Part of the allure of buying a high-end car is exclusivity — you'll be driving something everyone else isn't. Take the Alfa Romeo Giulia. It's a spicy meatball. And if you haven't heard of it yet, well, that's part of the allure.
What It Is
The Giulia is a compact luxury-sport sedan made (with some help from Ferrari) by Alfa Romeo, Italian purveyor of la meccanica delle emozioni — "the mechanics of emotion."
It's in the same general class as high-end cars seen everywhere like the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C Class. But unlike them, the Alfa offers exotic Italian mystique. It also offers exotic Italian performance, especially if you opt for the top-of-the-line Quadrifoglio, which even sounds exotic, and when you start the Ferrari-sourced twin-turbo V-6, which pulls an almost-unreal 505 horsepower out of just 2.9 liters. That's enough to achieve a near-200-mph top speed and get to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds.
The base model Giulia is pretty eccellente, too. It comes standard with a bit less engine (2.0 liters, 280 horsepower, zero to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds and a mere 149-mph top speed) but the same undeniably exotic Italian bodywork and aura of exclusivity. It's also more accessible model, the rear-wheel-drive version costing $38,195 to start ($40,195 with all-wheel drive), whereas the Ferrari-in-drag Quadrifoglio starts at $73,700.
What's New
For 2018, all Giulia trims come standard with forward collision warning. The Quadrifoglio is available with a 900-watt 14-speaker Harmon Kardon premium audio system with a 12-channel amplifier and subwoofer.
What's Good
It's rare enough to be exotic but not necessarily exotically expensive.
Compared with the Mercedes C Class sedan, Audi A4 sedan and BMW 3 Series sedan, it has a stronger standard engine, gets to 60 mph quicker and is priced about the same.
The passion: This is the one you stare at the first time you see it and wonder what it'd be like to drive.
What's Not So Good
It's hard to find one. There aren't nearly as many Alfa Romeo stores as Audi, BMW and Benz stores.
The Quadrifoglio is exotically priced.
The U.S. Quadrifoglio is only automatic (in Europe, you can buy a manual).
Under the Hood
The Giulia's standard engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, and like the engines in rivals, it's turbocharged. It differs from rivals by being notably more powerful; it has 280 horsepower, whereas the BMW 3 Series' standard 2.0-liter engine has only 180 and the Audi A4's standard 2.0-liter only has 190. Both of those offer upgrades — to 248 and 252 horsepower, respectively. But the Afla's still got more pepperonis — and they don't cost extra.
You can choose either rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, but either way, an eight-speed automatic is the standard transmission.
If you want an upgrade, there's the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V-6 with an awe-inspiring 505 horsepower. So equipped, the Guilia is the fastest car in this class — in almost any class.
On the Road
Driving this car is an exotic experience — whether you're in the Quadrifoglio or the standard Giulia — because there's nothing like either on the road, except another Alfa, and you won't see many of those.
We live in jaded times, but this is a car people stop doing whatever they were doing to look at as you drive past.
Be aware that the 505-horsepower Quadrifoglio has rear-wheel drive. A torque-vectoring rear axle, Alfa DNA Pro Drive Mode with launch control and ultra-sticky Pirelli P Zero Corsa tires help keep things pointed straight ahead. But it's a much wilder — and, therefore, more exotic — experience than that of a similarly powerful all-wheel-drive car.
You can split the difference and get the midlevel Ti trim and Performance package, which includes an adaptive suspension, wheel/tire upgrades and a limited slip axle. You can get this version of the Giulia with all-wheel drive, which will be helpful on snow days.
At the Curb
The Giulia is also petite — just 182.6 inches long overall. It's smaller overall than the Audi A4 (186.1 inches) and Benz C-Class (184.5 inches), but it's got about the same interior space, especially front and rear legroom.
It's as strikingly exotic inside as it is outside, too.
The dash cantilevers forward and then sweeps off to the passenger side; the main gauges are hooded by three-quarter-moon housings. Dark-gray or light-oak trim can be selected for visual accent.
As much as you'll enjoy driving this one, just sitting in it is a treat.
The Rest
You can't have everything, and the one thing you can't have in this case is a manual transmission with the Quadrifoglio. But most buyers probably won't miss it, especially if they have to drive in stop-and-go traffic.
The Bottom Line
You may have to drive a bit farther to find an Alfa store in your area, but it's a trip well worth making!
Eric's new book, "Don't Get Taken for a Ride!" is available now. To find out more about Eric and read his past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
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