Practical experience Alfa Romeo Giulia: the last, the best?

Even though it was quiet around the brand after the Alfa Romeo 159, the originally Milanese brand went all out for the successor launched in 2015. In addition to a new, old name, the Giulia was given its own platform, which was only used much later by Maserati. And perhaps unnecessarily: the Giulia is such a pure Alfa that you cannot buy a station wagon from it. If you want more space, you should switch to the Stelvio SUV. This will be replaced next year by an electric model, the Giulia successor should appear in 2026.

This is how the Giulia drives

Because the Giulia is so focused on driving, we start with this, and with the opinion of an enthusiastic diesel driver. “After a year and a half, I am still very pleased with the choice,” he writes. “Never before have I driven a car that provides so much driving pleasure. That agility and quick reactions without any nervousness, that assertiveness without aggressiveness, the precision and the fun, even at low speed…

The owner of a 200 hp petrol variant is also very pleased with the chassis. “The drive is great, I don’t know what magic they have done on the chassis and steering, because the handling is top notch and it remains comfortable too. I have never driven a car that drives so well, really great.”

A 2.2 JTD 150 hp owner may have less power, but will still enjoy it enough. “The car has a very good chassis,” he says. “Not board hard at all, but comfortable. Nevertheless, the car steers very sharply. Very direct even, if you are used to a middle class car. The balance is also perfect. If you enter a bend a little too enthusiastically and the wheels lose grip, the car will slide neatly over the front and rear wheels at the same time. So you can really push the boundaries without having to fear losing control.”

The fact that after one Alfa Romeo, another Italian often follows is proven by the owner of a Giulia 2.0T 200 hp Super, who previously drove a Giulietta. “The Giulia is a class higher – literally – and you notice that. You feel everything – it remains a sporty car – but it handles everything so much better than the Giulietta did. The perfect mix between sportiness and comfort,” he concludes. “The steering is also unprecedentedly sharp and the car lies like a rock on the road. I already thought that about the Giulietta, but it did roll in a bend. None of that with the Giulia. You can take crazy hard corners, but it continues to do so with elegance as long as you don’t go too crazy.”

Space and ease of use

When it comes to trunk space, the Giulia scores very well, but its accessibility appears to be limited. “I went on holiday for two weeks with the car and my family of four,” writes the owner of a 2018 Giulia Super. “Fully packed, but without a roof rack, going to Croatia was quite doable. The biggest swearing incidents are mainly caused by the awkward shape of the entrance, which means that you cannot easily get everything past the threshold.” A shared experience, as it turns out: “Small trunk opening. A crate of groceries or beer fits through the opening, but the passage is not much higher. It is deep,” reports a diesel driver.

The used car buyer must pay attention: “It is incomprehensible that the rear seat cannot be folded down. In my opinion, that is a small effort and it immediately makes it a lot more practical,” says the driver of a recently purchased used Giulia Super from 2019. This could have been remedied by the previous owner, because if he had paid something extra, it would be possible. “The luggage space is reasonable, but with the rear seat folded down – in parts – it is easy to live with,” says a happy rider who does have this option.

When it comes to space for small children, the Giulia also appears to be somewhat erratic. “Desk/storage space in the Giulia remains a problem,” writes a Giulia Super driver. “Even your phone is an inconvenient thing in the car. I don’t want a window sticker or a car kit screw in anything, so it usually swings in the middle of the cup holder.” A second rider, with a similar version, experiences the same thing. “I think the storage space in the cockpit is on the meager side. You can’t really put much in the compartments in the doors, the compartment under the armrest is also not much and two cans are possible, but two bottles becomes a challenge in the cup holders under the dashboard.”

A Giulia Sprint driver looks on the bright side: “Of course it is not the car in which you want to cram your three children and holiday luggage, but it is not designed for that. It is a car in which you go into the sunset with your partner and just enjoy the experience.”

Riders: ‘choose Veloce seats’

When it comes to seating comfort, our riders have one thing in common: they recommend the optional Veloce seats. “The seats are beautiful, comfortable, but lateral support is not their strong suit,” writes the driver of a Giulia 2.2 JTD Business Super. “I would order the Veloce package next time, it fits like a glove.”

“Chairs? Not Mercedes-comfortable, but very nice on long journeys,” says another driver. “Provided you have the Veloce seats, recognizable by the thick side bolsters.” The seats are also excellent for longer distances, according to the next Giulia Veloce driver. “The sports seats have extensive electrical adjustment and fit perfectly. After a drive to Geneva we get out refreshed.” An experience he shares with another long-distance rider. “The 3,500 kilometers to Italy went effortlessly,” he writes. “Going there in one day and returning in one day took no effort at all. And while in the past I, as a mild back patient, have often come out of a car broken after such a distance, this is no problem at all on the Veloce seats.”

A fifth rider only emphasizes what the previous four riders already said. “As mentioned, the seats are wonderful and fit me like a glove with plenty of lateral support. Especially because they can still be adjusted on all sides.” However, there is also room for improvement. “Because I am quite tall, I sit far back and I would like to pull the handlebars a little more towards me, but that is not possible.”

Maintenance, malfunctions and irritations

What is striking in the reviews is the references that several owners make to the brand image. A 2.0T driver starts with the problems. “After all, it wouldn’t be an Alfa Romeo if there were no problems!”, he writes mockingly. “Unfortunately for all the naysayers, there is nothing to report. Nothing.” Well, this is only after 13,000 kilometers of experience, but also in the longer term the Alfa Romeo Giulia appears to be quite reliable and well built. “The car is problem-free,” writes a satisfied driver after about 2.5 years. “A joy to drive. What is striking in a positive way is that the interior is in immaculate and squeak-free condition, even after 66,666 km.” A 2.2 JTD driver takes stock after a ton. “Over the entire distance of 100,000 km, the car really didn’t miss a beat. Not a crack or a squeak. A very underrated car in my opinion.”

Another diesel driver also has confidence in the product, which he purchased with a mileage of 180,000. “The previous owner never had anything in 180,000 kilometers, and neither did I in the other 21,000 kilometers. My goal is to drive the car towards 350,000, just like my previous ones, but that will take some years.” However, a little later there appears to be something to report. “I recently had a significant problem for the first time at 228,000 kilometers: the radiator was leaking and the car was also leaking coolant. Then two new radiators were added.”

The petrol models also appear to do their job well. The next owner reports one blemish on the reputation of his 2.0T: “Has nothing been disappointing in the relationship with Giulia in these 130,000 km? Honestly, she once let me down at 90,000 kilometers, a broken ignition coil.” That seems manageable to us. Saying goodbye is quite difficult for several (lease) drivers. “Enjoyed Giulia the last few days,” writes our 150 hp JTD driver. “I took some more pictures and it remains a beautiful car. Enjoyed him so much. No problems in these four years and more than 180,000 km. Not once have I been back to the garage for a rattle or defect.”

So it seems that this Alfa Romeo lives up to its name in everything, except in terms of reliability. A considerable boost for those in the market for one of the last real enthusiasts’ cars.