Alfa Romeo Giulietta

A name with history

The Giulietta name goes back to the 1954 Giulietta, one of Alfa Romeo's most loved small cars, and the 2010 model was named in its honour for the brand's 100th anniversary. It replaced the 147 and sat between the MiTo supermini and the larger Alfa saloons. It came second in the 2011 European Car of the Year contest, and its MultiAir engine was named best new engine at the 2010 International Engine of the Year awards. The brand's story is told in the history of Alfa Romeo, and its range is in the Alfa Romeo catalogue.

Giulietta styling

The Giulietta keeps Alfa's shield grille between low air intakes, with slim headlights and a bonnet with two creases. The body has a coupé-like profile with a strong shoulder line, and the rear door handles are hidden in the window frames so the car looks like a three-door at first glance. LED tail lights with curved light signatures complete the design.

MultiAir, TBi and JTDM engines

Gearboxes are a 6-speed manual or the 6-speed TCT dual-clutch automatic. According to factory figures, the 120 PS 1.4 TB reaches 100 km/h in 9.4 seconds and 195 km/h, while the 170 PS MultiAir takes 7.8 seconds (7.7 with TCT) and tops out at 218 km/h.

Chassis, Alfa DNA and Q2

Suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front and a multi-link rear axle. The Alfa DNA switch offers three modes, Dynamic, Normal and All-Weather, and changes throttle response, steering assistance, brakes, gearbox and stability control. The Q2 electronic differential, standard on the Giulietta, uses the brakes to limit wheelspin on the inside front wheel in corners, improving traction and turn-in. Reviewers praised the precise steering and the balance between comfort and grip.

Giulietta size and luggage space

Giulietta cabin and options

The cabin is low and sporty, with tubular instrument dials lit in red, a leather steering wheel and a three-tier centre console with a pop-up screen, audio unit and climate controls. Bucket-style front seats are comfortable, but side support could be stronger, and tall rear passengers may find head and legroom tight. Standard equipment included six airbags, ISOFIX mounts and active head restraints; options included satellite navigation, Bluetooth, dual-zone climate control and electric seats with memory.

Facelifts: 2013 and 2016

The first update was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2013. It brought a revised grille, chrome-framed fog lights, new 16- to 18-inch wheels, new colours and new interior materials. The Uconnect system with 5- or 6.5-inch touchscreens arrived, along with the 2.0 JTDM-2 diesel with 110 kW (150 PS). The 2016 update, shown in Geneva, gave the front end the look of the Giulia saloon, new badges and the trim names Giulietta, Super and Veloce, and added a 1.6 JTDM with the TCT gearbox. The top version, called Quadrifoglio Verde (Cloverleaf in the UK) until 2016, was then renamed Veloce.

Safety and Euro NCAP

When Euro NCAP tested the Giulietta in 2010, it awarded five stars, 87 points overall and 97% for adult occupants, the best result for a compact car up to that time. A retest under the stricter 2017 protocol gave four stars, with 72% for adult occupants and 25% for safety assist, reflecting the lack of modern driver-assistance systems. Standard active safety included ABS, brake assist, traction control, stability control (VDC) and Hill Holder.

Rivals: how the Giulietta compares

The Giulietta competed with the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Peugeot 308, Audi A3 and BMW 1 Series. It stood out for its styling, steering and powerful top versions, but trailed rivals on rear space and infotainment. European sales peaked at 78,911 in 2011 and fell to 10,817 in 2020.