Alfa Romeo

I bought a second hand MY22 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce sedan (colour Misano Blue) in May 2025 with about 15K kms on the odometer. It was first… Read more

registered in 2023. I’ve been looking to get one ever since the Giulia was launched. I think it is one of the most attractive mid-size sedans on the market. I don’t like SUVs or those types of vehicles, still preferring a coupe or a four-door sedan. One came up at a dealer just around the corner from where I live so I checked it out and ended up buying it.

So, some eight months later, what is it like? Okay, in all fairness, I am an Alfa Romeo fan. I also own a 2010 159 TBi Ti which I’ve also written a review on then I purchased that vehicle back in 2013. I’ve been happy with that car.

The best way to describe the Giulia is to compare it to probably it’s biggest competitor, the BMW 320i M Sport. Just so happens I had a 2022 model as a hire car for a few days in the UK in 2024 so I could compare the two.

The BMW was very nice, easy to drive safe and swift. However, three things put me off. First were the hard seats, for me anyway. The second was the digital instruments which are fine but not to my liking preferring the older analogue instruments. The third was the Lane Assist function which I found terrible. It was like driving a bus as the steering was so heavy. Took us a few hours on the website to find out how to disconnect it which then made the car more pleasant.

In comparison, the Giulia is much better in all those areas. Probably the only thing the BMW does better is it is somewhat smoother, the Giulia, at least mine being a bit less smooth when cold but then is as smooth as silk. The handling is it’s highlighting feature followed by the performance and comfort. Considering the model was launched around 2016/2017, I think it is still class leading in those areas. As footnote, I hired a 2010 BMW 320D sedan back then in Sicily while on holidays and that was a much better car than the current BMWs in my opinion.

The interior has been gradually improved from the early models and have the right level of quality and feel. I had it serviced just after buying it as it was due and there were no issues. Not had any major issues. Keep in mind that almost all these types/class of cars, especially compared to the German cars basically use the similar electronics and components like brakes, transmissions etc. The only real issue to watch out for is the battery as that is the most likely component that will eventually fail. Mine was okay but the Stop Start function (which I rarely use anyway) was not functioning. There was no fault code picked up at the service but it is a sign the battery isn’t where it should be for full performance. So, I connected it up to my C-Tek trickle charger for a couple of days and now the Stop Start works. I know a lot is said about the Infotainment system and yes, perhaps not up there with the current offerings but I bought the car to drive and enjoy it, not watch television. The radio is very good; it has Apple Car Play so that’s all I am interested in.

In summary, overall, I am very happy with my Giulia. It stands out from the crowd and is something different. Two of my neighbours both have black BMW sedans so that says it all, just being with the crowd, hardly being special, is it? And finally, don't worry about reliability, my 159 has never let me down, this one will be no different if it's looked after correctly.

5 stars for the great car...less so for Alfa after sales service – I've owned my diesel Stelvio for almost 3 years now and 40,000km. It hasn't skipped a beat in terms of reliability or performance. It is an absolute… Read more

blast to drive on country roads, including excellent handling on rough gravel via the Q4 AWD system. Manoeuvrability in urban settings is typical for a car of its size ,though at the end of the day this car just wants to be let out of the gate on a twisty stretch of road. I love the stylish, understated and well put together interior and the simplicity of the infotainment system. German rivals have a lot more tech bells and whistles which many buyers like and look for in a vehicle, but the Alfa is much more about driving dynamics and performance. Call me old school, but having actual knobs for aircon, volume control, etc is definitely much safer and more user friendly than having to dig around in a touch screen for basic functions. I drive a lot of rental cars on work trips and it is always a sheer joy to get back behind the wheel of my Stelvio. My only minor quibble isn't with the car but with Alfa Romeo's after sales support. I've decided to get my car serviced at my local Euro specialist after a sub-par experience at a dealership.