The premium compact segment has been dominated by the Germans with the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class taking podium position. A new entrant to the highly competitive class is the Alfa Romeo Giulia, and if you fancy having one parked up your driveway, you’d be looking at signing a cheque for AED 165,000.
| Key Features: | |
| Engine | 2.0 / 4-cylinder |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Power | 200 Hp / 330 Nm |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h |
| Price | AED 165,000 |
Exterior
Undoubtedly more exciting than its German rivals, the exterior design of the Alfa Romeo Giulia is provocative. Nothing short of aesthetic perfection, the Giulia is the Claudia Schiffer of the automotive industry. Its lengthy hood, plunging V grille and narrow headlamps are all bound to turn heads, as are its yellow brake calipers and 18-inch alloys.
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Interior
Plush in the way one would expect an Alfa Romeo to be, the cabin of the all-new Giulia is home to plenty of soft touch materials, supple leather and real wood inserts. The Italian sedan exudes its sporting pedigree with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, Ferrari-style push button starter, and phenomenal aluminum column mounted shifters which make driving that much more enjoyable.
Features
For AED 165,000, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is packed with plenty of kit. With a voice command system, lane keeping assist, pedestrian detection, cruise control, and a 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, to name a few, it’s fabulous. Although, I do question why neither rear sensors nor a reverse camera made their way onto the extensive spec sheet.
Drive
As a brand, Alfa Romeo is synonymous with passion and engineering that makes enthusiasts weak in the knees. Despite just 200 horsepower and 330 Nm of torque being generated from its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, the Giulia is peppy and a hoot to drive both at low and high speeds due to its phenomenal chassis set-up.
Being the lightest in its class (thanks to a carbon fiber prop shaft and plenty of aluminum components) the Giulia has a definitive edge over its rivals, one that is made even more evident with adaptive suspension, three drive modes (Dynamic, Natural, Advanced Efficiency) and a remarkably precise steering that responds to the smallest of adjustments.
For a car that’s obsessed with keeping weight to a minimum, the Giulia is also equipped with a segment-first Brake by Wire system that eliminates any mechanical connection between the brake pedal and the brake calipers. Replaced by a digital sensor, this system not only reduces braking distances significantly but improves pedal feel while saving a whopping 4 kilograms over a traditional vacuum servo.
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Verdict
The Alfa Romeo Giulia is no ordinary contender in the segment it competes in. It is a car that deserves to be celebrated, if not for its design then for the fact that it is the first rear-wheel- drive Alfa in 25 years. Taking the best of its German rivals and simply making it better, the Giulia is a car I’d urge you all to experience, for it certainly could give the Ultimate Driving Machine a run for its money.
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