Alfa Romeo Giulietta review (2010-2020)

Italian design and flair flows throughout the interior of the Giulietta. From the second you sit in the driver’s seat you, know you’re in something a little different from the norm.

The glass area is quite small while the pillars are short and thick, giving you the feeling of being in a cockpit.

The centre of the steering wheel apes the triangular grille on the front, and in front of it sits an instrument binnacle that could have been designed 40 years ago – in a good way.

Tech and features

There are separate dials for the rev-counter and speedometer, in the style of Alfas from the 1960s, with gauges for the fuel and water temperature placed between them.

Below these is a small digital display that shows other information including economy and range to empty.

Immediately left of this sits the radio set-up, although later cars will have a touchscreen here. This allows you to operate the sat-nav system where fitted, the DAB radio, the mobile phone system and some of the car’s functions.

Below this sit three extremely clear dials that operate the air-conditioning/climate control system.

On manual cars, you’ll notice a gearstick topped by a metal ball that is oh-so-tactile, while cars with an automatic transmission have a leather-wrapped gear selector.

In a cubby ahead of the gearstick is the aforementioned DNA selector, through which you alter the car’s character.

The quality may not quite be a match for the Alfa Romeo’s rivals from Germany, but it’s still pretty good.

Engines and power

There are both diesel and petrol engines available in the Alfa Giulietta, and the best options are actually the ones with the least power.

The 1.4-litre petrol turbo will rev impressively and make your Giulietta feel decently fleet of foot. It sounds great too, which only encourages you to enjoy it while stationary.

The diesel alternative is the 1.6 JTDM engine, which has enough muscle to get everything moving from a standstill with reasonable vigour.

Handling and ride comfort

The gearshift in all Giulietta models is reasonably quick, although the fact that all pedals sit at different heights will take a little getting used to.

Driving experience

All Giuliettas have comparatively firm suspension, so are quite keen to let you know just how slapdash the road-building crew was. The upside of this is that it’s entertaining to drive on a twisty road.

It's also worth noting that these cars also have a ‘DNA’ switch that allows you to tailor the accelerator and steering responses to your preferences.

Out-and-out cabin space is perhaps not the Alfa Romeo Giulietta’s major selling point. Instead, it focuses on feeling snug around you.

Still, there’s a fair amount of cabin space up front for a couple of adults, although you might have to keep the driver’s seat in its lower setting if you’re tall.

Rear seats

The back seat area will feel quite intimate if you’re sitting behind a tall driver, because your legs will be brushing the back of the front seat.

The sloping roofline will be in close contact with your hair, too. That said, it’s fine for shorter journeys or commutes.

Boot space

The boot isn’t the biggest in the class, but it’s large enough for a family’s worth of weekly shopping or a couple of cases come holiday time.

Fuel economy

The 1.4-litre petrol turbo has an official average economy figure of 39.2mpg, so while it isn’t the most economical, it’s a long way from being greedy.

The diesel alternative is the 1.6 JTDM engine, which offers an average of 60.1mpg – not bad at all for a medium-sized hatchback, such as this.

Insurance costs

You might think an exotic Italian car might be costly to insure – you’d be wrong. Its insurance grouping starts at 15 and tops out at 31, although the latter figure is for the hot Cloverleaf model.