_Flabbergasted LF

Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Italia

Let’s begin with an ending, let’s begin with the verdict.

The Alfa Romeo Giulietta is, possibly, the most complete car you can buy today. An ideal all-rounder. You see, there’s just nothing missing. We’ve driven both the Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf), the top of the range model, and the 2-litre diesel.

Let’s start with the latter. Francesca, our personal singer, loved it. The Giulietta (940) has been with us since 2009 and I should state from the outset, with the best will in the world, it’s not as good as the Golf. Sorry, it just isn’t. And I’m completely unbiased since I’m Italian. It’s not as fast and not as well-made, it’s less efficient and, unlike the Golf, will depreciate quickly. The white model you see here has a 2-litre 170 HP turbo diesel engine that takes it from 0 to 60 in 8 seconds, and it will keep on going until it reaches its top speed of 218 km/h. Not slow, but not very fast either.

There’s something about it, though. The diesel Giulietta is expansive, yes with an “a”. Amazingly, though, it’s not its steering or its suspensions. This car is communicative, it’s the car itself. It says something to you. It tells you there’s more to driving. It’s a postulate of tranquillity over the everyday worries, an anthem to beauty and yes, you all knew it would come down to this, soul. With most cars, you can feel when they’re trying to pretend. This isn’t. the Alfa Giulietta well, there’s no other way to say this, doesn’t really give a s**t. It’s a happy car.

And what about the Cloverleaf, the Quadrifoglio Verde? We drove it around Balocco, in Italy, and it felt a bit heavy and unrefined. Fast, but not agile. It has 240 HP but drives and feels like it’s less powerful than that. I doubt it’s going to earn any records when it comes to lap times, but it is, especially in Alfa 8C red (which Alfa calls Rosso Competizione) with black wheels, very attractive. This brings me on neatly to the conclusion, the verdict, back to the beginning.

It’s nice to drive and looks great. One of the most complete cars you can buy these days. And when you consider that the base model starts (at least in Italy) at around 19,000 €, it’s a bargain, too. There’s a lot more that I should say, I guess, about the Giulietta. For once, I won’t bother and just look at the pictures.

Quintessentialy Alfa. Quintessentially Italian.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Italia

Words & pics: @PrinceAle

Photos taken on location in Volterra, Italy

Model: Francesca Torfinici

Special thanks to The Inn Trattoria, Volterra