It might be getting on now, but when the Alfa Romeo Giulia was developed under the late Sergio Marchionne’s stewardship at FCA, there was a no compromise approach to creating the best driver’s car in its class.
Thankfully, it seems the punters agree, with sales up by 62.2 per cent to the end of June 2024 (VFACTS), with 133 examples finding homes in Australia so far this year.
Our red test car shows how well the design has aged with seductive LED lights, amazing 19-inch cookie-cutter alloys shod with Pirelli P Zero tyres and an overall understated elegance that exudes sex appeal.
Expecting to encounter a dated and aging product, we came away besotted with the Veloce. But there are definitely a few minor caveats to consider, as we’ll divulge below.
2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce: Specifications
Engine: 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder
Output: 206kW@5250rpm / 400Nm@2250rpm
Gearbox: Eight-speed auto
Drive type: Rear-wheel drive
Wheels: F: 19×8.0, 225/40, R: 19×9.0, 255/35
ANCAP: Five stars (in 2017)
Tare weight: 1409kg
Power-to-weight: 6.83:1 (kg:kW)
Official consumption: 6.1L/100km
Our consumption: 8.0L/100km
Fuel tank/Fuel type: 58L/95 RONPower efficiency: 33.77kW:L/100km
0-60km/h: 3.04 seconds*
0-100km/h: 5.76 seconds*
60-110km/h: 3.66 seconds*
1/4 mile: 13.98 seconds at 166.3km/h*
Max acceleration: 0.717g*
100-0km/h braking: 37.70m in 2.95 seconds*
Max deceleration: -1.208g*
Decibel at idle: 46*
Peak decibel at 60-100km/h: 86*
Starting price: $76,450
*Figures as tested by Driving Enthusiast on the day. Manufacturers’ claims may be different
2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce: How much does it cost?
At $76,450 before on-road costs, the Veloce is the second-tier in the range and compares favourably to its similarly-specced rivals; the Audi A4 45 TFSI, BMW 330i, Mercedes-Benz C 300.
It’s covered by a five-year/ unlimited kilometre warranty as well as roadside assistance. How reliable is the 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia? Reliability is said to have improved since early examples from the last decade, with higher customer satisfaction reported on global surveys such as JD Power (score of 77 in recent study).
Furthermore, servicing ranges from $370 to $1090, depending on which of the 1 year/15,000km intervals, for a total cost of $2990 over five years.
Fuel consumption is rated at 6.1L/100km. With a median national fuel price (at time of writing) at $2.24/L for premium 95, it would cost $129.92 to fill the 58-litre tank. Our efforts returned a still respectable 8.0L/100km result with mixed driving.
2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce: Interior & packaging
Open the curvaceous doors and you’re greeted with an interior of real beauty. High quality materials abound with the stitched leather dashtop, aluminium inserts and arguably the nicest seats in its class. The pews alone are a work of art, with adjustable bolsters, a beautiful, pleated leather pattern and a greater range of adjustment than even BMW, with extendable thigh support.
A 12.3-inch TFT infotainment screen incorporates (tethered) Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with integrated navigation and a HMI click wheel behind the gear selector. This is one area where it lags behind Genesis, BMW and Mercedes-Benz for crispness and graphics quality, but the 14-speaker Harman Kardon audio system it commands is flawless, no matter how many bpm you throw at it.
Some surfaces, such as where the instrument cluster meets the centre touch-screen are a bit flimsy, however.
It is very easy to find a comfortable driving position, with the thin-rimmed, large diameter steering wheel adjusting for reach and rake. The power on/off switch on the steering wheel adds to a sense of occasion as well.
Measuring 4643mm in length, 1860mm in width, and 1436mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2820mm, the Giulia Veloce offers a spacious cabin for front occupants. However, rear seat space is somewhat compromised compared with other mid-size sedans over $60,000, making it less accommodating for taller passengers. The central transmission tunnel seems particularly intrusive, contributing to this. Boot space is 480 litres with the rear seats up, yielding more when they are folded down.
How safe is the 2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia? While it received five stars in 2017, that test expired in December 2022. You can read that report here.
Rolling changes since then have seen the inclusion of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as: AEB, forward collision alert, attention monitor, highway and traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot assistance with rear cross-traffic alert. There is only a rear camera but it has guidelines and sensors for front and rear.
During our time with the car, we found the engagement of these features to be unobtrusive, with pleasing chimes rather than some of the annoying and counter-intuitive systems in a lot of new cars on the market today.
2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce: Powertrain & handling
This is where the real strength of the Giulia Veloce lies. Sporting a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which produces 206kW of power, and 400Nm of torque (from as low as 2250rpm) it is always responsive, never feels caught off guard and properly rapid, with a lovely whistle from the turbo.
Switching the ‘DNA’ switch to Dynamic unleashes an angrier animal, beckoning you to play with the fixed, cold-to-the-touch aluminium paddles, which faithfully hold the gears you ask it to. We clocked 0-100km/h in 5.7xx seconds with a Vbox and a private road, matching Alfa’s claim of 5.7.
At 1409kg, it is a light car for its class and this day-and-age, with quicker steering than rivals offering more precision than a lot of new BMW models, without any trade-off in hypersensitivity. It commands a chassis that can still truly hold its own, unperturbed by mid-corner bumps, sudden changes in direction and even offers some tail-out action thanks to the Q2 self-locking rear diff.
The suspension setup might be a tad softer than a harder-edged BMW 330i M Sport, but there’s very little in it. A truly accomplished grand tourer on freeways, the Giulia is superbly insulated from tyre, wind and outside noise at all times, remaining compliant in all conditions.
There’s no shortage of choice in the ‘medium over $60,000’ segment and many customers default to the German triumvirate of Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz, let alone the now dominant Tesla Model 3 electric car. We’d strongly encourage you to give the Giulia a look, as it offers a lot of performance for the money and a genuinely premium experience, as long as your priorities aren’t cutting-edge infotainment, rear seat room, or long-term reliability history.
A replacement is said to be in the works, probably using the new STLA Large platform underpinning the 2025 Dodge Charger, and future Maserati vehicles. We hope Alfa Romeo keeps prioritising driving pedigree with Giulia’s successor, rather than badge and aesthetic appeal that saw it offer some uninspiring products in the 1980s and 1990s.
2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce: Key attractions/reasons to buy
- Impressive performance: The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and agile handling make the Giulia Veloce a thrill to drive.
- Handling: The suspension is both absorbent and comfortable yet it smashes around corners like a hardcore model.
- Luxurious interior: High-quality materials and thoughtful design elements create a premium cabin environment.
- Comprehensive safety features that aren’t intrusive: The latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are not over the top, which is refreshing to see in this market.
2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce: Key considerations before you buy
- Cramped rear seats: Less rear seat space compared to some rivals may be a drawback for those who frequently carry five occupants.
- Dated infotainment system: The infotainment system lags behind competitors in terms of responsiveness and features.
- Minor quality issues: Some interior elements, like the instrument cluster binnacle, feel flimsy and out of place in a luxury sedan.
2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce: Video
How does it rate against its rivals?
- Price
- Quality look & feel
- Interior tech
- Powertrain performance
- Ride & handling
- X factor (does it stand out in its class?)
Final word
It might be getting on a bit but as a driver’s sedan, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is one of the all-time greats. The 2.0T powertrain is sporty and responsive, and sounds good, and the performance is near the front of the class. And then add the appeal of the seductive design, it is hard not to love it.
