Alfa Romeo Giulia. A model that breathed new life into the Italian brand

Alfa Romeo produced the Giulia from the 1960s until approximately the end of the 1970s. It returned to the market only in 2016 as the successor to the Alfa Romeo 159. The Giulia is a competitor to cars like the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class. However, he does not compete with anyone, but rather sticks to his own way. There is no shortage of fans of the brand.

Giulia is the model that started the plan to get Alfa Romeo out of the crisis. The Fiat group had high hopes for it even before its merger with PSA. Investments in the brand were then estimated at 5 billion euros. The people responsible for Maserati Cattroporte and Ferrari were involved in the work on the Giulia. It paid off.

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Perhaps this is why Alfa Romeo sees no reason to introduce more fundamental changes to the Giulia model. This is still the first generation, which has already had two facelifts – the latest of which was last year. Despite the passage of time, it is still so “modern” that it did not need radical changes.

So what has the latest facelift brought? First of all, the matrix LED headlights. Inside, there is a digital cockpit (12.3 inches) and a new multimedia screen. If there are any other changes, you should look for them with a magnifying glass. Not much has changed, but what has been improved has already brought improvement and especially the new ones are worth the extra headlights.

The body is approximately 464 cm long, 186 cm wide and 144 cm high. In addition, there is a reduced ground clearance of 13 cm and a wheelbase of 163 cm. The hood is long and clearly drooping, while the back is short. The Alfa Romeo Giulia is a very visually attractive sedan. You can look at it as a representative car full of elegance and as a competitor with a sporty temperament.

Although from the outside you may wonder about the proportion between elegance and sportiness, the latter aspect certainly dominates on the inside. You sit low behind the wheel, and the entire cockpit is designed to “hug” the driver. Digital clocks are clear and you can choose from several views, including those that resemble analogue clocks. Everything is within reach. The multimedia and navigation interface takes some getting used to and isn't top-notch, so I preferred to switch to Apple CarPlay.

Although the front seats can't be faulted, it seems the designers were less concerned with the rear passengers. There's not a lot of legroom for two adults, and the middle and fifth seat is basically a fantasy. The space above the head is taken up by the clearly sloping roofline and the sunroof. The back seat is much better for a jacket or backpack.

The trunk capacity is 480 litres. It's quite large, but – as in the sedan – it's a little complicated by the access hatch. Will fit large purchases or vacation bags. Larger items? You'll have to fiddle with the back seat and fold it, for example.

Under the hood is a 2-liter gasoline engine with four cylinders, generating power of up to 280 horsepower and 400 Newton meters of torque. Plus, a 4×4 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The top speed is 240 km/h, and acceleration to 100 km/h takes 5.2 seconds.

The fuel tank holds 58 liters of gasoline. Average fuel consumption in the combined cycle is 7.1 l/100 km. This is a very relative value. If we handle the Alfa Romeo Giulia with a heavy foot or it tortures us in city traffic jams, it will consume 12-13 liters of fuel. On the road outside the city, fuel consumption can reach 6 l/100 km, although you need to show some restraint. That's not why you should buy an Alfa Romeo in Competizione trim…

The Alfa Romeo Giulia certainly has its own character. It's not just about its exterior features or interior details, it's also about how it drives and behaves on the road. I've already praised the cockpit, so it's time to mention the very comfortable sports seats and the ability to get into a position that gives you a good feel for the car and the road. The Alfa Romeo Giulia encourages you to have fun and test its capabilities at almost every step.

However, the unit tested is not the “crazy” largest in this model range. The most powerful versions of the engine deliver up to 520 hp and 600 Nm of torque. We have here – as a reminder – “only” 280 hp and 400 Nm. While we can count on maximum power above 5000 rpm, maximum torque is available above 2250 rpm. That's why the Giulia Competizione version accelerates in 5.2 seconds.

However, all this is enough for very good driving dynamics and “moments” that give a little more driving pleasure. This applies when accelerating or overtaking, as well as when driving on winding roads, when the Giulia confidently holds the road and turns like a chain.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia sure doesn't like potholes. Ground clearance is low, the suspension is quite stiff, and plus there are attractive 19-inch aluminum tires – all of which is not a good combination for bumps and ruts.

Today's Giulia model configuration starts at PLN 232,000. Total 400 PLN. The most expensive Tributo model starts at PLN 274,000. 800 Polish zloty. The tested version in the Competizione variant was valued at no less than PLN 294,000. 400 Polish zloty