The cynical might suggest that it wouldn’t be an Italian car if it wasn’t temperamental or quirky, and our topsy-turvy relationship with an Alfa Giulietta long-term test car doesn’t entirely quell this perception.
Fortunately most of our experience has been positive and cements Alfa’s growing reputation for producing solid, good-quality and above all fun-to-drive cars. But there have been niggling suspension issues that have tainted an otherwise very likeable car. For the most part the springy stuff under the chassis does a capable job, guiding the Giulietta nimbly through corners and ensuring a comfy ride. But when presented with something more challenging like a speed hump or multi-level parkade, the suspension has tended to prematurely bottom-out, and has also made a creaking noise.
There’s nothing to be done about the shock absorbers knocking against their bump stops when the car’s descending a multi-storey parkade, unfortunately. It’s simply a design issue in which the dampers are set quite soft with insufficient travel. However, the reason for the creaking noise which occurred when the suspension was under stress turned out to be a quality control issue. It’s not an especially loud creak, but just not something you expect in a brand-new car. Alfa diagnosed it as a rubber on the suspension stabiliser bar that was incorrectly assembled, and they assure us this is an isolated incident, but we’d like to hear from readers who may have experienced the same thing (email us at [email protected]).
Apart from the suspension grumbles, I’ve enjoyed driving the Giulietta over the last few months. The Italian brand’s made good strides in improving the perceived quality of its cars, especially in the cabin which is a classy environment mixed in with the requisite Italian styling flair. In terms of its fit and finish it’s right up there with cars like the VW Golf and Ford Focus. Wind and road noise are also well supressed and the Italian car’s overall build feels solid, with no cabin rattles.
The exterior styling’s sporty but with a more play-it-safe design than the contentious round-eyed Alfa Mito. Practicality-wise the Giulietta offers acceptable if not class-leading passenger room, while the compact boot is big enough for a few tog bags if not an entire family’s holiday luggage.
A height- and reach-adjustable steering and multi-adjustable seat ensure there’s a driving position to suit any physique, though an ergonomic boo-boo (or Italian quirkiness, your choice) is that the seat backrest adjusters are positioned directly under the seatbelt buckle making them difficult to access.
Giulietta sells in three petrol versions (88kW, 125kW and 173kW) and we believe the pick of the bunch is this 1.4 TB Distinctive selling for R284 230, as it strikes a good balance between performance, price and fuel economy. Though the MultiAir engine’s small in size, a turbocharger hikes power to a respectable 125kW and 250Nm which makes it pull willingly through the gears. This is attested to by its decent 218km/h top speed and 9.1 second 0-100km/h sprint as tested by us at Joburg altitude.
Alfa’s Q2 “active” differential contributes to the Giulietta’s fleet-footed handling which makes the car such an entertaining drive. When the inside wheel starts losing traction in a corner, torque is partially transferred to the outside wheel, producing less understeer and increased cornering speed.
The safety factor’s provided by ABS brakes and traction control, along with no less than six airbags – the Giulietta’s one of the safest compacts ever to be crash tested by the stringent EuroNCAP.
Alfa’s DNA system allows you to choose between Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather settings which affect throttle response, steering, and traction-control intervention. Also standard is a hill-holder which prevents the car rolling back when pulling off up an incline.
In a bid to save fuel an idle stop-start system switches off the engine when the car stops, but in our test car it worked intermittently which contributed to a worse-than-expected petrol consumption of 8.6 litres per 100km.
Gadgets and luxuries are fairly plentiful in the Giulietta 1.4 TB Distinctive and include dual-zone automatic climate control, leather steering wheel with radio controls, trip computer, audio system with USB port, front armrest with storage compartment, fog lights, and 17-inch alloys, among others.
A new option offered in Giuliettas is portable TomTom navigation that integrates neatly, plugging into the top of the dash without any dangling wires. Besides the advantage of synching with the Alfa’s Blue&Me connectivity system, it also costs less than half of a normal factory-fitted system.
VERDICT:
Suspension niggles aside, the Giulietta acquits itself well in a highly-competitive market segment and offers a dash of refreshing Italian style, and it’s just been chosen as a worthy finalist for SA’s 2012 Car of the Year competition.
Alfa offers all Giulietta derivatives with an impressive five-year/150 000km warranty, three-year roadside assistance and six-year/90 000km service plan. -Drive Times