No matter what’s under its hood, the 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia is a fun sports sedan.
On our scale, it earns accolades for its sharp steering, its strong engines, and its composed handling. That puts it at an 8 out of 10—and the Giulia Quadrifoglio would rate even higher. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
Base Giulia and Giulia Ti trims use a 280-hp turbo-4 that shuttles power to the rear wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is optional.
The Giulia’s base engine is quiet, smooth, and plenty powerful. Response from any speed is quick, although it’s not quite as refined as the BMW’s turbo-4. The engine mates well to its transmission, which features paddle shifters for sportier driving.
The Giulia’s standard suspension is firm but not punishing, and the relatively tall sidewalls on its standard 17-inch alloy wheels are a good match for pockmarked roads. Live where the pavement is glassy smooth and we’d recommend opting for the available 18- or 19-inch wheels. No matter the roads near you, the optional adaptive dampers are worthwhile—they’re softer than the standard setup in normal mode but tighten up nicely for more spirited driving.
A thick-rimmed steering wheel hints at the Giulia’s sporting intentions immediately. It’s a delight to hold and even more fun to operate. Unlike its rivals, the Giulia filters out little—its steering makes for a tactile, entertaining experience, even if it can feel a little too quick for comfortable highway cruising.
A control knob with Dynamic, Natural, and Advanced Efficiency—DNA, get it?—modes changes the Giulia’s throttle, transmission, and steering responses. Opt for the adaptive suspension that’s paired with a limited-slip rear differential and Dynamic mode dials in a tighter, but not too harsh feel.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio performance
Opt for the Giulia Quadrifoglio and Alfa discards its base engine in favor of a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 rated at 505 horsepower paired to a modified version of the 8-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive. Alfa brags that the strong V-6 is Ferrari-derived, and it shows. It’s a screamer of a powertrain, eagerly revving toward its 6,500-rpm redline. All 443 pound-feet of torque comes on at a relatively low 2,500 rpm, but the V-6 begs to be pushed hard. The automatic fires off quick, firm shifts in Dynamic and Quad-exclusive Race modes.
The Giulia Quad’s steering is even quicker than the standard model’s, which seems hard to believe until they’re driven back to back. Underneath, the Quad rides on its own version of the adaptive dampers, but it’s still remarkably plush around town in Natural mode and race-car tight when switched into Dynamic or Race mode.
Pushed hard, the Giulia Quadrifoglio has a balanced, neutral feel aided by its sticky 19-inch performance tires. It’s not hard to kick its tail end out with liberal throttle application, but overall it’s a controlled, predictable car that rotates precisely through corners.
The Quad’s standard Brembo brakes are plenty strong and resist fade well. For $8,000, Alfa will fit its flagship sedan with carbon-ceramic Brembo brakes that stop things with authority but get balky in stop-and-go traffic.
Review continues below
0 Kommentarer