The Joy of Giulia

After what seems like forever, the all-new Giulia has landed in the UK. No question, this is Alfa’s most significant car in a generation – but how well does it perform on British roads? 

- Chris Rees

It’s time. Exiting the driveway of a hotel in the Cotswolds, I’m about to find out whether the Giulia has what it takes to usher in a new golden era for Alfa Romeo, or whether it’s a case of ‘close but no cigar’.

Alfa Romeo really needs to impress the sort of owner-drivers who are currently happy with their Audis, Mercs, BMWs and Jags. If it impresses them, the Giulia will fly. (And by the way, Alfa calculates that 80 per cent of Giulia customers will be new to the brand.) Well, having driven all the Giulia’s main rivals, and having tested most of the Giulia line-up on UK roads, I can confidently say that it does have what it takes.

So here I am on that Cotswolds driveway. I’m holding the steering wheel of the Giulia Quadrifoglio and I’ve started out with the DNA drive-mode controller in its gentlest ‘A’ setting. Yet as I accelerate out of the T-junction, the rear tyres scrabble and the tail starts to wag. Hello! If this is what it’s like in ‘A’ mode, what’s it going to be like with the dial in Normal, Dynamic and Race modes?

The roads around here are twisty A- and B-roads, where the Giulia feels perfectly at home. The first thing I notice is just how fast-acting the steering is. With just 2.2 turns between locks, it’s actually the fastest in its class; some drivers might find it too nervous but you very soon get used to it. The steering is electric and has what Alfa calls a “semi-virtual steering axis” that basically keeps the caster constant in corners – and it really works. The feel is sharp, consistent and offers a whole lot more feedback than most electric systems.