and all are available only with an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. European markets get a six-speed manual for everything.

Further helping this sedan drive the way it looks are three different driving mode settings, Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency. These modes accordingly alter feel and feedback of the car to match the driver’s demands. The Alfa Romeo Giulia and BMW 330i have more in common than just a ZF sourced transmission. However, it’s the Lexus ES 350 that gets the biggest engine that also makes the most power.

Acceleration

The Giulia is a proper driver’s car thanks to the Engineering department at the French company. The chassis is well balanced and it handles like a mid-engine sports car. Engaging enough to hold your interest, with plenty of grips, but a bit on the softer than its Barvarian rivals. It feels as light on its feet as that 1,429kg kerb weight suggests, and changes direction as easily and sharp as you can point it towards.

A 330i is a more polished back road performer, but the Alfa is an engaging and interesting car to drive. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it.While the BMW 330i and Alfa Romeo Giulia get more or less similar specifications, the latter due to its lighter body is relatively faster.

Ride and Handling 

The three unique drive-mode settings on the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia, Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency, quite literally demonstrate this sedan’s driving DNA. The various modes alter transmission, steering response and feel from the engine accordingly. Regardless of the choice of drive-mode, Guilia feels nimble and eager all the time.

On the track, Giulia is capable enough to satisfy any enthusiast. Switching to Dynamic mode makes the gearbox more responsive and the steering feels even more perfectly weighted. The tires clearly communicate with the driver’s inputs and respond aggressively, while the well-balanced chassis and stiff suspension setup keep body roll well under control. The car returns great feedback in general and the toughest of corners feel like a walk in the park. But the real fun is experienced in the rear-wheel driven Giulia wherein the rear wheels are always ready to steer sideways despite traction control which cannot be switched off.

As a city cruiser, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is an equally comfortable sedan. The standard suspension, though tuned to be on the stiffer side, iron out most bumps. With perfectly timed shifts from the eight-speed automatic and heaps of peak low-end torque, driving this sedan sedately around country lengths feels quick and aggressive still. Turns out spirited driving is this Alfa Romeo’s Natural identity. The only time the Giulia doesn’t feel as feisty is when you slot it in Advanced Efficiency mode, which as the name suggests favours efficiency over extremity.

Braking

The brakes on the 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia are simply top-quality. The standard four piston-callipers Brembo brakes work without fade to offer brilliant feedback for those emergency braking scenarios. The Guilia does tend to steer sideways while going down hard on the pedal. Though most wouldn’t be bothered by it as it adds to this Alfa Romeo’s playful character.

The hefty BMW 330i might suffer a bit while accelerating due to its weight, but it is the quickest of the lot to come to a halt.

Considering the 2020 Giulia’s 280 hp engine, this sports sedan is fairly economical. The ZF automatic reduces fuel consumption by keeping the revs down while cruising. Also, the transmission sends power mostly to the rear wheels even in the all-wheel drive variant. Overall, Giulia's MPG ratings are pretty competitive considering its sporty nature.

The 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia’s above average fuel economy ratings taking a hit due its smaller fuel tank.

The level of comfort on the inside of this sporty sedan is very much at par with its performance. The standard front seats are ten-ways power-adjustable, and well-bolstered to provide plenty of comfort and support. However, the optional sports seats, standard on the Ti and Ti Lusso variants, offer an even higher level of comfort with additional four-way adjustments.

Everything from the driving position to the style of the seats favours the driver, but not at the expense of other occupants. Even the second-row seats are fairly relaxing over long journeys. 

Seating 5, the Giulia’s cabin is where the Italian seems to fall a tad short in contrast to the outside. Not to call it substandard, some of its rivals have better quality found in here. Around the cabin is ambient lighting with a door trim panel. Leather upholstery is installed on the seats and dive onto the driver seat, you’d be holding a leather-wrapped steering wheel along with an engine start button on it. Between the gauges seamlessly sealed is the 7” instrumental cluster.

Heated front seats with 6-way power adjustability, they have better space than the ones found in the rear, especially for tall adults. Comfort levels are even on both the seating area. Noise isolation is good but evident creaks were found, casting doubt on its structural quality. The interior has a nice soft plastic touch and feels to it but at the same time, there is also an element of cheap quality to some materials. Overall, the interior bearable, but improvement abound.

The availability of headroom is slightly compromised due to the sloping roof, but legroom is decent. The real challenge though is getting in and out of the second row as the doors make up for a rather small entrance.

Other than that, the Alfa Romeo Giulia clearly demonstrates its Italian characteristics. The cabins is elegantly styled with soft-touch plastics, fine leather and genuine wood or textured metallic trim. Visibility from inside the cabin is also excellent, except for slight impediment around the thick B pillars.

Interior Features

In order to make the 2020 Giulia as user-friendly as possible, this Alfa Romeo has been equipped with the following comfort features:

• Heated front seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Automatic high beam
• Front/rear park assist
• Infrared windshield

Infotainment

For the year 2020, Alfa Romeo finally got rid of their 6.5-inch and 8.8-inch non-touch infotainment units and replaced them with one 8.8-inch touchscreen as standard across the range. This new 8.8-inch touchscreen features the following tech:

• AM/FM
• Bluetooth
• Navigation
• SiriusXM with 1-year radio subscription

Cargo

The 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia is a short car. Thereby, it suffers a bit when it comes to freeing up space inside the cabin. Still, the amount of cargo space available in this Alfa Romeo is surprisingly good considering the fact that even the second row of this sedan is pretty spacious for such a short car.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is the shortest car in this segment, while the Lexus ES 350 is the longest. Still, it is the BMW 330i which offers most boot space.

If you search for the word “Italian” in this article, there will be 22 instances. If you need a reason for this, look at that exterior. From trademark shield grille, plenty of lines radiate out to the rest of the car. The design is overflowing with suggestive curves and a sculpted bulge protruding into the airstream tapers into headlights that are not actually aggressive – they just stare at you and you don’t know why.

Renaissance of Italian automobile art? The side profile is tight and muscular with short overhangs and a number of lines seem to flow tightly into the front shield grilles. The rear end is dominated by a twin exhaust and the taillights have sharp LEDs. The unique Alfa “5-hole” wheel looks curious. The squinting headlights, that run deep into the fenders, surround Alfa’s shield grille. While at the sides, the relatively tall sidewalls with the standard 17-inch wheels add to the sporty character of this sedan.

The rear design has been all the more elegantly moulded. While the LED taillights enhance gracefulness, the bold twin-exhaust tailpipes on either side are simply seductive to look at. Even though the front and rear fascias differ, as do a lot of styling elements, as you move up the trim ladder, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is one of the most handsome cars nonetheless. The 2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia is one of the shortest, lightest sedans in this comparison. Even though the BMW 330i is not too far behind the Giulia, it manages to be just as fast and more accommodating.

Exterior Features

The Giulia’s seductive design isn’t just to excite but also to improve practicality. The many styling cues that make this Alfa Romeo stand out of the crowd are:

• Alfa Romeo’s shield grille
• LED headlights
• 17-inch 10-spoke aluminium wheels
• Tinted windshield glass
• Dual exhaust tips
• LED taillights

In order to satisfy as an all-round package, the Alfa Romeo Giulia also offers an array of safety features to ensure safety for all its occupants. These features are:

• Anti-slip regulation
• Traction control
• Airbags
• LATCH
• Hill start assist
• Electronic stability control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Lane departure warning
• Adaptive cruise control

Alfa Romeo Giulia vs. BMW 330i

The Alfa Romeo Giulia and the BMW 330i have a lot in common. Both these sedans are significantly sporty courtesy their turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-fours and eight-speed automatic transmissions from ZF. However, at 280 hp, Giulia is more powerful than the 255 hp Bimmer. Also the latter is heavier than the Giulia. Nonetheless, as an overall package the BMW 330i overshadows the Alfa Romeo Giulia. Despite being heftier and less powerful, the 330i is only minutely slower than the Giulia. At the same it offers way more practicality with its significantly larger boot and bigger fuel tank.

Alfa Romeo Giulia vs. Lexus ES 350

The Lexus ES 350 really impresses on paper, but the reality is not quite the same. Even though the Alfa Romeo Giulia is less powerful, it way faster than the Lexus ES 350. Not to mention the fact that it is also cheaper. To top it all off, the way this Giulia looks is reason enough to consider it over the ES 350.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia is many things. Its sharp steering, strong engine, composed handling and extreme good-looks, all make it a competent car. But in reality, this Alfa Romeo is slightly overrated. Except for the way it performs it hardly has anything to offer. There are several other sedans that perform just as good as the Giulia, if not more, without compromising on other aspects of being an overall package.