FIRST DRIVE ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA:Alfa's latest offering is attractive, energetic and fun – a tempting hatchback partner, writes MICHAEL McALEER, Motoring editor
PERHAPS THE greatest accolade for Alfa Romeo on its centenary is that the brand is still on the road and boasts a devoted fan base that must be the envy of many religious sects.
Anyone with even a passing interest in cars has an Alfa tale, or at least one they’ve inherited from a friend. Unfortunately for the Italians, most of them are not paeans to the brand. That’s hardly surprising as Alfa’s history features models that were jaw-droppingly gorgeous peppered with cars with reliability records that would embarrass a cut-and-shut backstreet mechanic.
You’re never quite sure what you’re going to encounter when Alfa launches a new car. In the words of George W Bush: “fool me once, shame on – shame on you. Fool me – you can’t get fooled again.” Even George W would have had qualms about Alfa after all the tales of woe and poor resale values on models like the 156.
Yet even the most ardent Alfa detractor couldn’t resist their advances when the 8C Competizione supercar arrived.
Another new age for Alfa was acclaimed. It was quickly followed by the Mito, a small car so cute you wanted to pinch it.
Alfa is hoping to stoke the flames of the latest love affair with the new Giulietta and even in the ultra-rational hatchback market, some hearts will flutter.
It’s appropriate therefore that the Giulietta name returns, for it was an earlier model with this moniker that gave Alfa engineers their second flush of life in the early 1950s.
It harks back to the world championship victories by the legendary Jaun Fangio in 1950 and 1951, heralding a production version of his winning car that arguably created the modern Alfa.
Regardless of how fond you are of the VW Golf or the Ford Focus, even the most loyal owners would find it hard to remember a time when anyone gave their car a second glance. “New” in hatchback terms often refers to a redesigned ashtray and light cluster.
For all that, even conservative hatchback buyers were getting bored with the 147.
The Giulietta is perhaps a little more traditional in format than the Mito, but it’s still far more appealing than any of its counterparts, something brought home by the number of times it attracted a crowd when parked on the street or when we pulled up in traffic.
Alfa executives claim this car is a serious match for the VW Golf. It’s a brave boast, for the Golf has become an icon for hatchback motoring, the one against which – rightly or wrongly – all others are judged.
In terms of spaciousness, Alfa has delivered. The boot and rear seat space have the match of big-selling rivals, while the looks far exceed their mundane exteriors.
Aside from its design appeal, the Giulietta features an entirely new platform for Alfa, one set to feature in several future models. It comprises and a new front and rear suspension, new electric power steering system, all housed on a new structure that claims to be much more rigid but also 4kg lighter.
The end result is a lot more driving flair, harking back to the days when Alfas offered affordable cars that put a smile on your face.
The Giulietta’s most admirable trait is its handling: its steering is pin-point accurate, while its cornering agility is up there amongst the best in the hatchback class. Even when you pitch it a little hard into corners, the car’s balance comes close to rivalling the benchmark in this segment, Ford’s nimble Focus.
The beauty of the Giulietta is the fact that from behind the wheel it feels like a much smaller, shorter package. Alfa has really delivered in terms of chassis dynamics and it’s only when you cast an eye in the rearview mirror that you realise it’s a spacious package capable of taking three strapping adults in the back.
We tested the 170bhp 2-litre diesel version, which offers meaty levels of torque when combined with Alfa’s DNA system to give the car real menace and plenty of punch, courtesy of the dynamic system that sharpens the handling even further and makes the throttle ultra-sensitive.
The only obvious downside we recorded over 500kms of driving was the rather intrusive tyre rumble on motorways and a start/stop system designed to save fuel that didn’t spark into life as quick as we would have liked when pulling away from traffic lights. In the end we turned the system off.
Engine noise is also not as refined as Alfa would have us believe, but in its entirety this 2-litre diesel block is commendable.
On a more positive note, inside the car, the switchgear and finish has made a monumental leap forward in terms of its premium feel and the car seems remarkably well-appointed for a well-priced Italian hatchback.
While prices start at €19,995, buyers would be advised to spend an extra €2,000 or so and opt for the Lusso version, which comes with an array of features better-suited to the smart exterior.
The elephant in the room remains the question of residuals and reliability. Neither can really be addressed with confidence at this stage, aside from taking account of the constant mantra of the firm that things have radically improved in theses areas over the last decade. Time will tell. For now, we have a car that’s more alluring than any of its rivals, fun to drive, and enthusiastic to boot.
Factfile
Alfa Romeo Giulietta
Petrol: 1.4-litre 120bhp; 1.4-litre Multiair 170bhp; 1.75-litre 235bhp Cloverleaf version
Diesel: 1.6-litre 105bhp; 2-litre 170bhp
Prices: Start at €19,995 for 1.4-litre 120bhp petrol Turismo and €21,995 for 1.6-litre diesel Turismo version.