Class: Premium Compact Car
Miles driven: 262
Fuel used: 11.4 gallons
Real-world fuel economy: 23.0 mpg
Driving mix: 55% city, 45% highway
EPA-estimated fuel economy: 24/33/27 (city/highway/combined)
Base price: $39,995 (not including $995 destination charge)
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Comfort | B- |
| Power and Performance | B+ |
| Fit and Finish | B |
| Fuel Economy | B |
| Value | B- |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup. | |
| Big & Tall Comfort | |
| Big Guy | D |
| Tall Guy | B- |
| Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester. | |
Options on test vehicle: Special paint ($2200), Ti 19-inch Sport Package ($2250), Driver Assistance Static Package ($650), Driver Assist Dynamic Plus Package ($1500), Ti Performance Package ($1200), Dual-Pane Sunroof ($1350), navigation system ($950), Harman Kardon audio system ($900)
Price as tested: $51,990
Quick Hits
The great: Nimble, caffeinated driving personality; eager powertrain
The good: Distinctive styling inside and out
The not so good: Observed fuel economy below EPA numbers; control-interface quirks
More Giulia price and availability information
John Biel
The debut of the Alfa Romeo Giulia in 2017 had a lot of enthusiastic drivers drooling at the prospect of getting their hands on the Italian premium-compact sport sedan. The one that got all the attention (some of it bad, it turned out) was the 505-horsepower Quadrifoglio model, but with a price that started north of $70,000 it left quite a few would-be owners with their nose pressed enviously on the showroom-window glass.
Test Drive: 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio
In time, though, there were more affordable (read near-$40,000) base and Ti versions, and after a couple of rendezvous with Quadrifoglios, Consumer Guide® editors finally got to try a Ti—even if it was, at this late date, still a ’17 model. It’s not like there’s a world of difference between it and the 2018 model anyway; the starting price of the current rear-wheel-drive Ti is $40,195, a $200 bump from the first-year job.
Non-Quadrifoglio Giulias have a different driving nature than their high-priced sibling. That’s to be expected when you swap a 505-hp 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6 with Ferrari genes for a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder with 280 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. The change in go-power is the extremely obvious difference, and there are others, but there are some elements that make a “lesser” Giulia an eminently worthy sport sedan.
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When the time comes to get moving in a hurry, turbo lag will beg the briefest moment of your time before the energetic four hits its stride, building speed quickly and smoothly. It provides good power for merging or highway cruising, with a warm but not overpowering exhaust note. The standard 8-speed automatic transmission kicks down promptly for assured passing, and quick-acting shifter paddles mounted on the steering wheel are optionally available for folks who like to take matters in their own hands.
As expected, 4-cylinder Giulias are kinder with a gallon of gas than a Quadrifoglio. This driver averaged 24.2 mpg with the Ti after a stint of 185 miles that included 40 percent city-style operation. That may not seem too bad for a performance-oriented car, but the EPA thinks it can do better. Its mileage estimates for this powerteam are 24 mpg in city driving, 33 mpg on the highway, and 27 mpg combined. A fairly unobtrusive top/start in pursuit of fuel savings is standard, and the “Advanced Efficiency” setting on the DNA drive-mode selector enables gas-conserving cylinder deactivation.
Any Giulia has handling and braking sure to delight enthusiastic drivers. Steering is crisp and precise, and there’s a highly balanced feel when hurrying up an expressway ramp or making a lane change. If this reviewer found one thing he didn’t like as much about the Ti’s driving dynamics it was an odd rolling motion in the ride, a feeling of going to the side, up, and around when passing over pavement undulations or bumps on the highway. This was particularly noticeable in the DNA “Natural” setting in which he did most of his driving. (Damping changes with the different DNA settings.)
On the inside, overall layout and space are the same from one Giulia to the next, but there are some key differences in detail. Where the Quadrifoglio featured Alcantara seat inserts, colorful contrast stitching, and carbon-fiber accents, the tested Ti had black-leather upholstery and extra-cost aluminum interior highlights in place of the standard wood trim. Also, the Ti has a folding rear seat in place of the Quad’s fixed-position seat. With a 40/20/40 divide, the center section can serve as a pass-through for long items. The seats fold flat with the trunk floor, but a bulkhead behind the seats narrows the threshold between the trunk and seating area, which will restrict loading of some items.
Interior space isn’t bad for a compact, with enough rear-seat room to reliably accommodate a sub-6-foot adult–if the front seats are set too far back. Rear door openings are somewhat small and complicate exits, though. Driving gauges show up well, and the steering-wheel-mounted starter button is within easy reach of the driver’s left thumb for quick starts. Rotary dials govern temperature and fan speed for the dual-zone automatic climate control, with buttons for other functions dispersed between the dials. Unfortunately, the Giulia is beset by a hypercomplicated infotainment system that makes working with the audio or optional navigation system a matter of abject frustration.
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The Alfa sedan’s trunk capacity is commensurate with cars of its size class—and that is not overly abundant. Cabin storage starts with a nicely sized glove box, smallish covered console box, and a pull-out dash bin to the left of the steering column. There are twin covered cup holders ahead of the shifter, two more cup holders in the central rear armrest, pockets in all four doors (very small in back), and net pouches on the backs of the front seats.
If the 2017 Giulia Ti was short of anything, it was certain standard tech features. Extra spending was necessary to get things like blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-departure warning, and automatic headlight high-beam control. Indeed, an extensive roster of packages and individual options pushed the delivered price of the test car to a sobering $51,990.
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